1920 United States Senate election in South Dakota

1920 United States Senate election in South Dakota

←  1914 November 2, 1920 1926  →

Nominee Peter Norbeck Tom Ayres Party Republican Nonpartisan League Popular vote 92,267 44,309 Percentage 50.10% 24.06%   Nominee U. S. G. Cherry R. O. Richards Party Democratic Independent Popular vote 36,833 10,032 Percentage 20.00% 5.45%

County results Norbeck:     30–40%     40–50%     50–60%     60–70% Ayres:     30-40%     40–50%     50–60% Richards:     30–40% No Vote:

U.S. senator before election Edwin S. Johnson Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Peter Norbeck Republican

The 1920 United States Senate election in South Dakota took place on November 2, 1920. Incumbent Democratic Senator Edwin S. Johnson declined to seek re-election to a second term. ^[1] In the Democratic primary, attorney Ulysses Simpson Grant Cherry defeated former State Senator Louis Napoleon Crill and former U.S. Marshal Tom Taubman, while in the Republican primary, Governor Peter Norbeck defeated former State Supreme Court Justice Dick Haney. In the general election, Cherry and Norbeck faced a litany of independent candidates, including Nonpartisan League candidate Tom Ayres. Benefiting from the split in left-wing candidates, Norbeck won by a wide margin, with Ayres narrowly beating out Cherry for second place.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Ulysses Simpson Grant Cherry, Sioux Falls attorney ^[2]
• Louis Napoleon Crill, former President Pro Tempore of the State Senate ^[3]
• Tom Taubman, former U.S. Marshal for the District of South Dakota ^[4]

Results

Democratic primary ^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ulysses Simpson Grant Cherry	2,821	38.64%
	Democratic	Louis Napoleon Crill	2,675	36.64%
	Democratic	Tom Taubman	1,805	24.72%
Total votes			7,301	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Peter Norbeck, Governor of South Dakota
• Dick Haney, former South Dakota Supreme Court Justice ^[6]

Results

Republican primary ^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Peter Norbeck	43,893	58.71%
	Republican	Dick Haney	30,870	41.29%
Total votes			74,763	100.00%

General election

Results

1920 United States Senate election in South Dakota ^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Peter Norbeck	92,267	50.10%	+5.63%
	Nonpartisan League	Tom Ayres	44,309	24.06%	—
	Democratic	U. S. G. Cherry	36,833	20.00%	−28.32%
	Independent	R. O. Richards	10,032	5.45%	—
	Independent	L. J. Manbeck	738	0.40%	—
Majority			47,958	26.04%	+22.19%
Turnout			184,179
	Republican gain from Democratic

References

1. "This Democrat Chosen to Run After Two Jobs: L. N. Crill, of Elk Point, Is Candidate for Senate and for Presidential Elector". Argus Leader . Sioux Falls, S.D. March 15, 1920. p. 10. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
2. Tingley, Ralph R. (1982). "The Crowded Field: Eight Men for the Senate". In Pressler, Larry (ed.). U.S. Senators from the Prairie. South Dakota Press. pp. 316–336. ISBN   9780882490335.
3. "Louis Napoleon Crill". Historical Listing. South Dakota Legislature Legislative Research Council. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
4. "Thomas W. Taubman Collection". South Dakota State Historical Society. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
5. Nelson, Nelson; Heinrich, Chad W., eds. (2005). "Chapter 8: Elections". Legislative Manual: South Dakota, 2005. Pierre, S.D. p. 626.
6. "Haney". Historical Listing. South Dakota Legislature Legislative Research Council. Retrieved June 9, 2021.