Summary
The 1904 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1904. Incumbent Republican Governor Charles N. Herreid declined to run for re-election to a third term. Clark County State's Attorney Samuel H. Elrod won the Republican nomination to run as Herreid's successor, and he faced Democratic nominee Louis N. Crill, the former President of the State Senate, and former U.S. Congressman Freeman Knowles, the Socialist nominee. For the first time since 1894, the Democratic and Populist Parties nominated separate candidates. Ultimately, the split in the two parties did not prove dispositive; Elrod defeated Crill and the other candidates in a landslide.
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 County results Elrod: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% No Vote: | |||||||||||||||||
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Republican convention edit
In the lead-up to the Republican convention, speculation swirled around several names:[1] Secretary of State O. C. Berg, former Attorney General Coe I. Crawford, State Senator J. E. McDougall,[2] Clark County State's Attorney Samuel H. Elrod, and State Representative H. P. Packard of Spink County.[3] At the convention, however, Elrod emerged as the consensus pick and the other candidates ceased their campaigns. Nonetheless, Crawford was nominated by his supporters and the contest continued; Elrod ended up defeating Crawford, receiving 778 votes to Crawford's 226.[4]
Democratic conventions edit
At the Democratic convention, former State Senate President Louis N. Crill was nominated by acclamation, receiving his party's nomination. This time, however, the Democratic Party did not fuse with the Populist Party, with the parties nominating separate candidates.[5]
General election edit
Results edit
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Samuel H. Elrod | 68,561 | 68.29% | +3.56% | |
| Democratic | Louis N. Crill | 24,772 | 24.68% | -4.06% | |
| Socialist | Freeman Knowles | 3,028 | 3.02% | -0.50% | |
| Prohibition | W. J. Edgar | 2,916 | 2.90% | -0.11% | |
| Populist | R. C. Warne | 1,114 | 1.11% | — | |
| Majority | 43,789 | 43.62% | +7.62% | ||
| Turnout | 100,391 | 100.00% | |||
| Republican hold | |||||
References edit
- ^ "Results of Conventions: Crawford, Elrod and McDougall all Get Delegations". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, S.D. April 4, 1904. p. 1. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
- ^ "John Edmund McDougall". Historical Listing. South Dakota Legislature Legislative Research Council. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
- ^ "Harlan P. Packard". Historical Listing. South Dakota Legislature Legislative Research Council. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
- ^ "Elrod the Choice of South Dakota: Got Over Two Thirds of the Votes of the 1014 Delegates to the Republican State Convention Yesterday". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, S.D. May 5, 1904. pp. 1, 3. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
- ^ Lindell, Terrence J. (1982). South Dakota Populism (M.A.). University of Nebraska–Lincoln. pp. 149–502. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
- ^ Nelson, Nelson; Heinrich, Chad W., eds. (2005). "Chapter 8: Elections". Legislative Manual: South Dakota, 2005. Pierre, S.D. p. 618.
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