# 1974 South Dakota gubernatorial election

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The 1974 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1974, to elect a Governor of South Dakota. This election was the first in South Dakota to elect the governor for a four-year term, after it was allowed by a constitutional amendment passed in 1972. Democratic nominee and Governor Richard F. Kneip was re-elected, defeating Republican nominee John E. Olson. As of 2024, this is the last time that a Democrat was elected Governor of South Dakota, marking the start of the longest Republican winning streak in the country for a state's governorship, as well as the longest gubernatorial winning streak by a single party.

## Democratic primary
### Candidates

* Richard F. Kneip, incumbent Governor of South Dakota
* Bill Dougherty, Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota

### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Richard F. Kneip (Incumbent) | 45,932 | 66.19 |
| | Democratic | Bill Dougherty | 23,467 | 33.81 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 69,399 | 100.00 |

## Republican primary
### Candidates

* John E. Olson
* Ronald F. Williamson
* Oscar W. Hagen

### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John E. Olson | 49,973 | 55.57 |
| | Republican | Ronald F. Williamson | 25,509 | 28.37 |
| | Republican | Oscar W. Hagen | 14,444 | 16.06 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 89,926 | 100.00 |

## General election
### Results

South Dakota gubernatorial election, 1978 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Richard F. Kneip (inc.) | 149,151 | 53.61 |
| | Republican | John E. Olson | 129,077 | 46.39 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 278,228 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |