1918 South Dakota gubernatorial election

1918 South Dakota gubernatorial election
	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

^ "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.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "1916–1918 Election Returns" (PDF). South Dakota Secretary of State. Pierre, South Dakota. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Elections (PDF). pp. 623–624. Retrieved May 2, 2021. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
^ 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.
^ "League Loses South Dakota" (PDF). The Bismarck Tribune. Bismarck, North Dakota. November 7, 1918. p. 1. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
^ "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.
^ 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.
^ Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 79.
^ "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.

[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.

[SD_1916-1918-2] "1916–1918 Election Returns" (PDF). South Dakota Secretary of State. Pierre, South Dakota. Retrieved May 2, 2021.

[South_Dakota_Manual-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.

[FOOTNOTECongressional_Quarterly199879-8] Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 79.

[9] "SD Governor, 1918". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 2, 2021.

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