1982 Arkansas gubernatorial election
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The 1982 Arkansas gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1982, to elect the governor of Arkansas. 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 2026, this is the last time that an incumbent governor of Arkansas lost re-election.
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November 2, 1982
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 County results Clinton: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% White: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Governor Bill Clinton, Governor of Arkansas (1979-1981)
Eliminated in primary
- 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
| 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
Candidates
Nominee
- Frank D. White, incumbent governor
Eliminated in primary
- Marshall Chrisman, farmer and former state representative
- Connie Voll, nutritionist
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Frank D. White (incumbent) | 11,111 | 83.2 | |
| Republican | Marshall Chrisman | 1,410 | 10.6 | |
| Republican | Connie Vol | 826 | 6.2 | |
| Total votes | 13,347 | 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.
| 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 | |||||
