1962 Arkansas gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1962 United States gubernatorial elections.

1962 Arkansas gubernatorial election

←  1960 November 6, 1962 1964  →

Nominee Orval Faubus Willis Ricketts Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 225,743 82,349 Percentage 73.27% 26.73%

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

Governor before election Orval Faubus Democratic Elected Governor Orval Faubus Democratic

The 1962 Arkansas gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1962.

Incumbent Democratic Governor Orval Faubus won election to a fifth term, defeating Republican nominee Willis Ricketts with 73.27% of the vote.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on July 31, 1962. By winning over 50% of the vote, Faubus avoided a run-off which would have been held on August 14, 1962. ^[1]

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Dale Alford, U.S. Representative for Arkansas's 5th congressional district
• Kenneth Coffelt, attorney and former state senator ^[2]
• David A. Cox, farmer ^[2]
• Orval Faubus, incumbent Governor
• Sid McMath, former Governor
• Vernon H. Whitten, businessman ^[2]

Results

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

Democratic primary results ^{[3] [4] [5]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Orval Faubus (incumbent)	208,996	51.59
	Democratic	Sid McMath	83,473	20.61
	Democratic	Dale Alford	82,815	20.44
	Democratic	Vernon H. Whitten	22,377	5.52
	Democratic	Kenneth Coffelt	5,302	1.31
	Democratic	David A. Cox	2,149	0.53
Total votes			405,112	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Willis Ricketts, Pharmacist and former president of the Arkansas Jaycees ^[6]

Results

Republican primary results ^{[4] [5]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Willis Ricketts		unopposed

General election

Candidates

• Orval Faubus, Democratic
• Willis Ricketts, Republican

Results

1962 Arkansas gubernatorial election ^{[7] [8] [9]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Orval Faubus (incumbent)	225,743	73.27%	+4.06%
	Republican	Willis Ricketts	82,349	26.73%	−4.06%
Majority			143,394	46.54%
Turnout			308,092	100.00%
	Democratic hold		Swing

References

1. "1962 Elections". Voting Information. Washington, D.C.: Prepared by Office of Armed Forces Information & Education, Department of Defense. January 1962. p. 48. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
2. Dumas, Ernest (April 25, 2019). "A forgotten candidate and the 1962 Arkansas governor's race". Little Rock, Arkansas: Arkansas Times. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
3. "AR Governor, 1962 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
4. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 100.
5. America Votes 5, p. 37.
6. "Willis Ricketts Papers". Special Collections Department. University of Arkansas Libraries. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
7. "AR Governor, 1962". Our Campaigns. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
8. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 42.
9. America Votes 5, p. 30.

Bibliography

• Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN   1-56802-396-0.
• Scammon, Richard M., ed. (1964). America Votes 5: a handbook of contemporary American election statistics, 1962. Pittsburgh, PA: Governmental Affairs Institute.