The 1950 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 7, 1950. Incumbent Republican Governor George T. Mickelson was unable to seek re-election to a third term due to newly imposed term limits.[1] Accordingly, a competitive race to replace him ensued. Attorney General Sigurd Anderson won a slim plurality in the Republican primary, barely exceeding 35% and narrowly avoiding having the Republican nomination sent to the state party convention.[2] In the general election, Anderson faced State Representative Joe Robbie. Anderson easily defeated Robbie, winning his first term with 61% of the vote to Robbie's 39%.
State Representative Joe Robbie, who represented Davison County in the State House,[3] was the only Democrat to file for the gubernatorial race, winning the nomination by default and removing the race from the primary election ballot.[4]