1868 Arkansas gubernatorial election

Last updated December 05, 2025

The 1868 Arkansas gubernatorial election was held on March 13, 1868, in order to elect the Governor of Arkansas. Republican nominee and Union Brigadier general Powell Clayton won the election as he ran unopposed.^[1] Democrats nominated no candidate as most ex-Confederates were still disenfranchised.

Reconstruction

After the Civil War ended, Arkansas entered a period of reconstruction. It became part of the Fourth Military District until Arkansas was readmitted to the Union on June 22, 1868 (the first rebel state to do so), following congressional acceptance of the gubernatorial election's results and the new 1868 Arkansas constitution.^[2]^[3]

General election

On election day, March 13, 1868, Republican nominee Powell Clayton won the election unopposed with an unknown number of votes, thereby gaining Republican control over the office of Governor. Clayton was sworn in as the 9th Governor of Arkansas on July 2, 1868.^[4]

Results

1868 Arkansas gubernatorial election
Party		Candidate	%
	Republican	Powell Clayton	100.00
Total votes			100.00
	Republican gain from Independent

References

↑ "Gov. Powell Clayton". National Governors Association. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
↑ "1868 Arkansas Constitution". digitalheritage.arkansas.gov. 1868. Archived from the original on 2020-11-01. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
↑ Sobel 1978, pp. 71–72.
↑ "AR Governor". ourcampaigns.com. September 15, 2005. Retrieved 2023-12-01.

Bibliography

Sobel, Robert (1978). Biographical directory of the governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. I. Meckler Books. ISBN 9780930466015 . Retrieved 2023-12-01.

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[1] "Gov. Powell Clayton". National Governors Association. Retrieved 2023-12-01.

[OKE-2] "1868 Arkansas Constitution". digitalheritage.arkansas.gov. 1868. Archived from the original on 2020-11-01. Retrieved 2023-12-01.

[FOOTNOTESobel197871–72-3] Sobel 1978, pp. 71–72.

[GBN-4] "AR Governor". ourcampaigns.com. September 15, 2005. Retrieved 2023-12-01.

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v t e Elections in Arkansas
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Governor	1836 1840 1844 1848 1849 S 1852 1856 1860 1862 1864 U 1868 1872 1874 1876 1878 1880 1882 1884 1886 1888 1890 1892 1894 1896 1898 1900 1902 1904 1906 1908 1910 1912 1913 S 1914 1916 1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
U.S. President	1836 1840 1844 1848 1852 1856 1860 1864 1868 1872 1876 1880 1884 1888 1892 1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024
U.S. Senate	Class 2: 1833 1839–40 1848 S 1853 1859 1868 S 1870 1876 1883 1885 S 1889 1895 1901 1907 1913 S 1913 1918 1924 1930 1936 1937 S 1942 1948 1954 1960 1966 1972 1978 1984 1990 1996 2002 2008 2014 2020 Class 3: 1837 1843 1845 S 1849 1855 1861 1867 1873 1879 1881 S 1885 1891 1897 1903 1909 1914 1916 S 1920 1926 1932 S 1932 1938 1944 1950 1956 1962 1968 1974 1980 1986 1992 1998 2004 2010 2016 2022
U.S. House	1837 1838 1840 1842 1844 1846 1848 1851 1853 1854 1856 1858 1860 1868 1870 1872 1874 1876 1878 1880 1882 1884 1886 1888 1890 1892 1894 1896 1898 1900 1902 1904 1906 1908 1910 1912 1914 1916 1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 (4th S) 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 (6th S) 1962 1964 1966 (4th S) 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024
'S,' denotes special election; 'U,' denotes election under Federal (Union) military occupation See also: Political party strength in Arkansas