1918 South Dakota gubernatorial election

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

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.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on May 28, 1918.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• James E. Bird, businessman, 1916 Democratic nominee for Secretary of State ^[1]

Results

Democratic primary results ^{[2] [3]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	James E. Bird	8,361	100.00%
Total votes			8,361	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Peter Norbeck, incumbent Governor

Results

Republican primary results ^{[2] [3]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Peter Norbeck (inc.)	35,752	100.00%
Total votes			35,752	100.00%

Socialist primary

Candidates

• Orville Anderson, farmer and prisoner ^[4]

Results

Socialist primary results ^{[2] [3]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Socialist	Orville Anderson	241	100.00%
Total votes			241	100.00%

General election

Candidates

• James E. Bird, Democratic
• Peter Norbeck, Republican
• Orville Anderson, Socialist
• Mark P. Bates, Independent (Nonpartisan League candidate ^{[5] [6]} ), stockman ^[7]
• Knute Lewis, Independent, Prohibition candidate for Governor in 1898 and 1906

Results

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

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. "1916–1918 Election Returns" (PDF). South Dakota Secretary of State. Pierre, South Dakota. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
3. 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

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