The 1938 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1938. Incumbent Republican Governor Leslie Jensen declined to seek re-election and instead unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Senate. Harlan J. Bushfield, the former chairman of the South Dakota Republican Party, won the Republican primary to succeed Jensen. In the general election, he faced Democratic nominee Oscar Fosheim, a state representative from Miner County, in the general election. Bushfield defeated Fosheim by a relatively close margin, winning his first term as governor.
Democratic primary Candidates Oscar Fosheim, State Representative from Miner County Mancel W. Peterson, State Senator from Day County, former State Senate President
Results
Republican primary Candidates Harlan J. Bushfield, former chairman of the South Dakota Republican Party, former Hand County State's Attorney Blaine Simons, state senator from Minnehaha County
Results
General election Results
References