1974 South Dakota gubernatorial election

The 1974 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1974, to elect a Governor of South Dakota. This election was the first in South Dakota to elect the governor for a four-year term, after it was allowed by a constitutional amendment passed in 1972.[1] Democratic nominee and Governor Richard F. Kneip was re-elected, defeating Republican nominee John E. Olson. As of 2021, this is the most recent election in which a Democrat was elected Governor of South Dakota.

1974 South Dakota gubernatorial election

November 5, 1974 (1974-11-05)

Nominee Richard F. Kneip John E. Olson Party Democratic Republican Running mate Harvey L. Wollman Charles Clay Popular vote 149,151 129,077 Percentage 53.6% 46.4%

County results Kneip:      50–60%      60–70% Olson:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%

Governor before election Richard F. Kneip Democratic Governor Richard F. Kneip Democratic

Elections in South Dakota
Federal government Presidential elections 1892 1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 Presidential primaries Democratic 2008 2016 2020 Republican 2008 2012 2016 2020 U.S. Senate elections 1978 1980 1984 1986 1990 1992 1996 1998 2002 2004 2008 2010 2014 2016 2020 U.S. House elections 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 Special elections At-large, 2004
State government General elections 2010 2014 2018 2020 Gubernatorial elections 1889 1890 1892 1894 1896 1898 1900 1902 1904 1906 1908 1910 1912 1914 1916 1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 Attorney General elections 2018 State Senate elections 2020
Ballot measures 2006 Amendment C 2008 Measure 9 Measure 10 2020 Amendment A Measure 26