1954 South Dakota gubernatorial election

1954 South Dakota gubernatorial election

←  1952 November 2, 1954 1956  →

Nominee Joe Foss Ed C. Martin Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 133,878 102,377 Percentage 56.67% 43.33%

County results Foss:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Martin:     50–60%     60–70%

Governor before election Sigurd Anderson Republican Elected Governor Joe Foss Republican

The 1954 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1954.

Incumbent Republican Governor Sigurd Anderson was term-limited.

Republican nominee Joe Foss defeated Democratic nominee Ed C. Martin with 56.67% of the vote.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on June 1, 1954. ^[1]

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Ernest F. McKellips, former mayor of Alcester ^[2]
• Ed C. Martin, rancher ^[3]

Results

Democratic primary results ^{[4] [5]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ed C. Martin	16,383	53.44
	Democratic	Ernest F. McKellips	14,276	46.56
Total votes			30,659	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Joe Foss, unsuccessful candidate for Republican nomination for Governor in 1950
• Harold O. Lund, Chairman of the Board of Charities and Corrections ^[6]
• Rex Terry, incumbent Lieutenant Governor

Results

Republican primary results ^{[4] [7]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Joe Foss	55,272	53.65
	Republican	Rex Terry	26,163	25.40
	Republican	Harold O. Lund	21,585	20.95
Total votes			103,020	100.00

General election

Candidates

• Ed C. Martin, Democratic
• Joe Foss, Republican

Results

1954 South Dakota gubernatorial election ^{[4] [8] [9]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Joe Foss	133,878	56.67%
	Democratic	Ed C. Martin	102,377	43.33%
Majority			31,501	13.33%
Turnout			236,255	100.00%
	Republican hold		Swing

References

1. "Table IV. 1954 Elections". Voting Information. Washington, D.C.: Prepared by Office of Armed Forces Information & Education, Department of Defense. April 1954. pp. 99–101. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
2. "Funeral set for Monday for E. F. McKellips, 84". Argus-Leader. Sioux Falls, SD. April 7, 1972. p. 1. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
3. "Chamberlain Register. February 25, 1954. 65 Years Ago" (PDF). The Chamberlain/Oacoma Sun. Vol. 15, no. 9. Chamberlain, SD. February 27, 2019. p. 5. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
4. Elections (PDF). p. 634. Retrieved June 3, 2020.{{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
5. "SD Governor, 1954 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
6. "South Dakota Prison Changes Indicated During Hearing". Argus-Leader. Sioux Falls, SD. November 19, 1954. p. 1. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
7. "SD Governor, 1954 - R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
8. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 79.
9. "SD Governor, 1954". Our Campaigns. Retrieved June 3, 2020.

Bibliography

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