The1968 United States Senate election in South Dakota took place on November 5, 1968. Incumbent Democratic SenatorGeorge McGovern ran for re-election to a second term. He was challenged by former GovernorArchie M. Gubbrud, who was persuaded to enter the race by the South Dakota Republican establishment.[1] McGovern defeated Gubbrud by a wide margin, even asRichard Nixon was defeatingHubert Humphrey in the state's presidential election in alandslide.
Both McGovern and Gubbrud were unopposed in their respective primaries.[2] Gubbrud and incumbent GovernorNils Boe were seen as likely Republican candidates, but on March 22, Boe announced that he would not run.[3] Shortly thereafter, a grassroots group of Republicans supportive of Gubbrud, named "Archie's Archers," started a campaign to persuade him to run, and received promises from other potential Republican candidates that they wouldn't run if Gubbrud did.[4] On April 7, Gubbrud announced that he would run for the Senate,[5] and subsequently received endorsements from prominent Republican figures, including former Vice-President Richard Nixon.[6]
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