However, following Crawford's death, the state Democratic Party named John T. McCullen as its replacement nominee.

Pyle defeated McCullen in a landslide, becoming the first woman to represent South Dakota in the United States Senate.

The Democratic Party of South Dakota named John T. McCullen, a former State Senator from Hand County,[3] as its replacement nominee.

[4] Former Secretary of State Gladys Pyle announced that she would run for the Republican nomination for the special election.

[7] She, like Crawford, won the Republican nomination unopposed and the race did not appear on the primary election ballot.