1944 South Dakota gubernatorial election

1944 South Dakota gubernatorial election

November 7, 1944
 
Nominee Merrell Q. Sharpe Lynn Fellows
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 148,646 78,276
Percentage 65.51% 34.49%

County results
Sharpe:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Fellows:      70–80%

Governor before election

Merrell Q. Sharpe
Republican

Elected Governor

Merrell Q. Sharpe
Republican

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 the 1942 Democratic nominee for Attorney General, in the general election; both Sharpe and Fellows won their primaries unopposed. In the general election, Sharpe easily defeated Fellows, far outpacing even Republican presidential nominee Thomas E. Dewey, who won the state in a landslide.