1970 South Dakota gubernatorial election

1970 South Dakota gubernatorial election
	County results; Kneip: 50–60% 60–70% ; Farrar: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%
Governor before election; Frank Farrar; Republican	Elected Governor ; Richard F. Kneip; Democratic

The 1970 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1970. Primary elections were held on June 2, 1970. Incumbent Republican Governor Frank Farrar was defeated by Democratic nominee Richard F. Kneip who won 54.85% of the vote.

This is the last time that an incumbent governor of South Dakota lost re-election.

Primaries

Democratic primary results^[1]^[2]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Richard F. Kneip		unopposed

Republican primary results^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Frank Farrar (incumbent)	48,520	58.17
	Republican	Frank E. Henderson	34,893	41.83
Total votes			83,413	100.00

1970 South Dakota gubernatorial election^[5]^[6]^[3]^[7]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Richard F. Kneip	131,616	54.85%
	Republican	Frank Farrar (incumbent)	108,347	45.15%
Majority			23,269	9.70%
Turnout			239,963	100.00%
	Democratic gain from Republican		Swing

^ ^a ^b Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 142.
^ ^a ^b America Votes 9, p. 312.
^ ^a ^b Elections (PDF). p. 637. Retrieved May 10, 2020. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
^ "SD Governor, 1970 - R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
^ Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 79.
^ America Votes 9, p. 308.
^ "SD Governor, 1970". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 10, 2020.

Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN 1-56802-396-0.
Scammon, Richard M., ed. (1972). America Votes 9: a handbook of contemporary American election statistics, 1970. Washington, D.C.: Governmental Affairs Institute.