1958 South Dakota gubernatorial election

The 1958 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1958.

1958 South Dakota gubernatorial election

November 4, 1958

Nominee Ralph Herseth Phil Saunders Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 132,761 125,520 Percentage 51.40% 48.60%

County results Herseth:      50–60%      60–70% Tie:      50–60% Saunders:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%

Governor before election Joe Foss Republican Elected Governor Ralph Herseth Democratic

Incumbent Republican Governor Joe Foss was term-limited.

Democratic nominee Ralph Herseth defeated Republican nominee Phil Saunders with 51.40% of the vote.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on June 3, 1958.[1]

Candidates

• Ralph Herseth, State Senator[2]

Results

Democratic primary results[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ralph Herseth		unopposed

Candidates

• Phil Saunders, incumbent Attorney General of South Dakota[4]
• L. Roy Houck, incumbent Lieutenant Governor
• Charles Lacey, state representative

Results

Republican primary results[3][5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Phil Saunders	49,746	61.60
	Republican	L. Roy Houck	21,621	26.77
	Republican	Charles Lacey	9,384	11.62
Total votes			80,751	100.00

General election

Candidates

• Ralph Herseth, Democratic
• Phil Saunders, Republican

Results

1958 South Dakota gubernatorial election[5][6][7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Ralph Herseth	132,761	51.40%
	Republican	Phil Saunders	125,520	48.60%
Majority			7,241	2.80%
Turnout			258,281	100.00%
	Democratic gain from Republican		Swing

References

1. "South Dakota: Section I. Elections". Voting Information. Washington, D.C.: Prepared by Office of Armed Forces Information & Education, Department of Defense. March 1958. p. 78. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
2. "Ralph E. Herseth". Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Museum of South Dakota. May 2020. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
3. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 142.
4. Crass, Scott (2016). "Chapter 125: Herseth-Sandlin's Grandpa's Tenure Marked Short Gap in Long GOP Dominance in South Dakota". Statesmen and mischief makers: Officeholders and their contributions to history from Kennedy to Reagan. III. XLibris. p. 948. ISBN 978-1-5144-6976-7. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
5. Elections (PDF). 2005 South Dakota Legislative Manual. p. 635. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
6. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 79.
7. "SD Governor, 1958". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 21 May 2020.

Bibliography

• Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN 1-56802-396-0.