1900 South Dakota gubernatorial election

The 1900 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1900. Incumbent Governor Andrew E. Lee, a Populist elected under Fusion with Populists, Free Silver Republicans, and Democrats, opted to run for Congress rather than for a third term. Former Sioux Falls Mayor Burre H. Lien won the Fusion nomination and ran against former Lieutenant Governor Charles N. Herreid. However, despite the closeness of the 1896 and 1898 elections, the Fusion's luck ran out; Herreid defeated Lien in a landslide to reclaim the office for the Republican Party.

1900 South Dakota gubernatorial election

← 1898 November 6, 1900 1902 →
 
Nominee Charles N. Herreid Burre H. Lien
Party Republican Fusion
Popular vote 53,803 40,091
Percentage 56.31% 41.96%

County results
Herreid:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Lien:      40–50%      50–60%
No Vote:      

Governor of South Dakota before election

Andrew E. Lee
Populist

Elected Governor of South Dakota

Charles N. Herreid
Republican

Republican convention

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Several months prior to the Republican convention in Sioux Falls on May 24, 1900, former Lieutenant Governor Charles N. Herreid, who had previously sought the Republican nomination for Governor in 1896, announced that he would run for governor.[1] No serious challengers emerged, and he was seen as the likely frontrunner.[2] At the convention, he was nominated unanimously.

Fusion conventions

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At the Fusion convention in Yankton, former Sioux Falls Mayor Burre H. Lien and Railroad Commissioner W. T. LaFollette were mentioned as the leading candidates, though some delegates suspected that Governor Lee might be renominated for a third term, breaking "the unwritten law of the political parties of South Dakota."[3] LaFollette's unpopularity led to his chances shrinking at the convention, and the momentum favored Lien; Lee, meanwhile, was floated as a Fusion candidate for Congress.[4] Ultimately, Lien was nominated for Governor and Lee for Congress, which was ratified by the Populist and Democratic conventions.[5]

General election

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Results

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1900 South Dakota gubernatorial special election[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Charles N. Herreid 53,803 56.31% +7.15%
Fusion Burre H. Lien 40,091 41.96% −7.69%
Prohibition F. J. Carlisle 1,331 1.39% +0.21%
Populist L. E. Stair 316 0.33%
Majority 13,712 14.35% +13.86%
Turnout 95,541 100.00%
Republican gain from Fusion

References

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  1. ^ "Announces His Candidacy: Herried Wants Republican Nomination for Governor of South Dakota". Sioux City Journal. Sioux City, Iowa. March 28, 1900. p. 2. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  2. ^ "C. N. Herreid Is Confident: Probable Republican Nominee for Governor Certain of Party's Victory". Sioux City Journal. Sioux City, Iowa. May 21, 1900. p. 5. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  3. ^ "Announces His Candidacy: Herried Wants Republican Nomination for Governor of South Dakota". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, S.D. March 28, 1900. p. 3. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  4. ^ "Tom Ayres Turned Down: The Democrats Will Not Nominate Him for Congress". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, S.D. July 11, 1900. p. 3. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  5. ^ "They Have Fused: After Two Days of Wrangling the Pops and Democrats Finally Come Together in Yankton and Place a Full Ticket In the Field". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, S.D. July 13, 1900. p. 1. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  6. ^ Nelson, Nelson; Heinrich, Chad W., eds. (2005). "Chapter 8: Elections". Legislative Manual: South Dakota, 2005. Pierre, S.D. p. 617.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)