The 1916 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1916. Incumbent Republican Governor Frank M. Byrne declined to seek re-election to a third term. Lieutenant Governor Peter Norbeck won the Republican primary to succeed him, and in the general election faced State Representative Orville V. Rinehart. Norbeck won his first term as Governor in a landslide over Rinehart.
Primary elections
Primary elections were held on May 23, 1916.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Orville V. Rinehart, former State Representative from Pennington County
- Edmund D. Morcom, businessman
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
- Peter Norbeck, Lieutenant Governor
- George W. Egan, disbarred attorney, 1912 Republican candidate for Governor, 1910 Republican candidate for Governor
- Richard Olsen Richards, perennial candidate
Results
Prohibition primary
Candidates
- C. K. Thompson, Prohibition candidate for Governor in 1914
Results
Socialist primary
Candidates
Results
General election
Candidates
- Orville V. Rinehart, Democratic
- Peter Norbeck, Republican
- C. K. Thompson, Prohibition
- Fred L. Fairchild, Socialist
Results
References
Bibliography