1924 United States Senate election in South Dakota

1924 United States Senate election in South Dakota

November 4, 1924

Nominee William H. McMaster Ulysses Cherry Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 90,006 63,728 Percentage 44.13% 31.24%   Nominee Tom Ayres George W. Egan Party Farmer–Labor Independent Popular vote 20,952 14,484 Percentage 10.27% 7.10%

County results McMaster:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Cherry:      30–40%      40–50%      50–60% Ayres:      40–50% No Vote:

U.S. senator before election Thomas Sterling Republican Elected U.S. Senator William H. McMaster Republican

The 1924 United States Senate election in South Dakota took place on November 4, 1924. Incumbent Senator Thomas Sterling ran for re-election to a third term, but he was defeated in the Republican primary by Governor William H. McMaster. In the general election, McMaster was opposed by attorney Ulysses Simpson Grant Cherry, the Democratic nominee, and several independent candidates. McMaster defeated his opponents by a wide margin, but fell far short of a majority, winning only 44% of the vote.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Ulysses Simpson Grant Cherry, Sioux Falls attorney, 1920 Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate
• Mark P. Bates

Results

Democratic primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ulysses Simpson Grant Cherry	7,103	68.44%
	Democratic	Mark P. Bates	3,276	31.56%
Total votes			10,379	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• William H. McMaster, former Governor of South Dakota
• Thomas Sterling, incumbent U.S. Senator

Results

Republican primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	William H. McMaster	45,213	58.34%
	Republican	Thomas Sterling (inc.)	32,292	41.66%
Total votes			77,505	100.00%

Farmer–Labor Primary

Candidates

• Tom Ayres
• Mark P. Bates

Results

Farmer–Labor primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Farmer–Labor	Tom Ayres	2,827	64.71%
	Farmer–Labor	Mark P. Bates	1,542	31.56%
Total votes			4,369	100.00%

General election

Results

1924 United States Senate election in South Dakota

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	William H. McMaster	90,006	44.13%	−10.94%
	Democratic	Ulysses Simpson Grant Cherry	63,728	31.24%	−7.70%
	Farmer–Labor	Tom Ayres	20,952	10.27%	—
	Independent	George W. Egan	14,484	7.10%	—
	Independent	Mark P. Bates	8,442	4.14%	—
	Independent	C. H. Dillon	3,835	1.88%	—
	Independent	H. L. Loucks	1,378	0.68%	—
	Independent	Don Livingston	1,138	0.56%	—
Majority			26,278	12.88%	−3.24%
Turnout			203,963	100.00%
	Republican hold