# 1912 South Dakota gubernatorial election

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The 1912 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1912. Incumbent Republican Governor Robert S. Vessey declined to run for re-election to a third term. Lieutenant Governor Frank M. Byrne won the Republican primary to succeed Vessey, and then faced State Senator Edwin S. Johnson, the Democratic nominee, in the general election. Byrne only narrowly defeated Johnson, winning just 49% of the vote to Johnson's 46%, the closest gubernatorial election since 1898.

## Primary elections

Primary elections were held on June 4, 1912.

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates

* Edwin S. Johnson, former State Senator
* P. F. Wickhem, former State Senator

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Edwin S. Johnson | 7,092 | 55.32% |
| | Democratic | P. F. Wickhem | 5,727 | 44.68% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 12,819 | 100.00% |

### Republican primary
#### Candidates

* Frank M. Byrne, Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota
* George W. Egan, disbarred attorney, 1910 Republican candidate for Governor
* Loomis S. Cull, Registrar of the Rapid City United States Land Office

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Frank M. Byrne | 38,660 | 51.74% |
| | Republican | George W. Egan | 29,481 | 39.46% |
| | Republican | Loomis S. Cull | 6,576 | 8.80% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 74,717 | 100.00% |

### Prohibition primary
#### Candidates

* O. W. Butterfield, Prohibition candidate for Governor in 1910

#### Results

Prohibition primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Prohibition | O. W. Butterfield | 636 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 636 | 100.00% |

### Socialist primary
#### Candidates

* Samuel Lovett

#### Results

Socialist primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Socialist | Samuel Lovett | 636 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 636 | 100.00% |

## General election
### Candidates

* Edwin S. Johnson, Democratic
* Frank M. Byrne, Republican
* O. W. Butterfield, Prohibition
* Samuel Lovett, Socialist

### Results

1912 South Dakota gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Frank M. Byrne | 57,160 | 48.51% | −9.84% |
| | Democratic | Edwin S. Johnson | 53,850 | 45.70% | +9.81% |
| | Socialist | Samuel Lovett | 3,479 | 2.95% | — |
| | Prohibition | O. W. Butterfield | 3,339 | 2.83% | −1.42% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,310 | 2.81% | −19.65% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 117,828 | 100.00% | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |