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      Data: MIT Election Lab, VEST, Census Bureau
      Home/Elections/1978/Governor/South Dakota
      1978·Governor·South Dakota

      South Dakota Governor

      Winner
      REP
      William J Janklow
      56.6%147,116 votes
      Runner-up
      DEM
      Roger McKellips
      43.4%112,679 votes
      Margin
      R+13.3
      259,795 total votes
      2 candidates259,795 total votes
      CandidatePartyVotes ▼%Vote Share
      William J JanklowREP✓
      		REP147,11656.6%
      Roger McKellipsDEM
      		DEM112,67943.4%

      Seat History

      Governor in South Dakota

      2022
      Kristi L NoemREP
      R+26.8
      2018
      Kristi L NoemREP
      R+3.5
      2014
      Dennis DaugaardREP
      R+45.0
      2010
      Dennis DaugaardREP
      R+23.0
      2006
      Michael RoundsREP
      R+25.6
      2002
      Michael RoundsREP
      R+14.8
      1998
      William J JanklowREP
      R+31.2
      1994
      William J JanklowREP
      R+14.8
      1990
      George S MickelsonREP
      R+17.8
      1986
      George S MickelsonREP
      R+3.6
      1982
      William J JanklowREP
      R+41.8
      1974
      Richard Francis KneipDEM
      D+7.2
      1972
      Richard Francis KneipDEM
      D+20.1
      1970
      Richard Francis KneipDEM
      D+9.7
      View all Governor history for South Dakota →

      Candidates

      Roger McKellipsDEM
      Record8W-1L
      Avg MarginD+16.4
      Career1976-1992
      State Senate / Governor
      Full profile →
      William J JanklowREP
      Record5W-0L
      Avg MarginR+25.3
      Career1978-2002
      US House / Governor
      Full profile →

      Also in South Dakota, 1978

      US Senate1 contest →US House2 contests →
      ← All 1978 Governor races1978 overviewSouth Dakota profileAll elections