2018 South Dakota gubernatorial election

2018 South Dakota gubernatorial election

← 2014 November 6, 2018 2022 →
 
Nominee Kristi Noem Billie Sutton
Party Republican Democratic
Running mate Larry Rhoden Michelle Lavallee
Popular vote 172,912 161,454
Percentage 50.97% 47.60%

Noem:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Sutton:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Tie:      40–50%

Governor before election

Dennis Daugaard
Republican

Elected Governor

Kristi Noem
Republican

The 2018 South Dakota gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2018, to elect the next governor of South Dakota. Incumbent Republican governor Dennis Daugaard was term-limited and could not seek a third consecutive term.

Republican candidate Kristi Noem won against Democratic candidate Billie Sutton in the closest gubernatorial election in South Dakota since 1986.[1] Noem also became the first female governor of the state.[2] Her victory extended the longest active hold on a governorship by one party; the GOP has won every gubernatorial election in South Dakota starting in 1978. Conversely, Noem's vote percentage of 51% was the worst performance for any Republican gubernatorial candidate in the state since 1974, while Sutton's 47.6% was the best for any Democratic candidate since 1986.

  1. ^ Ellis, Jonathon (November 6, 2018). "Yes, South Dakota has had close governor races, but it's been awhile". Argus Leader. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  2. ^ Nord, James (January 5, 2019). "Kristi Noem sworn in as South Dakota's 1st female governor". AP.