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1920 South Dakota gubernatorial election

← 1918 November 2, 1920 1922 →
 
Nominee William H. McMaster Mark P. Bates William W. Howes
Party Republican Nonpartisan League Democratic
Popular vote 103,592 48,426 31,870
Percentage 56.33% 26.12% 17.33%

County results
McMaster:      40–50%      50–60%
     60–70%      70–80%
Bates:      40–50%      50–60%

Governor of South Dakota before election

Peter Norbeck
Republican

Elected Governor of South Dakota

William H. McMaster
Republican

The 1920 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1920. Incumbent Republican Governor Peter Norbeck declined to run for re-election, instead choosing to run for the U.S. Senate. Lieutenant Governor William H. McMaster won the Republican primary and advanced to the general election, where he faced Nonpartisan League candidate Mark P. Bates and former State Senator William W. Howes, the Democratic nominee. The election was largely a replay of the 1918 election, with McMaster winning a large victory, Bates coming in second, and Howes coming in a distant third.

Primary elections[edit]

Democratic primary[edit]

Former State Senator William W. Howes, who previously represented Beadle County in the State Senate,[1] won the Democratic nomination unopposed and the race did not appear on the primary election ballot.[2]

Republican primary[edit]

Candidates[edit]

Results[edit]

Republican primary[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican William H. McMaster 47,508 61.13%
Republican Richard O. Richards 30,203 38.87%
Total votes 77,711 100.00%

General election[edit]

Results[edit]

1920 South Dakota gubernatorial election[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican William H. McMaster 103,592 56.33% +3.12%
Nonpartisan League Mark P. Bates 48,426 26.33% +0.21%
Democratic William W. Howes 31,870 17.33% -1.24%
Majority 55,166 30.00% +2.90%
Turnout 183,888
Republican hold

References[edit]

  1. ^ "William Washington Howes". Historical Listing. South Dakota Legislature Legislative Research Council. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Nelson, Nelson; Heinrich, Chad W., eds. (2005). "Chapter 8: Elections". Legislative Manual: South Dakota, 2005. Pierre, S.D. p. 624.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. ^ Otto, Kathryn (1979). "The Richard Olsen Richards Papers at the South Dakota Historical Resource Center" (PDF). South Dakota History. 9 (2): 153–56. Retrieved June 12, 2021.