1894 South Dakota gubernatorial election

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1894 South Dakota gubernatorial election
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←  1892 November 6, 1894 1896  →
  Charles H. Sheldon.jpg
Nominee Charles H. Sheldon Isaac HoweJames A. Ward
Party Republican Populist Democratic
Popular vote40,38126,5688,756
Percentage52.64%34.63%11.41%
1894 South Dakota gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
County results
Sheldon:     30–40%     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%
Howe:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%
No Vote:     
Governor of South Dakota before election

Charles H. Sheldon
Republican

Elected Governor of South Dakota

Charles H. Sheldon
Republican

The 1894 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1894. Incumbent Republican Governor Charles H. Sheldon ran for re-election to a second term. Despite facing a thread of defeat at the Republican convention, Sheldon was renominated unanimously. In the general election, he faced Populist nominee Isaac Howe, a Spink County Judge; James A. Ward, the former state chairman of the South Dakota Democratic Party; and Prohibition nominee M. D. Alexander. The election was largely a replay of the gubernatorial elections of 1890 and 1892, with the Farmers' Alliance candidate placing second and the Democratic nominee placing a distant third. This time, however, Sheldon won an outright majority and the Democratic Party's vote share shrunk to just 11%, its worst performance in state history.

Contents

Populist Party convention

By 1894, the Independent Party, which had formed out of the South Dakota Farmers' Alliance, began to affiliate itself with the Populist Party. In the lead-up to its June 1894 convention, several names were mentioned as likely gubernatorial candidates: former State Representative Robert Buchanan, an erstwhile Republican; [1] Spink County Judge Isaac Howe; [2] and Sioux Falls University President E. B. Meredith, [3] a prohibitionist. [4]

As the convention began on June 13, 1894, Buchanan, who had previously rejected entreaties to run for governor, acceded and became a candidate. [5] At this point, Meredith faded from contention and supported Buchanan over Howe. [6] The contest between Howe and Buchanan became a proxy battle between Henry L. Loucks, a longtime leader of the Farmers' Alliance, and Buchanan, [5] and despite Howe supporters' hope that he would be nominated by acclamation, Buchanan took an early lead. [6] The next day, however, it appeared that Buchanan had lost his early lead, [7] and Howe was overwhelmingly nominated. [8]

Republican convention

At the Republican convention in August 1894, Governor Sheldon faced a threat of losing renomination, [9] but the forces opposed to him were unable to recruit a challenger to him. Accordingly, he was renominated unopposed. [10]

Democratic convention

The Democratic convention convened in Sioux Falls in September 1894, three candidates were mentioned as likely contenders for Governor: [11] Samuel A. Ramsey, the 1892 Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor; [12] L. G. Oschenreiter, the President of the South Dakota World's Fair Commission; [13] and Court Boyd. At the convention, however, though Ramsey was nominated for governor, he withdrew in favor of James A. Ward, the state party chairman, who was nominated by acclamation. [14]

General election

Results

1894 South Dakota gubernatorial special election [15]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Charles H. Sheldon (inc.) 40,381 52.64% +5.18%
Independent PartyIsaac Howe26,56834.63%+2.64%
Democratic James A. Ward8,75611.41%-9.14%
Prohibition M. D. Alexander1,0111.32%—
Majority13,81318.01%+2.54%
Turnout 70,410100.00%
Republican hold

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References

  1. ↑ "It Means Something". Dakota Farmers' Leader. Canton, S.D. June 8, 1894. p. 1. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  2. ↑ "These Are Hungry: A List of Those Who Are Candidates at the Mitchell Convention". Argus Leader . Sioux Falls, S.D. June 11, 1894. p. 8. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  3. ↑ "City Briefs". Argus Leader . Sioux Falls, S.D. June 8, 1894. p. 4. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  4. ↑ "E. B. Meredith for Governor". Argus Leader . Sioux Falls, S.D. June 8, 1894. p. 6. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  5. 1 2 "Buck Like Caesar: He Is Offered the Gubernatorial Crown But Puts It Away". Argus Leader . Sioux Falls, S.D. June 13, 1894. p. 8. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  6. 1 2 "Howe Probably Knocked Out". Argus Leader . Sioux Falls, S.D. June 13, 1894. p. 8. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Howe for Gov.: Judge Isaac Howe of Redfield Nominated for Governor". Argus Leader . Sioux Falls, S.D. June 14, 1894. p. 8. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  8. ↑ "The Nominees: For Governor". Mitchell Capital. Mitchell, S.D. June 15, 1894. p. 9. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  9. ↑ "State Convention: The Republicans of South Dakota Are Interested in the Yankton Convention". Queen City Mail. Spearfish, S.D. August 22, 1894. p. 1. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  10. ↑ "The Yankton Convention". Argus Leader . Sioux Falls, S.D. August 24, 1894. p. 6. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Delegates Arrive: Delegates Arriving for the Democratic State Convention This Evening". Argus Leader . Sioux Falls, S.D. September 5, 1894. p. 5. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Will Not Fuse: South Dakota Democrats Nominate a Full State Ticket". Argus Leader . Sioux Falls, S.D. September 3, 1892. p. 1. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Putting on Style: South Dakota's Building Handsomely Decorated—A Great Book". Argus Leader . Sioux Falls, S.D. September 12, 1893. p. 7. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  14. ↑ "The State Ticket". Argus Leader . Sioux Falls, S.D. September 6, 1894. p. 5. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  15. ↑ Nelson, Nelson; Heinrich, Chad W., eds. (2005). "Chapter 8: Elections". Legislative Manual: South Dakota, 2005. Pierre, S.D. p. 616.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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