1982 Arkansas gubernatorial election

The 1982 Arkansas gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1982. Former Democratic governor Bill Clinton regained the position after having narrowly been defeated by Republican candidate Frank D. White at the previous election. Clinton held the position from January 1983 until he resigned after being elected president in 1992. As of 2024, this is the last time that an incumbent governor of Arkansas lost re-election.

1982 Arkansas gubernatorial election

← 1980 November 2, 1982 1984 →
 
Nominee Bill Clinton Frank D. White
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 431,855 357,496
Percentage 54.71% 45.29%

County results

Clinton:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

White:      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election

Frank D. White
Republican

Elected Governor

Bill Clinton
Democratic

Democratic primary

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  • Governor Bill Clinton, Governor of Arkansas 1979-1981
  • Lieutenant Governor Joe Purcell, former acting governor of Arkansas, 1979, former lieutenant governor 1975-1981; former attorney general 1967-1971.
  • Jim Guy Tucker, former congressman and attorney general
  • Kim Hendren, state senator and automobile dealer
  • Monroe Schwarzlose, retired turkey farmer and perennial candidate

Results

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Democratic primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bill Clinton 236,961 41.8
Democratic Joe Purcell 166,066 29.3
Democratic Jim Guy Tucker 129,362 22.8
Total votes 566,974[a] 100.00

Republican primary

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  • Frank D. White – incumbent governor
  • Marshall Chrisman, farmer and former state representative
  • Connie Voll, nutritionist

Results

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Republican primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank D. White (incumbent) 11,111 83.2
Republican Marshal Chrisman 1,410 10.6
Republican Connie Vol 826 6.2
Total votes 13,347 100.00

Campaign

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Clinton, one of the youngest ex-governors in the nation at the age of 36,[citation needed] was aiming to regain the governorship, having lost the 1980 Arkansas gubernatorial election. Frank White, who had won that election, easily won renomination from the Republican party.

White was hurt politically due to several unpopular decisions that he made, and Clinton ran an aggressive campaign.[2]

Result

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Clinton won the election, and was elected again in 1984, 1986, and 1990. He resigned as governor following his presidential victory in November 1992.

Arkansas gubernatorial election, 1982[3]: 36 
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Bill Clinton 431,855 54.71% +6.64%
Republican Frank D. White (incumbent) 357,496 45.29% −6.64%
Total votes 789,351 100.00% N/A
Democratic gain from Republican

References

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  1. ^ a b Gubernatorial elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly. 1998. ISBN 978-1-56802-396-0 – via Internet Archive.
  2. ^ Dillard, Tom W. "Frank Durward White (1933–2003)". The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
  3. ^ "1982 Arkansas Elections". Arkansas Secretary of State. May 1983. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 11, 2017. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
  1. ^ The total number of votes is not provided and therefore estimated based on the missing percentage value of 6.1%.