The 1918 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1918. Incumbent Republican Governor Peter Norbeck ran for re-election to a second term. He won the Republican primary unopposed and faced Nonpartisan League candidate Mark P. Bates, a farmer, and Democratic nominee James E. Bird in the general election. Norbeck's share of the vote decreased from 1916 to 53%, but he benefited from the split field. Bates placed second with 26% of the vote, while Bird placed third with 19% of the vote.
Primary elections
Primary elections were held on May 28, 1918.
Democratic primary
Results
Democratic primary results[ 2] [ 3]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic James E. Bird 8,361 100.00%
Total votes
8,361 100.00%
Socialist primary
Candidates
Orville Anderson, farmer and prisoner[ 4]
Results
Socialist primary results[ 2] [ 3]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Socialist Orville Anderson 241 100.00%
Total votes
241 100.00%
References
↑ "A Democratic Candidate for Governor of S. Dak" . Daily Deadwood Pioneer-Times . Deadwood, S.D. April 10, 1918. pp. 1, 1. Retrieved June 12, 2021 .1 2 3 4 "1916–1918 Election Returns" (PDF) . South Dakota Secretary of State . Pierre, South Dakota. Retrieved May 2, 2021 .1 2 3 4 Elections (PDF) . pp. 623– 624. Retrieved May 2, 2021 .↑ Kohn, Stephen M. (1994). American Political Prisoners: Prosecutions under the Espionage and Sedition Acts 85. ISBN 0-275-94415-8 . ↑ "League Loses South Dakota" (PDF) . The Bismarck Tribune . Bismarck, North Dakota. November 7, 1918. p. 1. Retrieved May 2, 2021 .↑ "A. C. Townley Driven From Town When He Attempts Speech" . Grand Forks Herald . Grand Forks, North Dakota. September 25, 1918. p. 7. Retrieved May 2, 2021 .↑ Tingley, Ralph R. (Fall 1979). "The Crowded Field: Eight Men for the Senate" (PDF) . South Dakota History . 9 (4): 316– 336. Retrieved May 2, 2021 . ↑ "SD Governor, 1918" . Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 2, 2021 .
Bibliography
Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997 . Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN 1-56802-396-0 .
