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.

Quick Facts Nominee, Party ...

1948 United States Senate election in South Dakota

← 1942 November 2, 1948 1954 →

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

Close

John A. Engel, an attorney from Avon,^[1] 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.^[2]