# 1946 South Dakota gubernatorial election

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The 1946 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1946. Incumbent Republican Governor Merrell Q. Sharpe ran for re-election to a third term, but was defeated in the Republican primary by Attorney General George T. Mickelson. In the general election, Mickelson faced farmer Richard Haeder, the Democratic nominee. In part because of South Dakota's growing trend toward the Republican Party, and because of the national Republican landslide, Mickelson easily defeated Haeder, winning 67% of the vote to Haeder's 33%.

## Democratic primary
### Candidates

* Richard Haeder, farmer and president of the South Dakota Rural Electrification Association
* Edward Prchal, former member of the South Dakota Board of Regents, 1942 Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate
* Jennie M. O'Hern, Democratic National Committeewoman

### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Richard Haeder | 8,093 | 41.06% |
| | Democratic | Edward Prchal | 6,563 | 33.30% |
| | Democratic | Jennie M. O'Hern | 5,053 | 25.64% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 19,709 | 100.00% |

## Republican primary
### Candidates

* George T. Mickelson, incumbent Attorney General of South Dakota
* Merrell Q. Sharpe, incumbent Governor
* Millard G. Scott, former State Rural Credit Director, 1942 Republican candidate for Governor

### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | George T. Mickelson | 32,515 | 44.98% |
| | Republican | Merrell Q. Sharpe (inc.) | 23,325 | 32.27% |
| | Republican | Millard G. Scott | 16,442 | 22.75% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 72,282 | 100.00% |

## General election
### Results

1946 South Dakota gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | George T. Mickelson | 108,998 | 67.16% | +1.66% |
| | Democratic | Richard Haeder | 53,294 | 32.84% | −1.66% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 55,704 | 34.32% | +3.31% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 162,292 | 100.00% | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |