2018 South Dakota gubernatorial election
Republican candidate Kristi Noem won against Democratic candidate Billie Sutton in the closest gubernatorial election in South Dakota since 1986 , when Republican candidate George S . Mickelson ( 51 . 8% ) defeated Democratic nominee Ralph Lars Herseth ( 48 . 2% ) with a 152 , 543 to 141 , 898 advantage . 
<triplet> 1986 <subj> 1986 <obj> point in time <subj> George S. Mickelson <obj> successful candidate