Election to replace Asa Hutchinson
The 2022 Arkansas gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 2022, to elect the governor of Arkansas . Incumbent governor Asa Hutchinson was term-limited and could not seek a third term. Republican Sarah Huckabee Sanders , daughter of former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee , defeated Democrat Chris Jones to become the first woman ever elected to the office, and was sworn in on January 10, 2023.
Primary elections in Arkansas were held on May 24. Runoff elections for instances where no candidate receives over 50% of the vote were scheduled for June 21. Former White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders won the Republican nomination, while Chris Jones won the Democratic nomination.[1]
Leading up to the Republican primary, Sanders received many endorsements from key Republican figures, including Donald Trump , Mike Pence , incumbent Asa Hutchinson, Arkansas' entire U.S. Congressional delegation , and the majority of Republicans in both state legislative chambers. Her primary victory was not remotely close, as she won every county in the state with at least 70% of the vote. As Arkansas is a Republican stronghold , her primary victory virtually guaranteed she would win the general election, in which she defeated Jones by 28 points. Jones became the first Democrat to win Washington County since 2010 , and Sanders became the first Republican to win majority-Black Crittenden County since her father in 1998 , winning the county by one vote. This is the first time ever that the Republican Party won three straight gubernatorial elections in the state's history.
Sanders became the first female governor of Arkansas. With the election of Leslie Rutledge as lieutenant governor, Arkansas, along with Massachusetts , became the first two U.S. states to elect both a female governor and female lieutenant governor to serve at the same time.
General election
Predictions
Endorsements
Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R)
U.S. Executive Branch officials U.S. senators U.S. representatives U.S. Governors State officials Bob Ballinger , state senator from District 5 (2019–present)[12] Sonia Eubanks Barker , state representative from District 7 (2016–present)[12] Howard Beaty , state representative from District 9 (2021–present)[12] Mary Bentley , state representative from District 73 (2015–present)[12] Cecile Bledsoe, state senator from District 3 (2013–present)[12]
Ken Bragg , state representative from District 15 (2013–present)[12] Karilyn Brown, state representative from District 41 (2015–present)[12]
Ron Caldwell , state senator from District 23 (2013–present)[12] Alan Clark , state senator from District 13 (2013–present)[12] Cameron Cooper , state representative from District 44 (2019–present)[12] Bruce Cozart , state representative from District 24 (2011–present)[12] Carol Dalby , state representative from District 1 (2017–present)[12] Breanne Davis , state senator from District 29 (2018–present)[12] Jonathan Dismang , state senator from District 28 (2013–present)[12] Marsh Davis , state representative from District 61 (2019–present)[12] Les Eaves , state representative from District 46 (2015–present)[12] Jane English , state senator from District 34 (2013–present)[12] John Eubanks , state representative from District 74 (2011–present)[12] Charlene Fite , state representative from District 80 (2013–present)[12] Lanny Fite , state representative from District 23 (2015–present)[12] Scott Flippo , Majority Leader of the Arkansas Senate (2021–present) and state senator from District 17 (2015–present)[12] Tony Furman , state representative from District 28 (2021–present)[12] Trent Garner , state senator from District 27 (2017–present)[12] Jimmy Gazaway , state representative from District 57 (2017–present)[12] Justin Gonzales , state representative from District 19 (2015–present)[12] Michelle Gray , state representative from District 62 (2015–present)[12] Tim Griffin , Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas (2015–present)[12] Delia Haak , state representative from District 91 (2021–present)[12] Kim Hammer , state senator from District 33 (2019–present)[12] Spencer Hawks , state representative from District 70 (2019–present)[12] Bart Hester , state senator from District 1 (2013–present)[12] Jimmy Hickey Jr. , President pro tempore of the Arkansas Senate (2021–present) and state senator from District 11 (2013–present)[12] Ricky Hill , state senator from District 29 (2018–present)[12] David Hillman , state representative from District 13 (2013–present)[12] Mike Holcomb , state representative from District 10 (2013–present)[12] Missy Irvin , state senator from District 18 (2013–present)[12] Lane Jean , state representative from District 2 (2013–present) and District 4 (2011–2012)[12] Joe Jett , state representative from District 56 (2013–present)[12] Vernon Jones , state representative for District 91 (2017–2021) and District 71 (1993–2001) [13] Jack Ladyman , state representative from District 59 (2015–present)[12] Mark Lowery , state representative from District 39 (2013–present)[14] Robin Lundstrum , state representative from District 87 (2015–present)[12] Roger Lynch , state representative from District 14 (2017–present)[12] Julie Mayberry, state representative from District 27 (2015–present)[12]
Austin McCollum , state representative from District 95 (2017–present)[12] Mark McElroy , state representative from District 11 (2021–present)[12] Aaron Pilkington , state representative from District 69 (2017–present)[12] Mathew Pitsch , state senator from District 8 (2019–present)[12] Jason Rapert , state senator from District 35 (2013–present) and District 18 (2011–2013)[12] Terry Rice , state senator from District 9 (2015–present)[12] Marcus Richmond, state representative from District 21 (2015–present)[12]
Matthew Shepherd , Speaker of the State Representative (2018–present) and state representative from District 6 (2011–present)[12] Bill Sample , state senator from District 14 (2011–present)[12] Nelda Speaks, state representative from District 100 (2015–present)[12]
Gary Stubblefield , state senator from District 6 (2013–present)[12] James Sturch , state senator from District 19 (2019–present)[12] Dan Sullivan , state senator from District 21 (2021–present)[12] David Tollett , state representative from District 12 (2021–present)[12] Dwight Tosh , state representative from District 52 (2015–present)[12] Kendon Underwood , state representative from District 90 (2021–present)[12] DeAnn Vaught , state representative from District 4 (2015–present)[12] Jeff Wardlaw , state representative from District 8 (2011–present)[12] Danny Watson , state representative from District 3 (2017–present)[12] Richard Womack , state representative from District 18 (2013–present)[12] Individuals Organizations Chris Jones (D)
Labor unions Organizations
Polling
Aggregate polls
Source of poll
Dates
Dates
Sarah
Chris
Undecided[b]
Margin
FiveThirtyEight
August 31 – October 31, 2022
November 3, 2022
54.4%
36.1%
9.5%
Sanders +18.3
Graphical summary Hypothetical polling
Sarah Huckabee Sanders vs. generic Democrat
Poll source
Date(s)
Sample[a]
Margin
Sarah
Generic
Other
Undecided
Hendrix College
February 7–8, 2022
961 (LV)
± 4.4%
44%
34%
8%
15%
Generic Republican vs. generic Democrat
Poll source
Date(s)
Sample[a]
Margin
Generic
Generic
Undecided
University of Arkansas
October 12–24, 2021
800 (A)
± 3.5%
46%
21%
34%
555 (LV)
± 4.2%
50%
23%
27%
Debates
Results
Swing by county
Democratic — +>15%
Democratic — +12.5-15%
Democratic — +10-12.5%
Democratic — +7.5-10%
Democratic — +5-7.5%
Democratic — +2.5-5%
Democratic — +0-2.5%
Republican — +0-2.5%
Republican — +2.5-5%
Republican — +5-7.5%
Republican — +7.5-10%
Republican — +10-12.5%
Republican — +12.5-15%
Republican — +>15%
Trend by county
Democratic — +>15%
Democratic — +12.5-15%
Democratic — +10-12.5%
Democratic — +7.5-10%
Democratic — +5-7.5%
Democratic — +2.5-5%
Democratic — +0-2.5%
Republican — +0-2.5%
Republican — +2.5-5%
Republican — +5-7.5%
Republican — +7.5-10%
Republican — +10-12.5%
Republican — +12.5-15%
Republican — +>15%
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
By congressional district
Huckabee Sanders won all 4 congressional districts.[50]
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