1948 United States Senate election in South Dakota

1948 United States Senate election in South Dakota

November 2, 1948

Nominee Karl E. Mundt John A. Engel Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 144,084 98,749 Percentage 59.33% 40.67%

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

U.S. senator before election Vera C. Bushfield Republican Elected U.S. Senator Karl E. Mundt Republican

The 1948 United States Senate election in South Dakota took place on November 2, 1948. Incumbent Republican Senator Harlan J. Bushfield, suffering from poor health, declined to run for re-election. On September 27, 1948, he died in office; his wife, Vera C. Bushfield, was appointed to succeed him. Congressman Karl E. Mundt easily won the Republican primary and advanced to the general election, where he was opposed by Democratic nominee John A. Engel, an attorney. Hundt defeated Engel in a landslide.

Democratic primary

John A. Engel, an attorney from Avon, was the only Democratic candidate to file for the U.S. Senate and he won the nomination unopposed, thereby removing it from the primary election ballot.

Republican primary

Candidates

• Karl E. Mundt, U.S. Congressman from South Dakota's 1st congressional district
• Otto B. Lindstad, State Senator, former Assistant State Attorney General

Results

Republican primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Karl E. Mundt	65,595	84.51%
	Republican	Otto B. Lindstad	12,022	15.49%
Total votes			77,617	100.00%

General election

Results

1948 United States Senate election in South Dakota

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Karl E. Mundt	144,084	59.33%	+0.59%
	Democratic	John A. Engel	98,749	40.67%	−0.59%
Majority			45,335	18.67%	+1.19%
Turnout			242,833	100.00%
	Republican hold