| Election Name: | 1946 South Dakota gubernatorial election |
| Country: | South Dakota |
| Flag Year: | 1909 |
| Type: | Presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1944 South Dakota gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 1944 |
| Next Election: | 1948 South Dakota gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 1948 |
| Election Date: | November 5, 1946 |
| Image1: | File:George T. Mickelson.jpg |
| Nominee1: | George T. Mickelson |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 108,998 |
| Percentage1: | 67.16% |
| Nominee2: | Richard Haeder |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 53,294 |
| Percentage2: | 32.84% |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Merrell Q. Sharpe |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | George T. Mickelson |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
The 1946 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1946. Incumbent Republican Governor Merrell Q. Sharpe ran for re-election to a third term, but was defeated in the Republican primary by Attorney General George T. Mickelson. In the general election, Mickelson faced farmer Richard Haeder, the Democratic nominee. In part because of South Dakota's growing trend toward the Republican Party, and because of the national Republican landslide, Mickelson easily defeated Haeder, winning 67% of the vote to Haeder's 33%.