1920 South Dakota gubernatorial election
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The 1920 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1920. Incumbent Republican Governor Peter Norbeck declined to run for re-election, instead choosing to run for the U.S. Senate. Lieutenant Governor William H. McMaster won the Republican primary and advanced to the general election, where he faced Nonpartisan League candidate Mark P. Bates and former State Senator William W. Howes, the Democratic nominee. The election was largely a replay of the 1918 election, with McMaster winning a large victory, Bates coming in second, and Howes coming in a distant third.
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November 2, 1920
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 County results McMaster: 40â50% 50â60% 60â70% 70â80% Bates: 40â50% 50â60% | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Primary elections
Democratic primary
Former State Senator William W. Howes, who previously represented Beadle County in the State Senate,[1] won the Democratic nomination unopposed and the race did not appear on the primary election ballot.[2]
Republican primary
Candidates
- William H. McMaster, Lieutenant Governor
- Richard O. Richards, perennial candidate[3]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | William H. McMaster | 47,508 | 61.13% | |
| Republican | Richard O. Richards | 30,203 | 38.87% | |
| Total votes | 77,711 | 100.00% | ||
General election
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | William H. McMaster | 103,592 | 56.33% | +3.12% | |
| Nonpartisan League | Mark P. Bates | 48,426 | 26.33% | +0.21% | |
| Democratic | William W. Howes | 31,870 | 17.33% | â1.24% | |
| Majority | 55,166 | 30.00% | +2.90% | ||
| Turnout | 183,888 | ||||
| Republican hold | |||||