# 1908 South Dakota gubernatorial election

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The 1908 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1908. Incumbent Republican Governor Coe I. Crawford opted to run for the U.S. Senate rather than run for re-election. State Senator Robert S. Vessey narrowly won the Republican primary over former State Representative John L. Browne and advanced to the general election, where he faced the Democratic nominee, former Governor Andrew E. Lee. Though Vessey's performance was significantly reduced from Crawford's performance in 1906, he still defeated Lee by a wide margin.

## Primary elections

Primary elections were held on June 9, 1908.

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates

* Andrew E. Lee, former Governor

#### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Andrew E. Lee | 7,567 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 7,657 | 100.00% |

### Republican primary
#### Candidates

* John L. Browne, State Representative
* Robert S. Vessey, State Senator

#### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Robert S. Vessey | 32,024 | 50.93% |
| | Republican | John L. Browne | 30,860 | 49.07% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 62,884 | 100.00% |

### Socialist primary
#### Candidates

* J. C. Knapp

#### Results

Socialist primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Socialist | J. C. Knapp | 451 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 451 | 100.00% |

## General election
### Results

1908 South Dakota gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Robert S. Vessey | 62,989 | 55.34% | −9.97% |
| | Democratic | Andrew E. Lee | 44,876 | 39.39% | +12.68% |
| | Prohibition | G. F. Knappen | 3,536 | 3.11% | −1.45% |
| | Socialist | J. C. Knapp | 2,542 | 2.15% | −1.25% |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 18,113 | 15.95% | −22.65% |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 113,943 | 100.00% | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |