# 1972 South Dakota gubernatorial election

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The 1972 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1972, to elect a Governor of South Dakota. It was the last election in South Dakota to elect the governor for a two-year term after a 1972 state constitutional amendment established a four-year term. Democratic nominee Richard F. Kneip was re-elected, defeating Republican nominee Carveth Thompson despite incumbent Republican President Richard Nixon winning the state with 62% of the vote on the same ballot.

## Democratic primary
### Candidates

* Richard F. Kneip, incumbent Governor of South Dakota

## Republican primary
### Candidates

* Carveth Thompson, member of the South Dakota House of Representatives
* Simon W. Chance

### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Carveth Thompson | 65,538 | 72.41 |
| | Republican | Simon W. Chance | 24,975 | 27.59 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 90,513 | 100.00 |

## General election
### Results

South Dakota gubernatorial election, 1972 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Richard F. Kneip (inc.) | 185,012 | 60.03 |
| | Republican | Carveth Thompson | 123,165 | 39.97 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 308,177 | 100.00 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 61,847 | 20.06 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |