Closest U.S. Senate elections in South Dakota
The closest U.S. Senate election in South Dakota history was in 2002, a margin of 0.15 points. Tim Johnson beat John R. Thune, 167,481 to 166,949. Next closest are 1962 (0.24 points) and 2004 (1.2 points).
Every state is ranked together on Closest U.S. Senate elections in history. For every Senate race South Dakota has held, special elections included, see the South Dakota U.S. Senate hub.
What is the closest Senate race in South Dakota history?
The South Dakota Senate election decided by the narrowest margin was in 2002, 0.15 points. Tim Johnson beat John R. Thune, 167,481 to 166,949. The next closest were 1962 (0.24 points) and 2004 (1.2 points).
How is the margin measured?
As the gap in vote share between the first and second-place finishers, from the certified general-election count. It is not adjusted for recounts, runoffs or later court rulings; the figure is the result as certified.
Does this include special elections?
No. These are the regular general elections for South Dakota’s two Senate seats. Special elections to fill a vacancy appear on the South Dakota Senate hub, which lists every race including specials, and in a few states one of those is closer than anything here.
Why does the list start in 1914?
Because senators were chosen by state legislatures before the Seventeenth Amendment. 1914 is the first cycle of the popular-vote era for the Senate, so it is the first South Dakota election with a popular margin to measure.
| # | Election | Result | Votes | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2002 | Tim Johnson D def. John R. Thune R | 167,481 – 166,949 | 0.15 points |
| 2 | 1962 | George McGovern D def. Joe Bottum R | 127,458 – 126,861 | 0.24 points |
| 3 | 2004 | John R. Thune R def. Thomas A. Daschle D | 197,848 – 193,340 | 1.2 points |
| 4 | 1956 | Francis Case R def. Kenneth Holum D | 147,621 – 143,001 | 1.6 points |
| 5 | 1936 | William J. Bulow D def. J. Chandler Gurney R | 141,509 – 135,461 | 2.1 points |
| 6 | 1996 | Tim Johnson D def. Larry Pressler R | 166,533 – 157,954 | 2.6 points |
| 7 | 1986 | Thomas A. Daschle D def. James Abdnor R | 152,657 – 143,173 | 3.2 points |
| 8 | 1930 | William J. Bulow D def. William H. McMaster R | 106,317 – 99,595 | 3.3 points |
| 9 | 1960 | Karl E. Mundt R def. George McGovern D | 160,181 – 145,261 | 4.9 points |
| 10 | 1938 | J. Chandler Gurney R def. Tom Berry D | 146,813 – 133,064 | 4.9 points |
| 11 | 1974 | George McGovern D def. Leo K. Thorsness R | 147,929 – 130,955 | 6.1 points |
| 12 | 1990 | Larry Pressler R def. Ted Muenster D | 135,682 – 116,727 | 7.3 points |
| 13 | 1932 | Peter Norbeck R def. U. S. Cherry D | 151,845 – 125,731 | 9.3 points |
| 14 | 1924 | William H. McMaster R def. U. S. Cherry D | 90,310 – 63,818 | 13.3 points |
| 15 | 1968 | George McGovern D def. Archie Gubbrud R | 158,961 – 120,951 | 13.6 points |
| 16 | 1972 | James Abourezk D def. Robert Hirsch R | 174,773 – 131,613 | 14.1 points |
| 17 | 1954 | Karl E. Mundt R def. Kenneth Holum D | 135,071 – 100,674 | 14.6 points |
| 18 | 1918 | Thomas Sterling R def. W. T. Rinehart D | 51,198 – 36,210 | 16.1 points |
| 19 | 1942 | Harlan J. Bushfield R def. Tom Berry D | 106,704 – 74,945 | 17.5 points |
| 20 | 1948 | Karl E. Mundt R def. John A. Engel D | 144,084 – 98,749 | 18.7 points |
| 21 | 1980 | James Abdnor R def. George McGovern D | 190,594 – 129,018 | 18.8 points |
| 22 | 2014 | Mike Rounds R def. Rick Weiland D | 140,741 – 82,456 | 20.9 points |
| 23 | 2008 | Tim Johnson D def. Joel Dykstra R | 237,889 – 142,784 | 25.0 points |
| 24 | 1998 | Thomas A. Daschle D def. Ron Schmidt R | 162,884 – 95,431 | 25.7 points |
| 25 | 1920 | Peter Norbeck R def. Tom Ayres N | 92,267 – 44,309 | 26.0 points |