1944 South Dakota gubernatorial election

{{Short description|none}}

{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}

{{Infobox election

| election_name = 1944 South Dakota gubernatorial election

| country = South Dakota

| flag_year = 1909

| type = Presidential

| ongoing = no

| previous_election = 1942 South Dakota gubernatorial election

| previous_year = 1942

| next_election = 1946 South Dakota gubernatorial election

| next_year = 1946

| election_date = November 7, 1944

| image1 = x150px

| nominee1 = Merrell Q. Sharpe

| party1 = Republican Party (United States)

| popular_vote1 = 148,646

| percentage1 = 65.51%

| image2 = x100px

| nominee2 = Lynn Fellows

| party2 = Democratic Party (United States)

| popular_vote2 = 78,276

| percentage2 = 34.49%

| map_image = 1944 South Dakota gubernatorial election results map by county.svg

| map_size = 250px

| map_caption = County results
Sharpe: {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#d72f30|70–80%}} {{legend0|#c21b18|80–90%}}
Fellows: {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}}

| title = Governor

| before_election = Merrell Q. Sharpe

| before_party = Republican Party (United States)

| after_election = Merrell Q. Sharpe

| after_party = Republican Party (United States)

}}

{{ElectionsSD}}

The 1944 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1944. Incumbent Republican Governor Merrell Q. Sharpe ran for re-election to a second term. He was opposed Lynn Fellows, a former State Representative from Aurora County{{cite web |url=https://sdlegislature.gov/Historical/Legislator/Profile/219|title=Lynn Fellows|author=|website=Historical Listing|publisher=South Dakota Legislature Legislative Research Council|access-date=June 13, 2021}} the 1942 Democratic nominee for Attorney General, in the general election; both Sharpe and Fellows won their primaries unopposed.{{cite news|date=May 3, 1944|title=Demo Delegates Undecided—Few Turn Out To Vote|work=Rapid City Journal|location=Rapid City, S.D.|pages=1, 4|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/350480887/|access-date=June 13, 2021}} In the general election, Sharpe easily defeated Fellows, far outpacing even Republican presidential nominee Thomas E. Dewey, who won the state in a landslide.