1898 South Dakota gubernatorial election

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The 1898 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1898. Incumbent governor Andrew E. Lee, elected in 1896 as a Populist, he ran for re-election as a Fusion candidate. He was challenged by Republican nominee Kirk G. Phillips, the state treasurer. Lee narrowly defeated Phillips to win his second term as governor, but most of his Fusion allies lost their elections, leaving him as the lone statewide officeholder.

Quick facts Nominee, Party ...
1898 South Dakota gubernatorial election
← 1896
November 8, 1898
1900 â†’
 
Nominee Andrew E. Lee Kirk G. Phillips
Party Fusion Republican
Popular vote 37,319 36,949
Percentage 49.65% 49.16%
County results
Lee:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Phillips:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
No Vote:      
Governor of South Dakota before election

Andrew E. Lee
Populist

 Elected Governor of South Dakota

Andrew E. Lee
Fusion

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Fusion conventions

Prior to the separate conventions of the Democrats, Populists, and Free Silver Republicans, U.S. Senator Richard F. Pettigrew worked behind the scenes to continue the coalition's success. To ensure that anti-silver Democrats didn't bolt from the coalition, he convinced the three parties that the Democrats should be granted four positions on the statewide ticket, which the parties embraced.[1] In the end, the nominations were divvied up among the three parties as follows:[2]

  • Governor: Andrew E. Lee, Populist
  • Lieutenant Governor: T. C. Robinson, Free Silver Republican
  • Secretary of State: George Sparling, Populist
  • Treasurer: Maris Taylor, Democrat
  • Superintendent of Public Instruction: L. G. Hintz, Democrat
  • Attorney General: C. S. Palmer, Free Silver Republican
  • Auditor: Hugh J. Smith, Democrat
  • Commissioner of School Lands: John Scollard, Democrat
  • Railroad Commissioner: W. H. Tompkins, Populist

Republican convention

State Treasurer Kirk G. Phillips entered the Republican convention, held on August 24, 1898, in Mitchell, as the clear frontrunner for the Republican nomination. He ended up winning the nomination in a landslide, winning 449 votes to O. S. Gifford's 449 and H. M. Finnerud's 43.[3]

General election

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
1898 South Dakota gubernatorial special election[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Fusion Andrew E. Lee (inc.) 37,319 49.65% −0.10%
Republican Kirk G. Phillips 36,949 49.16% −0.21%
Prohibition K. Lewis 891 1.19% +0.31%
Majority 370 0.49% +0.11%
Turnout 75,159 100.00%
Fusion hold
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References

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