1954 Arkansas gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1954 United States gubernatorial elections.

1954 Arkansas gubernatorial election

←  1952 November 2, 1954 1956  →

Nominee Orval Faubus Pratt C. Remmel Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 208,121 127,004 Percentage 62.09% 37.89%

County results Faubus:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90% Remmel:     50–60%

Governor before election Francis Cherry Democratic Elected Governor Orval Faubus Democratic

The 1954 Arkansas gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1954.

Incumbent Democratic Governor Francis Cherry was narrowly defeated in the Democratic primary. Cherry was only one of four Arkansas governors in the twentieth century denied initial second terms in office; the others were Tom Terral in 1926, Bill Clinton in 1980, and Frank White in 1982. Only one previous governor, Henry Rector in 1862, was defeated after one term.

Democratic nominee Orval Faubus defeated Republican nominee Pratt C. Remmel with 62.09% of the vote.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on July 27, 1954, with the Democratic runoff held on August 10, 1954. ^[1]

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Francis Cherry, incumbent Governor
• Orval Faubus, newspaper publisher ^[2] and former Director of State Highway Commission ^[3]
• Guy H. Jones, State Senator ^[4]
• Gus McMillan, real estate dealer ^[5]

Results

Results map of the Democratic primary by county
Cherry:     30–40%     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%
Faubus:     30–40%     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     <90%
Jones:     40–50%     60–70%
McMillan:     50–60%

Democratic primary results ^{[6] [7]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Francis Cherry (incumbent)	154,879	47.71
	Democratic	Orval Faubus	109,614	33.77
	Democratic	Guy H. Jones	41,249	12.71
	Democratic	Gus McMillan	18,857	5.81
Total votes			324,599	100.00

Results map of the Democratic primary by county
Faubus:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     <90%
Cherry:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

Democratic primary run-off results ^{[8] [7]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Orval Faubus	191,328	50.91
	Democratic	Francis Cherry (incumbent)	184,509	49.09
Total votes			375,837	100.00

General election

Candidates

• Orval Faubus, Democratic
• Pratt C. Remmel, Republican, Former insurance executive, Mayor of Little Rock ^[9]

Results

Remmel's showing against Faubus was the best showing by a non-Democrat since 1888 and by a Republican since 1872.

1954 Arkansas gubernatorial election ^{[10] [11]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Orval Faubus	208,121	62.09%	−25.32%
	Republican	Pratt C. Remmel	127,004	37.89%	+25.30%
	Scattering		51	0.02%	+0.02%
Majority			81,117	24.20%
Turnout			335,176	100.00%
	Democratic hold		Swing

References

1. "Table IV. 1954 Elections". Voting Information. Washington, D.C.: Prepared by Office of Armed Forces Information & Education, Department of Defense. April 1954. pp. 99–101. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
2. "Arkansas vote". The Key West citizen. Key West, Fla. July 28, 1954. p. 8. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
3. Historical Review - Volume Two. Arkansas State Highway Commission and Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (PDF). Little Rock, Arkansas: Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. 2004. p. 81. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
4. "Guy Hamilton "Mutt" Jones (1911–1986)". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
5. "McClellan claiming victory in primary; has lead of 4,428". Evening star. Washington, D.C. July 28, 1954. p. A-6. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
6. "AR Governor, 1956 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
7. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 100.
8. "AR Governor, 1954 - D Runoff". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
9. "Pratt Remmel (1915–1991)". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
10. "AR Governor, 1954". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
11. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 42.

Bibliography

• Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN   1-56802-396-0.