1974 United States Senate election in South Dakota
{{short description|none}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 1974 United States Senate election in South Dakota
| country = South Dakota
| flag_year = 1963
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 1968 United States Senate election in South Dakota
| previous_year = 1968
| next_election = 1980 United States Senate election in South Dakota
| next_year = 1980
| election_date = November 5, 1974
| image_size = 150x150px
| nominee1 = George McGovern
| image1 = George McGovern (D-SD) (3x4-1).jpg
| party1 = Democratic Party (United States)
| popular_vote1 = 147,929
| percentage1 = 53.04%
| nominee2 = Leo K. Thorsness
| image2 = Leo K Thorsness.jpg
| party2 = Republican Party (United States)
| popular_vote2 = 130,955
| percentage2 = 46.96%
| map_image = 1974 United States Senate election in South Dakota results map by county.svg
| map_size = 260px
| map_caption = County results
McGovern: {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}}
Thorsness: {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60-70%}} {{legend0|#d72f30|70–80%}}
| title = U.S. Senator
| before_election = George McGovern
| before_party = Democratic Party (US)
| after_election = George McGovern
| after_party = Democratic Party (US)
}}
{{ElectionsSD}}
The 1974 United States Senate election in South Dakota was held on November 5, 1974. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator George McGovern ran for reelection to a third term and won.
McGovern's reelection was notable for the fact two years prior, in the 1972 presidential election, McGovern lost his home state by 9 points to Richard Nixon, yet won his Senate reelection bid by 7 points, marking a sixteen point swing in two years.
Primary elections
Primary elections were held on June 4, 1974.
= Democratic primary =
== Candidates ==
- George McGovern, incumbent U.S. Senator
== Results ==
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Democratic primary results{{sfn|Congressional Quarterly|1998|p=152}}{{sfn|America Votes 11|p=302}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = George McGovern (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = unopposed
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box end}}
= Republican primary =
== Candidates ==
- Barbara B. Gunderson, former Republican National Committeewoman, former Civil Service Commissioner{{Cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/rapidcity/name/barbara-gunderson-obituary?pid=91774382|title = Barbara Bates Gunderson Obituary (2007) Rapid City Journal| website=Legacy.com }}
- Al Schock{{Cite web|url=https://sdexcellence.org/Al_Schock|title = Al Schock - SD Hall of Fame Programs}}
- Leo K. Thorsness, former United States Air Force colonel and prisoner of war
== Results ==
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Republican primary results{{sfn|Congressional Quarterly|1998|p=152}}{{sfn|America Votes 11|p=302}}{{cite web |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=335367 |title=SD US Senate, 1974 - R Primary |publisher=Our Campaigns |access-date=30 May 2021}}{{cite book |editor=Lorna B. Herseth, Secretary of State |title=Official Election Returns for South Dakota: Primary Election, June 4, 1974 |url=https://sdsos.gov/elections-voting/assets/74SDPRIM.pdf |page=2 }}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Leo K. Thorsness
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 49,716
| percentage = 52.35%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Al Schock
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 35,406
| percentage = 37.28%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Barbara B. Gunderson
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 9,852
| percentage = 10.37%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 94,974
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
General election
= Candidates =
- Leo K. Thorsness (R)
- George McGovern (D), incumbent U.S. Senator
= Results =
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 1974 United States Senate election in South Dakota{{sfn|Congressional Quarterly|1998|p=96}}{{sfn|America Votes 11|p=297}}{{cite web |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=6354 |title=SD US Senate, 1974 |publisher=Our Campaigns |access-date=30 May 2021}}{{cite book |editor=Lorna B. Herseth, Secretary of State |title=Official Election Returns for South Dakota: General Election, November 5, 1974 |url=https://sdsos.gov/elections-voting/assets/74SDGEN.pdf |page=2 }}{{Cite web |title=Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 1974 |url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1974election.pdf |date=1975-08-01 |access-date=2020-12-03 |publisher=Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (US)
| candidate = George McGovern (incumbent)
| votes = 147,929
| percentage = 53.04
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (US)
| candidate = Leo K. Thorsness
| votes = 130,955
| percentage = 46.96
}}
{{Election box majority no change
| votes = 16,974
| percentage = 6.08
}}
{{Election box turnout no change
| votes = 278,884
| percentage =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (US)
| swing =
}}
{{End}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
Bibliography
- {{cite book |title=Congressional Elections, 1946-1996 |year=1998 |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=Congressional Quarterly Inc. |publication-date=1998 |isbn=1-56802-248-4 | ref={{SfnRef|Congressional Quarterly|1998}}}}
- {{cite book |editor-last1=Scammon |editor-first1=Richard M. |title=America Votes 11: a handbook of contemporary American election statistics, 1974 |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=Elections Research Center |publication-date=1975 | ref={{SfnRef|America Votes 11}}}}
{{1974 United States elections}}
{{SouthDakota-election-stub}}