Governor elections in South Dakota
Elections won
R 46 · D 8 · Other 256 gubernatorial elections since 1889
Last decided by
26.8 pts2022, Kristi Noem over Jamie Smith
Closest ever
0.39 pts1896, Andrew E. Lee over Amund O. Ringsrud
Longest streak
13 in a rowRepublican, 1900–1924
Next election
2026Tuesday, November 3, 2026
South Dakota's most recent race for governor went to Kristi Noem by 26.8 points in 2022. The 2022 race put Noem ahead of Jamie Smith, 26.8 points clear. Across 56 elections since 1889, Republicans have won 46 and Democrats 8, with 2 going to other parties. Of those, the closest was 1896, decided by 0.39 points; the widest 2014, by 45.0 points.
Kristi Noem R 217,035 · Jamie Smith D 123,148
Kristi Noem R 172,912 · Billie Sutton D 161,454
Dennis Daugaard R 195,477 · Susan Wismer D 70,549
Dennis Daugaard R 195,024 · Scott Heidepriem D 122,010
Mike Rounds R 206,990 · Jack Billion D 121,226
Mike Rounds R 189,920 · Jim Abbott D 140,263
Bill Janklow R 166,621 · Bernie Hunhoff D 85,473
Bill Janklow R 172,515 · Jim Beddow D 126,273
George Mickelson R 151,198 · Bob Samuelson D 105,525
George Mickelson R 152,543 · Lars Herseth D 141,898
Bill Janklow R 197,429 · Mike O'Connor D 81,136
Bill Janklow R 147,116 · Roger D. McKellips D 112,679
Richard F. Kneip D 149,151 · John E. Olson R 129,077
Richard F. Kneip D 185,012 · Carveth Thompson R 123,165
Richard F. Kneip D 131,616 · Frank Farrar R 108,347
Frank Farrar R 159,646 · Robert Chamberlin D 117,260
Nils Boe R 131,710 · Robert Chamberlin D 96,504
Nils Boe R 150,151 · John F. Lindley D 140,919
Archie M. Gubbrud R 143,682 · Ralph Herseth D 112,438
Archie M. Gubbrud R 154,530 · Ralph Herseth D 150,095
Ralph Herseth D 132,761 · Phil Saunders R 125,520
Joe Foss R 158,819 · Ralph Herseth D 133,198
Joe Foss R 133,878 · Ed C. Martin D 102,377
Sigurd Anderson R 203,102 · Sherman A. Iverson D 86,413
Sigurd Anderson R 154,254 · Joe Robbie D 99,062
George Mickelson R 149,883 · Harold J. Volz D 95,489
George Mickelson R 108,998 · Richard Haeder D 53,294
Merrell Q. Sharpe R 148,646 · Lynn Fellows D 78,276
Merrell Q. Sharpe R 109,786 · Lewis W. Bicknell D 68,706
Harlan J. Bushfield R 167,686 · Lewis W. Bicknell D 136,428
Harlan J. Bushfield R 149,362 · Oscar Fosheim D 127,485
Leslie Jensen R 151,659 · Tom Berry D 142,255
Tom Berry D 172,228 · William C. Allen R 119,477
Tom Berry D 158,058 · Warren Green R 120,473
Warren Green R 107,643 · D. A. McCullough D 93,954
William J. Bulow D 136,016 · Buell F. Jones R 121,643
William J. Bulow D 87,136 · Carl Gunderson R 74,101
Carl Gunderson R 109,894 · William J. Bulow D 46,663
Peter Norbeck R 72,789 · Orville V. Rinehart D 50,545
Frank M. Byrne R 57,161 · Edwin S. Johnson D 53,850
Robert S. Vessey R 61,744 · Chauncey L. Wood D 37,983
Robert S. Vessey R 62,989 · Andrew E. Lee D 44,876
Coe I. Crawford R 48,709 · John A. Stransky D 19,923
Samuel H. Elrod R 68,561 · Louis N. Crill D 24,772
Charles N. Herreid R 48,196 · John W. Martin D 21,396
Charles N. Herreid R 53,803 · Burre H. Lien F 40,091
Andrew E. Lee F 37,319 · Kirk G. Phillips R 36,949
Andrew E. Lee P 41,187 · Amund O. Ringsrud R 40,868
Arthur C. Mellette R 53,964 · P. F. McClure D 23,840