{
  "$type": "site.standard.document",
  "bskyPostRef": {
    "cid": "bafyreigqfwnystcse6l6u5fnqoi4ixp4n7vkelzgbjantq4eftpzpw56fe",
    "uri": "at://did:plc:vfsgowsaqlgt6a7c23ux6ze2/app.bsky.feed.post/3midw6guav6u2"
  },
  "coverImage": {
    "$type": "blob",
    "ref": {
      "$link": "bafkreihxfemktrhlch77lluobklfnfq3jotp5xkafl4bkkx3zgacjnm33m"
    },
    "mimeType": "image/png",
    "size": 918940
  },
  "description": "A Democratic governor has not held office in South Dakota in more than 47 years. ",
  "path": "/fact-brief-south-dakota-republican-governor/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-31T10:00:05.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.sdnewswatch.org",
  "tags": [
    "South Dakota News Watch Quiz - GigafactGigafact",
    "this one.",
    "Gubernatorial winning streaks",
    "Utah",
    "South Dakota",
    "South Dakota 2018 election",
    "A look back at 40 years of South Dakota governor elections",
    "South Dakota News Watch",
    "Gigafact",
    "on the tipline",
    "sdnewswatch.org"
  ],
  "textContent": "## Yes.\n\nSouth Dakota has the longest uninterrupted Republican hold on a governor’s office of any state in the country.\n\nA Democratic governor has not held office in South Dakota in more than 47 years, when Harvey Wollman was the 26th governor of the state after replacing Richard Kneip, who resigned. He was replaced by Republican Bill Janklow in his first eight-year term on Jan. 1, 1979.\n\nSouth Dakota News Watch Quiz - GigafactGigafact\n\nUtah has the second-longest run of Republican governors – a Democrat last served in 1985.\n\nSouth Dakota has had three Democratic governors since the 1950s (five overall): Ralph Herseth (1959-1961), Kneip (1971-78) and Wollman (1978-79).\n\nOnly two Democrats have earned more than 45% of the vote since the party last held the state’s highest office. Billy Sutton received 47.6% of the vote against Republican Kristi Noem (51%), and Lars Herseth got 48.2% of the vote against George S. Mickelson (51.8%) for the first of his two terms.\n\n_This fact brief responds to conversations such as_  this one.\n\n## Sources\n\nBallotpedia, Gubernatorial winning streaks\n\nNational Governor’s Association, Utah\n\nNational Governor’s Association, South Dakota\n\nBallotpedia, South Dakota 2018 election\n\nKELO-TV, A look back at 40 years of South Dakota governor elections\n\n* * *\n\nSouth Dakota News Watch partners with Gigafact to publish fact briefs that refute or confirm a claim with supporting information and additional evidence and context. Send questions or feedback to _news@sdnewswatch.org_. Submit a question for us to answer on the tipline.\n\n _**South Dakota News Watch** is an independent nonprofit. Read, donate and subscribe for free at _sdnewswatch.org_.**Contact freelance reporter Michael Klinski:** michael.klinski@sdnewswatch.org._",
  "title": "Fact brief: Does SD have the longest stretch of Republican governors?",
  "updatedAt": "2026-03-31T10:00:11.589Z"
}