Richard F. Kneip Democratic Richard F. Kneip Democratic Measure 9 Amendment A Amendment E Amendment G The 1974 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1974, to elect a Governor of South Dakota.

This election was the first in South Dakota to elect the governor for a four-year term, after it was allowed by a constitutional amendment passed in 1972.

[1] Democratic nominee and Governor Richard F. Kneip was re-elected, defeating Republican nominee John E. Olson.

As of 2024[update], this is the last time that a Democrat was elected Governor of South Dakota, marking the start of the longest Republican winning streak in the country for a state's governorship, as well as the longest gubernatorial winning streak by a single party.