1940 South Dakota gubernatorial election

1940 South Dakota gubernatorial election

← 1938 November 5, 1940 1942 →
 
Nominee Harlan J. Bushfield Lewis W. Bicknell
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 167,686 136,428
Percentage 55.14% 44.86%

County results

Bushfield:      50-60%      60-70%      70-80%      80-90%

Bicknell:      50–60%      60–70%

Governor of South Dakota before election

Harlan J. Bushfield
Republican

Elected Governor of South Dakota

Harlan J. Bushfield
Republican

The 1940 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1940. Incumbent Republican Governor Harlan J. Bushfield sought re-election to a second term. After winning the Republican primary by a large margin, he faced Democrat Lewis W. Bicknell, former Day County State's Attorney, in the general election. Though Bushfield underperformed Republican presidential nominee Wendell Willkie, who won the state in a landslide, he nonetheless defeated Bicknell by a wide margin to easily win re-election.