Akashic EdgeAKASHIC EDGE
ElectionsCandidates
HistorianCartographer2026 ForecastArticlesAPIPricing

Latest Articles

    View all articles →

    Browse by Category

      Data Tools

      • Elections
      • Candidates
      • The Historian
      • The Cartographer
      • American Nations
      • States & Counties
      • Congressional Districts

      About

      Akashic HQ provides deep political data analysis covering 165 years of U.S. elections.

      • Data Sources & Methodology
      • Pricing
      • API Documentation
      • Contact

      © 2026 Akashic HQ. All rights reserved.

      Data: MIT Election Lab, VEST, Census Bureau
      Home/Elections/2002/Governor/South Dakota
      2002·Governor·South Dakota

      South Dakota Governor

      Winner
      REP
      Michael Rounds
      56.8%189,920 votes
      Runner-up
      DEM
      Jim Abbott
      41.9%140,263 votes
      Margin
      R+14.8
      334,559 total votes
      3 candidates334,559 total votes
      CandidatePartyVotes ▼%Vote Share
      Michael RoundsREP✓
      		REP189,92056.8%
      Jim AbbottDEM
      		DEM140,26341.9%
      OtherOTH
      		OTH4,3761.3%

      Seat History

      Governor in South Dakota

      2022
      Kristi L NoemREP
      R+26.8
      2018
      Kristi L NoemREP
      R+3.5
      2014
      Dennis DaugaardREP
      R+45.0
      2010
      Dennis DaugaardREP
      R+23.0
      2006
      Michael RoundsREP
      R+25.6
      1998
      William J JanklowREP
      R+31.2
      1994
      William J JanklowREP
      R+14.8
      1990
      George S MickelsonREP
      R+17.8
      1986
      George S MickelsonREP
      R+3.6
      1982
      William J JanklowREP
      R+41.8
      1978
      William J JanklowREP
      R+13.3
      1974
      Richard Francis KneipDEM
      D+7.2
      1972
      Richard Francis KneipDEM
      D+20.1
      1970
      Richard Francis KneipDEM
      D+9.7
      View all Governor history for South Dakota →

      Candidates

      Jim AbbottDEM
      Record0W-1L
      Avg MarginR+14.8
      Career2002-2002
      Governor
      Full profile →
      Michael RoundsREP
      Record9W-0L
      Avg MarginR+30.8
      Career1990-2020
      US Senate / Governor / State Senate
      Full profile →

      Also in South Dakota, 2002

      US Senate1 contest →US House1 contest →
      ← All 2002 Governor races2002 overviewSouth Dakota profileAll elections