The 1972 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1972, to elect a
Governor of South Dakota. It was the last election in South Dakota to elect the governor for a two-year term after a 1972 state constitutional amendment established a four-year term.[1]Democratic nominee
Richard F. Kneip was re-elected, defeating
Republican nominee
Carveth Thompson. Despite incumbent Republican President
Richard Nixon winning The state with 62% of the vote on the same ballot.