1918 South Dakota gubernatorial election

The 1918 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1918. Incumbent Republican Governor Peter Norbeck ran for re-election to a second term. He won the Republican primary unopposed and faced Nonpartisan League candidate Mark P. Bates, a farmer, and Democratic nominee James E. Bird in the general election. Norbeck's share of the vote decreased from 1916 to 53%, but he benefited from the split field. Bates placed second with 26% of the vote, while Bird placed third with 19% of the vote.

1918 South Dakota gubernatorial election

← 1916 November 5, 1918 1920 →
 
Nominee Peter Norbeck Mark P. Bates James E. Bird
Party Republican Nonpartisan League Democratic
Popular vote 51,175 25,118 17,858
Percentage 53.22% 26.12% 18.57%

County results
Norbeck:      40–50%      50–60%
     60–70%
Bates:      40–50%      50–60%      70–80%
Bird:      50–60%

Governor before election

Peter Norbeck
Republican

Elected Governor

Peter Norbeck
Republican

Primary elections

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Primary elections were held on May 28, 1918.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Democratic primary results[2][3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James E. Bird 8,361 100.00%
Total votes 8,361 100.00%

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Republican primary results[2][3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Peter Norbeck (inc.) 35,752 100.00%
Total votes 35,752 100.00%

Socialist primary

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Candidates

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  • Orville Anderson, farmer and prisoner[4]

Results

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Socialist primary results[2][3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Socialist Orville Anderson 241 100.00%
Total votes 241 100.00%

General election

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Candidates

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Results

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1918 South Dakota gubernatorial election[2][3][8][9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Peter Norbeck (inc.) 51,175 53.22% −3.42%
Nonpartisan League Mark P. Bates 25,118 26.12%
Democratic James E. Bird 17,858 18.57% −20.76%
Independent Knute Lewis 1,268 1.32%
Socialist Orville Anderson 741 0.77% −2.00%
Majority 26,057 27.10% +9.79%
Turnout 96,160 100.00%
Republican hold

References

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  1. ^ "A Democratic Candidate for Governor of S. Dak". Daily Deadwood Pioneer-Times. Deadwood, S.D. April 10, 1918. pp. 1, 1. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d "1916–1918 Election Returns" (PDF). South Dakota Secretary of State. Pierre, South Dakota. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d Elections (PDF). pp. 623–624. Retrieved May 2, 2021. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  4. ^ Kohn, Stephen M. (1994). American Political Prisoners: Prosecutions under the Espionage and Sedition Acts. Westport, CT.: Praeger Publishers. p. 85. ISBN 0-275-94415-8.
  5. ^ "League Loses South Dakota" (PDF). The Bismarck Tribune. Bismarck, North Dakota. November 7, 1918. p. 1. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  6. ^ "A. C. Townley Driven From Town When He Attempts Speech". Grand Forks Herald. Grand Forks, North Dakota. September 25, 1918. p. 7. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  7. ^ Tingley, Ralph R. (Fall 1979). "The Crowded Field: Eight Men for the Senate" (PDF). South Dakota History. 9 (4): 316–336. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  8. ^ Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 79.
  9. ^ "SD Governor, 1918". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 2, 2021.

Bibliography

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