The 1940 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1940. Incumbent Republican Governor
Harlan J. Bushfield sought re-election to a second term. After winning the Republican primary by a large margin, he faced Democrat Lewis W. Bicknell, former
Day County State's Attorney, in the general election. Though Bushfield underperformed Republican presidential nominee
Wendell Willkie, who won the state
in a landslide, he nonetheless defeated Bicknell by a wide margin to easily win re-election.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Lewis W. Bicknell, former
Day County State's Attorney,[1] former Chairman of the State Department of Public Welfare,[2]1932 Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate[3]
The 1940 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1940. Incumbent Republican Governor
Harlan J. Bushfield sought re-election to a second term. After winning the Republican primary by a large margin, he faced Democrat Lewis W. Bicknell, former
Day County State's Attorney, in the general election. Though Bushfield underperformed Republican presidential nominee
Wendell Willkie, who won the state
in a landslide, he nonetheless defeated Bicknell by a wide margin to easily win re-election.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Lewis W. Bicknell, former
Day County State's Attorney,[1] former Chairman of the State Department of Public Welfare,[2]1932 Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate[3]