1962 United States Senate election in South Dakota

1962 United States Senate election in South Dakota

← 1956 November 6, 1962 1968 →
 
Nominee George McGovern Joe Bottum
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 127,458 126,861
Percentage 50.12% 49.88%

County results
McGovern:      50–60%      60–70%
Bottum:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election

Joe Bottum
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

George McGovern
Democratic

The 1962 United States Senate election in South Dakota took place on November 6, 1962. Incumbent Republican Senator Francis H. Case ran for re-election to a third term. He won the Republican primary against Attorney General A. C. Miller, but shortly after the primary, died. The Republican State Central Committee named Lieutenant Governor Joseph H. Bottum as Case's replacement on the ballot, and Governor Archie Gubbrud appointed Bottum to fill the vacancy caused by Case's death.[1] In the general election, Bottum was opposed by Democratic nominee George McGovern, the Director of Food for Peace and the former U.S. Congressman from South Dakota's 1st congressional district. The contest between Bottum and McGovern was quite close, with McGovern narrowly defeating him for election by just 597 votes, making him the first Democrat to win a Senate election in South Dakota since William J. Bulow's win in 1936.

  1. ^ "Bottum Named Case's Replacement; Tapped For November Ballot". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, S.D. July 10, 1962. p. 1. Retrieved June 10, 2021.