1982 Arkansas gubernatorial election

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1982 Arkansas gubernatorial election
Flag of Arkansas (1924-2011).svg
←  1980 November 2, 1982 1984  →
  Gov. Bill Clinton 1983 (cropped).jpg Frank D. White 1995 (3x4a).jpg
Nominee Bill Clinton Frank D. White
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote431,855357,496
Percentage54.71%45.29%
1982 Arkansas gubernatorial election results map by county.svg
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

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 2025, this is the last time that an incumbent governor of Arkansas lost re-election.

Contents

Democratic primary

Results

Democratic primary results [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Bill Clinton 236,961 41.8
Democratic Joe Purcell 166,06629.3
Democratic Jim Guy Tucker 129,36222.8
Total votes566,974 [a] 100.00

Republican primary

Results

Republican primary results [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Frank D. White (incumbent) 11,111 83.2
Republican Marshal Chrisman1,41010.6
Republican Connie Vol8266.2
Total votes13,347 100.00

Campaign

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

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 
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Bill Clinton 431,855 54.71% +6.64%
Republican Frank D. White (incumbent)357,49645.29%−6.64%
Total votes789,351 100.00% N/A
Democratic gain from Republican

References

  1. 1 2 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%.
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