South Dakota gubernatorial election, 1896

South Dakota gubernatorial election, 1896

November 3, 1896 (1896-11-03)

Nominee Andrew E. Lee Amund O. Ringsrud J. F. Hanson Party People's Republican Prohibition Running mate P. R. Crothers D. T. Hindman F. J. Carlisle Popular vote 41,187 40,868 722 Percentage 49.76% 49.37% 0.87%

Governor before election Charles H. Sheldon Republican Elected Governor Andrew E. Lee People's

The 1896 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1896, to elect a Governor of South Dakota to a two-year term. People's Party nominee Andrew E. Lee was elected, defeating Republican nominee Amund O. Ringsrud and Prohibition Party nominee J. F. Hanson.

Lee's victory was by the smallest margin in South Dakota gubernatorial election history; he defeated Ringsrud by 319 votes, or 0.39% of votes. Lee was also the only Populist in South Dakota history to serve as governor.

Results

South Dakota gubernatorial election, 1896
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	People's	Andrew E. Lee	41,187	49.76
	Republican	Amund O. Ringsrud	40,868	49.37
	Prohibition	J. F. Hanson	722	0.87
Total votes			82,777	100
Majority			319	0.39%
	People's gain from Republican