Gordon Mydland

Gordon James Mydland (May 12, 1922 – October 6, 2022) was an American attorney and politician who served as the Attorney General of South Dakota. He was also a state senator, and a circuit court judge.

Early life and education Mydland was born on a farm near Hetland, South Dakota, on May 12, 1922. He attended South Dakota State University for a Bachelor of Science degree and the University of South Dakota School of Law for his LL.B degree. He was later a judge on the South Dakota Third Judicial Circuit.

On April 10, 1968, Mydland was the fourth candidate for the Republican nomination for Attorney General. He joined previously announced candidates Walter Andre, Michael Strain both of Pierre and assistant attorneys general and Tony Wiesensee an attorney from Canton. On July 16, 1968, at the Republican Convention, Mydland defeated Michael Strain by a vote of 82,946 to 48,764; Andre and Wiesensee removed themselves from the race before the voting began. Mydland was elected as Attorney General by defeating Democrat James Abourezk in 1968. Gordon received 148,366 (55.69%) votes; James received 118,045 (44.31%) votes.

Mydland was challenged for re-nomination by Ron Schmidt of Pierre. Mydland prevailed with 118,446 1/2 votes to Schmidt receiving 42,542 1/2 votes. Mydland was re-elected in 1970 by defeating Democrat Ramon Roubideaux. Gordon received 116,493 (50.40%) votes; Ramon received 114,633 (49.60%) votes.

Mydland ran for the US Senate. In the primary, Mydland finished 2nd to Robert Hirsch, but Hirsch did not get the required 35% of the vote to win the nomination, so the nomination was decided by the South Dakota Republican Convention. Secretary of State Alma Larson endorsed Mydland for the nomination runoff. Ultimately, Robert Hirsch was nominated by the convention for the US Senate, but he lost to Democrat James Abourezk in the general election.

In 1977, Mydland was appointed to be a Circuit Court judge for the 3rd Judicial Circuit, where he served until his retirement in 1987.

Personal life and death Mydland was a Lutheran. He married Lorrie Grange in 1958 and had one son, John Gabriel Mydland. He turned 100 in May 2022, and died on October 6, 2022, in Brookings, South Dakota. He served in the United States Navy during World War II.