South Dakota gubernatorial election, 2002

South Dakota Gubernatorial, 2002

November 2, 2002

Nominee Mike Rounds Jim Abbott Party Republican Democratic Running mate Dennis Daugaard Michael Wilson Popular vote 189,920 140,263 Percentage 56.77% 41.92%

County Results

Governor before election Bill Janklow Republican Elected Governor Mike Rounds Republican

Elections in South Dakota
Federal government Presidential Elections 1892 1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 Presidential Primaries Democratic 2008 Republican 2008 2012 U.S. Senate elections 1980 1986 1992 1996 1998 2002 2004 2008 2010 2014 2016 U.S. House elections 2002 2004 (special) 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016
State government General elections 2014 Gubernatorial elections 1889 1890 1892 1894 1896 1898 1900 1902 1904 1906 1972 1974 1978 1982 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014
Ballot measures 2006 Amendment C

The 2002 South Dakota gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2002 to elect a Governor of South Dakota. Republican nominee Mike Rounds was elected, defeating Democratic nominee Jim Abbott.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Jim Abbott, President of the University of South Dakota, former South Dakota State Representative
• Ron J. Volesky, South Dakota State Senator
• Jim Hutmacher, South Dakota State Senator
• Robert Hockett

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• Mike Rounds, former South Dakota State Senator
• Mark Barnett, Attorney General of South Dakota
• Steve T. Kirby, former Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota

Campaign

Rounds' victory was one of South Dakota's greatest political upsets. Until late in 2001, then-Congressman John Thune was the front-runner for the nomination. When Thune passed on the race in order to challenge Senator Tim Johnson, state Attorney General Mark Barnett and former Lieutenant Governor Steve T. Kirby quickly became candidates. Rounds declared his candidacy late, in December 2001 and was out-raised and outspent ten-to-one by each of his opponents.

However, the contest between Kirby and Barnett soon became very negative and "dirty". Barnett attacked Kirby for not investing in companies based in South Dakota and for his involvement with Collagenesis, a company which removed skin from donated human cadavers and processed them for use. It became the subject of a massive scandal when it was revealed that the company was using the skins for much more lucrative cosmetic surgery like lip and penis enhancements while burn victims "lie waiting in hospitals as nurses scour the country for skin to cover their wounds, even though skin is in plentiful supply for plastic surgeons".^[2] Kirby invested in the company after the scandal broke and Barnett attacked him for it in television advertisements.^[3] However, the advertisements backfired because "the claims were so outlandish, that people thought for sure that they were exaggerated or completely fabricated."^[4]

As the two front-runners concentrated on attacking each other, Rounds insisted on running a positive campaign and was not attacked by his opponents. Rounds' positive image and extensive knowledge of state government won him many supporters who were alienated by the front-runners. On the day of the primary election, Rounds won a stunning victory, with 44.3% of the vote to Barnett's 29.5% and Kirby's 26.1%.

Results

General election

Results

References