1890 South Dakota gubernatorial election

1890 South Dakota gubernatorial election

← 1889 November 4, 1890 1892 →
 
Nominee Arthur C. Mellette Henry Loucks Maris Taylor
Party Republican Independent Party Democratic
Popular vote 34,487 24,591 18,484
Percentage 44.46% 31.70% 23.83%

County results
Mellette:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Loucks:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Taylor:      40–50%
No Vote:      

Governor of South Dakota before election

Arthur C. Mellette
Republican

Elected Governor of South Dakota

Arthur C. Mellette
Republican

The 1890 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1890. Incumbent Republican Governor Arthur C. Mellette ran for re-election to a second term. He was challenged in the general election by State Surveyor General Maris Taylor, the Democratic nominee, and Henry A. Loucks, the President of the South Dakota Farmers' Alliance and the Independent Party nominee. In part because the left-leaning vote was split, Mellette won re-election, but by a significantly reduced margin, winning a weak plurality with just 44% of the vote. Loucks beat out Maris for second place, receiving 32% of the vote to Taylor's 24%.