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1966 United States Senate election in South Dakota

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1966 United States Senate election in South Dakota

← 1960 November 8, 1966 1972 →
 
Nominee Karl Mundt Donn H. Wright
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 150,517 76,563
Percentage 66.28% 33.72%

County results
Mundt:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Wright:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election

Karl E. Mundt
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Karl E. Mundt
Republican

The 1966 United States Senate election in South Dakota took place on November 8, 1966. Incumbent Republican Senator Karl E. Mundt ran for re-election to his fourth term. He was challenged in the Republican primary by a John Birch Society member, but easily turned away the challenge. In the general election, he faced State Representative Donn Wright, the Democratic nominee. Owing in large part to the Republican landslide taking place nationwide, Mundt defeated Wright by an unprecedented margin.

Democratic primary

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State Representative Donn Wright from Aurora County announced that he would run against Mundt on April 18, 1966, the only Democratic candidate to do so.[1] As Wright was the only candidate to file for the nomination, he won the primary unopposed and the race was removed from the primary election ballot.[2]

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Results

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Republican primary[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Karl E. Mundt (inc.) 66,758 82.06%
Republican Richard B. Murphy 14,593 17.94%
Total votes 81,351 100.00%

General election

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Results

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1966 United States Senate election in South Dakota[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Karl E. Mundt (inc.) 150,517 66.28% +13.84%
Democratic Donn H. Wright 76,653 33.72% −13.84%
Majority 73,954 32.57% +27.68%
Turnout 227,080 100.00%
Republican hold

References

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  1. ^ "Donn Wright Is Demo Candidate For U. S. Senate". Mitchell Daily Republic. Mitchell, S.D. April 18, 1966. p. 1. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  2. ^ "Demos Have 2 Contests For Precinct Committee Posts". Daily Plainsman. Huron, S.D. May 11, 1966. p. 20. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  3. ^ "Murphy To Seek Nomination For U. S. Senate In Primary". Rapid City Journal. Rapid City, S.D. September 8, 1965. p. 1. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  4. ^ Trandahl, Ed (January 15, 1966). "About Town". Mitchell Daily Republic. Mitchell, S.D. p. 3. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Nelson, Nelson; Heinrich, Chad W., eds. (2005). "Chapter 8: Elections". Legislative Manual: South Dakota, 2005. Pierre, S.D. p. 627.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)