1896 South Dakota gubernatorial election

1896 South Dakota gubernatorial election

← 1894 November 3, 1896 1898 →
 
Nominee Andrew E. Lee Amund O. Ringsrud
Party Populist Republican
Popular vote 41,187 40,868
Percentage 49.76% 49.37%

County results
Lee:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Ringsrud:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Tie:      50%
No Vote:      

Governor of South Dakota before election

Charles H. Sheldon
Republican

Elected Governor of South Dakota

Andrew E. Lee
Populist

The 1896 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1896. Incumbent Republican Governor Charles H. Sheldon declined to run for re-election to a third term. Former Secretary of State Amund O. Ringsrud was nominated as Sheldon's replacement at the Republican convention. Ringrud's main opponent was businessman Andrew E. Lee, who was nominated by a makeshift coalition of Populists, Free Silver Republicans, and Democrats. In the general election, Lee narrowly defeated Ringsrud, the first defeat for the Republican Party in a gubernatorial election since statehood.