1946 South Dakota gubernatorial election

The 1946 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1946.

1946 South Dakota gubernatorial election

November 5, 1946

Nominee George Theodore Mickelson Richard Haeder Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 108,998 53,294 Percentage 67.16% 32.84%

Governor before election Merrell Q. Sharpe Republican Elected Governor George Theodore Mickelson Republican

Incumbent Republican Governor Merrell Q. Sharpe ran for re-election, but was defeated in the Republican primary.

Republican nominee George Theodore Mickelson defeated Democratic nominee Richard Haeder with 67.16% of the vote.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on June 4, 1946.

Candidates

• Richard Haeder, farmer and president of the South Dakota Rural Electrification Association[1]
• Jennie M. O'Hern, Democratic National Committeewoman[1]
• Edward Prchal, former Board of Regents member[1][2][3]

Results

Democratic primary results[4][5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Richard Haeder	8,093	41.06
	Democratic	Edward Prchal	6,563	33.30
	Democratic	Jennie M. O'Hern	5,053	25.64
Total votes			19,709	100.00

Candidates

• George Theodore Mickelson, incumbent Attorney General of South Dakota
• Millard G. Scott, farmer[6][7] and unsuccessful candidate for Republican nomination for Governor in 1942
• Merrell Q. Sharpe, incumbent Governor

Results

Republican primary results[4][8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	George Theodore Mickelson	32,515	44.98
	Republican	Merrell Q. Sharpe	23,325	32.27
	Republican	Millard G. Scott	16,442	22.75
Total votes			72,282	100.00

General election

Candidates

• Richard Haeder, Democratic
• George Theodore Mickelson, Republican

Results

1946 South Dakota gubernatorial election[4][9][10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	George Theodore Mickelson	108,998	67.16%
	Democratic	Richard Haeder	53,294	32.84%
Majority			55,704	34.32%
Turnout			162,292	100.00%
	Republican hold		Swing

References

1. "South Dakota Governor's Third-Term Bid Rejected". Evening star. Washington, D.C. 5 June 1946. p. A-6. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
2. "Sharpe's Bid Turned Down; Haeder Named". Argus-Leader. Sioux Falls, South Dakota. 5 June 1946. p. 1. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
3. Higbee, Paul S. (2017). South Dakota's Cowboy Governor Tom Berry. Charleston, SC: The History Press. p. 99. ISBN 9781467119412.
4. Elections (PDF). 2005 South Dakota Legislative Manual. p. 632. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
5. "SD Governor, 1946 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
6. "Sanborn County Man Enters Race For Governor". The Woonsocket News. Woonsocket, South Dakota. 6 March 1946. p. 1. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
7. "SD Gov Nominees from West River". SoDak Governors. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
8. "SD Governor, 1946 - R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
9. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 79.
10. "SD Governor, 1946". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 8 December 2020.

Bibliography

• Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN 1-56802-396-0.