1920 South Dakota gubernatorial election

The 1920 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1920. Incumbent Republican Governor Peter Norbeck declined to run for re-election, instead choosing to run for the U.S. Senate. Lieutenant Governor William H. McMaster won the Republican primary and advanced to the general election, where he faced Nonpartisan League candidate Mark P. Bates and former State Senator William W. Howes, the Democratic nominee. The election was largely a replay of the 1918 election, with McMaster winning a large victory, Bates coming in second, and Howes coming in a distant third.

1920 South Dakota gubernatorial election

← 1918 November 2, 1920 1922 →

Nominee William H. McMaster Mark P. Bates William W. Howes Party Republican Nonpartisan League Democratic Popular vote 103,592 48,426 31,870 Percentage 56.33% 26.12% 17.33%

County results McMaster:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Bates:      40–50%      50–60%

Governor of South Dakota before election Peter Norbeck Republican Elected Governor of South Dakota William H. McMaster Republican

Primary elections

Democratic primary

Former State Senator William W. Howes, who previously represented Beadle County in the State Senate,^[1] won the Democratic nomination unopposed and the race did not appear on the primary election ballot.^[2]

Republican primary

Candidates

• William H. McMaster, Lieutenant Governor
• Richard O. Richards, perennial candidate^[3]

Results

Republican primary^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	William H. McMaster	47,508	61.13%
	Republican	Richard O. Richards	30,203	38.87%
Total votes			77,711	100.00%

General election

Results

1920 South Dakota gubernatorial election^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	William H. McMaster	103,592	56.33%	+3.12%
	Nonpartisan League	Mark P. Bates	48,426	26.33%	+0.21%
	Democratic	William W. Howes	31,870	17.33%	−1.24%
Majority			55,166	30.00%	+2.90%
Turnout			183,888
	Republican hold

References

1. "William Washington Howes". Historical Listing. South Dakota Legislature Legislative Research Council. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
2. Nelson, Nelson; Heinrich, Chad W., eds. (2005). "Chapter 8: Elections". Legislative Manual: South Dakota, 2005. Pierre, S.D. p. 624.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
3. Otto, Kathryn (1979). "The Richard Olsen Richards Papers at the South Dakota Historical Resource Center" (PDF). South Dakota History. 9 (2): 153–56. Retrieved June 12, 2021.