The1966 United States Senate election in South Dakota took place on November 8, 1966. Incumbent Republican SenatorKarl E. Mundt ran for re-election to his fourth term. He was challenged in the Republican primary by aJohn Birch Society member, but easily turned away the challenge. In the general election, he faced State Representative Donn Wright, the Democratic nominee. Owing in large part to theRepublican landslide taking place nationwide, Mundt defeated Wright by an unprecedented margin.
South Dakota would not elect another Senator to a fourth term untilJohn Thune in2022, it was dubbed the "Mundt curse".[1]
State Representative Donn Wright fromAurora County announced that he would run against Mundt on April 18, 1966, the only Democratic candidate to do so.[2] As Wright was the only candidate to file for the nomination, he won the primary unopposed and the race was removed from the primary election ballot.[3]
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