List of governors of South Dakota explained

The governor of South Dakota is the head of government of the U.S. state of South Dakota. The current governor is Kristi Noem, representing the Republican Party, serving since 2019.

Governors

Dakota Territory was organized on March 2, 1861; on November 2, 1889, it was split into the states of North Dakota and South Dakota.

The Constitution of South Dakota originally provided for the election of a governor and lieutenant governor every two years with no limits. A law passed in 1947 prohibited parties from nominating someone who had served two consecutive terms, effectively creating a term limit, and an amendment in 1972 increased term lengths to four years while formally prohibiting someone from serving three consecutive terms. Should the office of governor become vacant, the lieutenant governor becomes governor.

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Governor	Term in office	Party	Election	Lt. Governor
1			Arthur C. Mellette ^[1]	- January 3, 1893	Republican	1889
						1890
2			Charles H. Sheldon ^[2]	^[3]  - January 5, 1897	Republican	1892
						1894
3			Andrew E. Lee ^[4]	^[5]  - January 8, 1901	Populist	1896
						1898
4			Charles N. Herreid ^[6]	^[7]  - January 3, 1905	Republican	1900
						1902
5	data-sort-value="Elrod, Samuel"			Samuel H. Elrod ^[8]	^[9]  - January 8, 1907	Republican		1904
6	data-sort-value="Crawford, Coe"			Coe I. Crawford ^[10]	^[11]  - January 5, 1909	Republican		1906
7			Robert S. Vessey ^[12]	^[13]  - January 7, 1913	Republican	1908
						1910
8			Frank M. Byrne ^[14]	^[15]  - January 2, 1917	Republican	1912
						1914
9			Peter Norbeck ^[16]	^[17]  - January 4, 1921	Republican	1916
						1918
10			William H. McMaster ^[18]	^[19]  - January 6, 1925	Republican	1920
						1922
11	data-sort-value="Gunderson, Carl"			Carl Gunderson ^[20]	^[21]  - January 3, 1927	Republican		1924
12			William J. Bulow ^[22]	^[23]  - January 6, 1931	Democratic	1926
						1928
13	data-sort-value="Green, Warren"			Warren Green ^[24]	^[25]  - January 3, 1933	Republican	1930
14			Tom Berry ^[26]	^[27]  - January 5, 1937	Democratic	1932
						1934
15	data-sort-value="Jensen, Leslie"			Leslie Jensen ^[28]	^[29]  - January 3, 1939	Republican	1936
16		Harlan J. Bushfield ^[30]		^[31]  - January 5, 1943	Republican	1938
						1940
17		Merrell Q. Sharpe ^[32]		^[33]  - January 7, 1947	Republican	1942
						1944
18		George T. Mickelson ^[34]		^[35]  - January 2, 1951	Republican	1946
						1948
19		Sigurd Anderson ^[36]		^[37]  - January 4, 1955	Republican	1950
						1952
20		Joe Foss ^[38]		^[39]  - January 6, 1959	Republican	1954
						1956
21	data-sort-value="Herseth, Ralph"			Ralph Herseth ^[40]	^[41]  - January 3, 1961	Democratic	1958
22			Archie M. Gubbrud ^[42]	^[43]  - January 5, 1965	Republican	1960
						1962
23			Nils Boe ^[44]	^[45]  - January 7, 1969	Republican	1964
						1966
24	data-sort-value="Farrar, Frank"			Frank Farrar ^[46]	^[47]  - January 5, 1971	Republican	1968
25			Richard F. Kneip ^[48]	^[49]  - July 24, 1978	Democratic	1970
						1972
						1974
26	data-sort-value="Wollman, Harvey"			Harvey Wollman ^[50]	^[51]  - January 1, 1979	Democratic		Vacant
27			Bill Janklow ^[52]	^[53]  - January 10, 1987	Republican	1978
						1982
28			George S. Mickelson ^[54]	^[55]  - April 19, 1993	Republican	1986
						1990
29	data-sort-value="Miller, Walter"			Walter Dale Miller ^[56]	^[57]  - January 7, 1995	Republican
30			Bill Janklow	^[58]  - January 7, 2003	Republican	1994
						1998
31			Mike Rounds ^[59]	^[60]  - January 8, 2011	Republican	2002
						2006
32			Dennis Daugaard ^[61]	^[62]  - January 5, 2019	Republican	2010
						2014
33			Kristi Noem ^[63]	^[64]  - Incumbent	Republican	2018
						2022

See also

• Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States#South Dakota
• List of South Dakota state legislatures

References

General

• Web site: Former South Dakota Governors . July 4, 2023 . National Governors Association.
• Book: Sobel, Robert . Biographical directory of the governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. IV . Meckler Books . 1978 . 9780930466008 . June 13, 2023.
• Book: Kallenbach, Joseph Ernest . American State Governors, 1776-1976 . 1977 . Oceana Publications . 978-0-379-00665-0 . September 23, 2023.
• Book: Dubin, Michael J. . United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1861-1911: The Official Results by State and County . 2014 . McFarland . 978-0-7864-5646-8 . en.
• Book: Glashan, Roy R. . American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775-1978 . 1979 . Meckler Books . 978-0-930466-17-6.
• Web site: Our Campaigns - Governor of South Dakota - History . 2023-07-25 . www.ourcampaigns.com.

Specific

External links

• Office of the Governor of South Dakota

Notes and References

1. Web site: Arthur Calvin Mellette . July 4, 2023 . National Governors Association.
2. Web site: Charles Henry Sheldon . July 4, 2023 . National Governors Association.
3. South Dakota Legislature. Journal of the Senate. 3rd sess., 28, accessed July 4, 2023
4. Web site: Andrew Ericson Lee . July 4, 2023 . National Governors Association.
5. South Dakota Legislature. Journal of the Senate. 5th sess., 3, accessed July 4, 2023
6. Web site: Charles N. Herreid . July 4, 2023 . National Governors Association.
7. News: 1901-01-08 . Gov. Charles N. Herreid Has Been Inaugurated . 1 . Argus-Leader . 2023-07-05.
8. Web site: Samuel Harrison Elrod . July 4, 2023 . National Governors Association.
9. South Dakota Legislature. Journal of the Senate. 9th sess., 21, accessed July 4, 2023
10. Web site: Coe Isaac Crawford . July 4, 2023 . National Governors Association.
11. News: 1907-01-10 . In Harness . 3 . The Madison Daily Leader . 2023-07-05.
12. Web site: Robert Scadden Vessey . July 4, 2023 . National Governors Association.
13. News: 1909-01-07 . Law Makers Begin Grind . 1 . The Miller Press . 2023-07-05.
14. Web site: Frank M. Byrne . July 4, 2023 . National Governors Association.
15. News: 1913-01-10 . Wheels Begin to Turn . 4 . Hot Springs Weekly Star . 2023-07-05.
16. Web site: Peter Norbeck . July 4, 2023 . National Governors Association.
17. News: 1917-01-03 . South Dakota's Legislators Organize Without Friction . 1 . The Daily Deadwood Pioneer-Times . 2023-07-05.
18. Web site: William Henry McMaster . July 4, 2023 . National Governors Association.
19. News: 1921-01-04 . S.D. Legislature Convenes at Pierre in 17th Session; Gov. M'Master Inaugurated . 1 . Argus-Leader . 2023-07-05.
20. Web site: Carl Gunderson . July 4, 2023 . National Governors Association.
21. News: 1925-01-06 . People Demand Economy, Says New Executive . 2 . Argus-Leader . Associated Press . 2023-07-05.
22. Web site: William John Bulow . July 4, 2023 . National Governors Association.
23. News: 1927-01-04 . Bulow Took Oath of Office Monday . 1 . The Daily Deadwood Pioneer-Times . Associated Press . 2023-07-05.
24. Web site: Warren Everett Green . July 4, 2023 . National Governors Association.
25. News: 1931-01-06 . Dirt Farmer Takes Official Reins in Inaugural Service . en-us . 1 . Rapid City Journal . Associated Press . 2023-07-05.
26. Web site: Thomas Matthew Berry . July 4, 2023 . National Governors Association.
27. News: 1933-01-03 . Berry, Green Urge Economy . 1 . Argus-Leader . Associated Press . 2023-07-05.
28. Web site: Leslie Jensen . July 4, 2023 . National Governors Association.
29. News: 1937-01-06 . Jensen Takes Office As Governor . 1 . Deadwood Pioneer-Times . Associated Press . 2023-07-05.
30. Web site: Harlan John Bushfield . July 4, 2023 . National Governors Association.
31. News: 1939-01-03 . Bushfield Becomes 16th Governor of State; Jensen Urges Speedy Liquidation of Rural Credits . 1 . The Daily Plainsman . Associated Press . 2023-07-05.
32. Web site: Merrell Quentin Sharpe . July 4, 2023 . National Governors Association.
33. South Dakota Legislature. Journal of the Senate. 28th sess., 16, accessed July 4, 2023
34. Web site: George T. Mickelson . July 4, 2023 . National Governors Association.
35. South Dakota Legislature. Journal of the Senate. 30th sess., 8, accessed July 5, 2023
36. Web site: Sigurd Anderson . July 4, 2023 . National Governors Association.
37. South Dakota Legislature. Journal of the Senate. 32nd sess., 7, accessed July 5, 2023
38. Web site: Joseph Jacob Foss . July 4, 2023 . National Governors Association.
39. South Dakota Legislature. Journal of the Senate. 34th sess., 8, accessed July 5, 2023
40. Web site: Ralph E. Herseth . July 4, 2023 . National Governors Association.
41. News: 1959-01-07 . S.D. Session Is Off to Fast Start with 4 Bills . 2 . Argus-Leader . Associated Press . 2023-07-05.
42. Web site: Archie Gubbrud . July 4, 2023 . National Governors Association.
43. South Dakota Legislature. Journal of the Senate. 37th sess., 11, accessed July 5, 2023
44. Web site: Nils Andreas Boe . July 4, 2023 . National Governors Association.
45. South Dakota Legislature. Journal of the Senate. 40th sess., 4, accessed July 5, 2023
46. Web site: Frank Leroy Farrar . July 4, 2023 . National Governors Association.
47. South Dakota Legislature. Journal of the Senate. 44th sess., 4, accessed July 5, 2023
48. Web site: Richard Francis Kneip . July 4, 2023 . National Governors Association.
49. South Dakota Legislature. Journal of the Senate. 46th sess., 4, accessed July 5, 2023
50. Web site: Harvey Wollman . July 4, 2023 . National Governors Association.
51. News: Porter . Charlotte . 1978-07-25 . Wollman Inauguration an Event of Contrasting Feelings . 1 . Rapid City Journal . Associated Press . 2023-07-05.
52. Web site: William J. Janklow . July 4, 2023 . National Governors Association.
53. News: Newhouse . Eric . 1979-01-02 . Janklow Moves Early to Stop Appointments . 1 . Rapid City Journal . Associated Press . 2023-07-05.
54. Web site: George S. Mickelson . July 4, 2023 . National Governors Association.
55. News: Bolding . Julie . 1987-01-11 . Mickelson Takes Oath . 1A . Argus-Leader . 2023-07-05.
56. Web site: Walter D. Miller . July 4, 2023 . National Governors Association.
57. News: Kranz . David . 1993-04-20 . Miller to Become State's 29th Governor . 6A . Argus-Leader . 2023-07-05.
58. News: Woster . Terry . 1995-01-08 . Janklow: Let's Work Together . 1A . Argus-Leader . 2023-07-05.
59. Web site: Mike Rounds . July 4, 2023 . National Governors Association.
60. News: Kafka . Joe . 2003-01-08 . Rounds Sworn In As S.D. Governor . D7 . Rapid City Journal . Associated Press . 2023-07-05.
61. Web site: Dennis Daugaard . July 4, 2023 . National Governors Association.
62. News: Harriman . Peter . 2011-01-09 . Daugaard Takes Oath with Call for Self-Reliance . 1A . Argus-Leader . 2023-07-05.
63. Web site: Kristi Noem . July 4, 2023 . National Governors Association.
64. News: Kaczke . Lisa . Gov. Kristi Noem, in historic inauguration, looks to improve South Dakota's future . en-US . Argus Leader . 2023-10-02.