1896 South Dakota gubernatorial election

The 1896 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1896, to elect a Governor of South Dakota to a two-year term. People's Party nominee Andrew E. Lee was elected, defeating Republican nominee Amund O. Ringsrud and Prohibition Party nominee J. F. Hanson.

South Dakota gubernatorial election, 1896

November 3, 1896

Nominee Andrew E. Lee Amund O. Ringsrud Party People's Republican Running mate P. R. Crothers D. T. Hindman Popular vote 41,187 40,868 Percentage 49.76% 49.37%

Governor before election Charles H. Sheldon Republican Elected Governor Andrew E. Lee People's

Lee's victory was by the smallest margin in South Dakota gubernatorial election history; he defeated Ringsrud by 319 votes, or 0.39% of votes. Lee was also the only Populist in South Dakota history to serve as governor.[1]

Results

South Dakota gubernatorial election, 1896[1][2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	People's	Andrew E. Lee	41,187	49.76
	Republican	Amund O. Ringsrud	40,868	49.37
	Prohibition	J. F. Hanson	722	0.87
Total votes			82,777	100
Majority			319	0.39%
	People's gain from Republican

References

1. "South Dakota Gubernatorial Elections, 1889–2006" (PDF). Humphrey School of Public Affairs. University of Minnesota. Archived from the original (pdf) on June 6, 2014. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
2. "1889–1900 Election Returns" (pdf). South Dakota Secretary of State. Pierre, South Dakota: South Dakota Secretary of State. p. 33. Retrieved June 8, 2014.