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1930 South Dakota gubernatorial election

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1930 South Dakota gubernatorial election

← 1928 November 4, 1930 1932 →
 
Nominee Warren Green D. A. McCullough
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 107,643 93,954
Percentage 52.97% 46.23%

County results

Green:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

McCullough:      40–50%      50–60%      >90%

Governor of South Dakota before election

William J. Bulow
Democratic

Elected Governor of South Dakota

Warren Green
Republican

The 1930 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 1930. Incumbent Democratic Governor William J. Bulow declined to run for re-election to a third term, instead opting to successfully run for the U.S. Senate. The Republican nomination was hard-fought and the primary was crowded; because no candidate received 35% of the vote, state law required that the nomination be decided at a state party convention. There, former State Senator Warren Green, the last-place finisher in the primary, defeated Secretary of State Gladys Pyle, the plurality winner. In the general election, Green faced D. A. McCullough, the state's Rural Credits Commissioner and the Democratic nominee. Despite Bulow's success in the preceding two elections, Green defeated McCullough by a decisive margin—even as Bulow himself was elected to the U.S. Senate.

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Democratic primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic D. A. McCullough 11,760 56.14%
Democratic Lorenzo E. Corey 9,186 43.86%
Total votes 20,946 100.00%

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Campaign

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Following Governor Bulow's decision to run for the U.S. Senate rather than seek re-election, a crowded Republican primary developed to succeed him. When the votes were cast, Secretary of State Gladys Pyle emerged as the narrow plurality winner, but because she received less than 35% of the vote, under state law, the primary winner would be decided by a state party convention.[6]

Pyle, as the first-place finisher in the primary, was seen by some observers as a frontrunner heading into the convention. The Huronite argued, "If the [R]epublican state convention nominates Gladys Pyle for governor, she will be elected. . . . And she would make a most excellent governor."[7] In an editorial, the Argus Leader urged the convention to nominate her: "The smart thing for the Republican Party to do at its convention in Pierre on May 20 is to nominate Miss Gladys Pyle for Governor."[8] But this praise was frequently backhanded; though the Argus Leader endorsed her candidacy, it also noted that "[t]he convention promises to be a colorful affair with the added novelty a woman candidate" and that "Miss Pyle's great strength is that the women voted for her. In other words, it was another manifestation of the eternal battle of the sexes. Every husband knows about it."[9]

At the convention, following twelve ballots, Green, the last-place finisher in the primary, was nominated over Pyle. Green was finally put over the edge as the consensus choice when Howell dropped out and urged his supporters to back Green. Pyle had led most of the twelve ballots, but was unable to win enough support to receive majority support.[10] In defeat, however, Pyle was offered the vice-chairmanship of the state party, which she declined, noting that it would be impossible for her to continue her service as Secretary of State and serve in a party leadership role.[11]

Results

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Republican primary[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Gladys Pyle 33,153 28.29%
Republican Carl Gunderson 31,543 26.92%
Republican Brooke Howell 22,549 19.24%
Republican Carl O. Trygstad 21,224 18.11%
Republican Warren Green 8,701 7.43%
Total votes 117,170 100.00%

General election

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Results

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1930 South Dakota gubernatorial election[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Warren Green 107,643 52.97% +6.03%
Democratic D. A. McCullough 93,954 46.23% −6.25%
Independent Helge Tangen 1,620 0.80%
Majority 13,689 6.74% +1.19%
Turnout 203,217 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Warren E. Green's Hat In Ring As Candidate For Governor: State Political Pot Warming Up in Both Parties". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, S.D. January 20, 1930. pp. 1–2. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  2. ^ "Lorenzo Emos Corey". Historical Listing. South Dakota Legislature Legislative Research Council. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Nelson, Nelson; Heinrich, Chad W., eds. (2005). "Chapter 8: Elections". Legislative Manual: South Dakota, 2005. Pierre, S.D. p. 626.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. ^ "Gunderson to Run for Office: Mitchell Republican Says He Will Seek G. O. P. Gubernatorial Nomination". Black Hills Weekly. Deadwood, S.D. March 4, 1930. p. 1. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  5. ^ "Carl O. Trygstad". Historical Listing. South Dakota Legislature Legislative Research Council. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  6. ^ "Convention Will Decide on Nominee". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, S.D. May 8, 1930. p. 1. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  7. ^ "Miss Pyle Can Be Elected". Evening Huronite. Huron, S.D. May 10, 1930. p. 4. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  8. ^ "Nominate Gladys Pyle". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, S.D. May 10, 1930. p. 6. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  9. ^ "The Primary Election". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, S.D. May 8, 1930. p. 6. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  10. ^ "Warren Green Is G.O.P. Nominee: Gladys Pyle Loses Out on 12th Ballot". Lead Daily Call. Huron, S.D. May 21, 1930. p. 1. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  11. ^ "Gladys Pyle's Position". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, S.D. May 23, 1930. p. 6. Retrieved June 13, 2021.