2022 Arkansas gubernatorial election

The 2022 Arkansas gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 2022, to elect the next governor of Arkansas. Incumbent Republican 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.

2022 Arkansas gubernatorial election

← 2018 November 8, 2022 2026 →
Turnout50.81%
 
Nominee Sarah Huckabee Sanders Chris Jones
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 571,105 319,242
Percentage 62.96% 35.20%

Sanders:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Jones:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election

Asa Hutchinson
Republican

Elected Governor

Sarah Huckabee Sanders
Republican

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.

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. She faced little substantive opposition in the primary, as she won every county in the state with at least 70% of the vote.

As Arkansas is a staunchly Republican state, winning the party's nomination virtually guaranteed a victory for Sanders in 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 was the only 2022 election where Washington County voted against the Republican nominee. 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.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

  • Francis "Doc" Washburn, radio personality

Withdrew

  • Tim Griffin, lieutenant governor of Arkansas (2015–2023) (successfully ran for attorney general) (endorsed Sanders)
  • Leslie Rutledge, Arkansas attorney general (2015–2023) (successfully ran for lieutenant governor) (endorsed Sanders)

Endorsements

Sarah Huckabee Sanders

U.S. Executive Branch officials

U.S. senators

  • John Boozman, Senator from Arkansas (2011–present)
  • Tom Cotton, Senator from Arkansas (2015–present)

U.S. representatives

  • Rick Crawford, U.S. representative from Arkansas's 1st congressional district (2011–present)
  • French Hill, U.S. representative from Arkansas's 2nd congressional district (2015–present)
  • Bruce Westerman, U.S. representative from Arkansas's 4th congressional district (2015–present)
  • Steve Womack, U.S. representative from Arkansas's 3rd congressional district (2011–present)

U.S. Governors

State officials

  • Bob Ballinger, state senator from District 5 (2019–2023)
  • Sonia Eubanks Barker, state representative from District 7 (2016–present)
  • Howard Beaty, state representative from District 9 (2021–present)
  • Mary Bentley, state representative from District 73 (2015–present)
  • Cecile Bledsoe, state senator from District 3 (2013–present)
  • Ken Bragg, state representative from District 15 (2013–present)
  • Karilyn Brown, state representative from District 41 (2015–present)
  • Ron Caldwell, state senator from District 23 (2013–present)
  • Alan Clark, state senator from District 13 (2013–present)
  • Cameron Cooper, state representative from District 44 (2019–present)
  • Bruce Cozart, state representative from District 24 (2011–present)
  • Carol Dalby, state representative from District 1 (2017–present)
  • Breanne Davis, state senator from District 29 (2018–present)
  • Marsh Davis, state representative from District 61 (2019–present)
  • Jonathan Dismang, state senator from District 28 (2013–present)
  • Les Eaves, state representative from District 46 (2015–present)
  • Jane English, state senator from District 34 (2013–present)
  • John Eubanks, state representative from District 74 (2011–present)
  • Charlene Fite, state representative from District 80 (2013–present)
  • Lanny Fite, state representative from District 23 (2015–present)
  • Scott Flippo, Majority Leader of the Arkansas Senate (2021–present) and state senator from District 17 (2015–present)
  • Tony Furman, state representative from District 28 (2021–present)
  • Trent Garner, state senator from District 27 (2017–present)
  • Jimmy Gazaway, state representative from District 57 (2017–present)
  • Justin Gonzales, state representative from District 19 (2015–present)
  • Michelle Gray, state representative from District 62 (2015–present)
  • Tim Griffin, Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas (2015–present)
  • Delia Haak, state representative from District 91 (2021–present)
  • Kim Hammer, state senator from District 33 (2019–present)
  • Spencer Hawks, state representative from District 70 (2019–present)
  • Bart Hester, state senator from District 1 (2013–present)
  • Jimmy Hickey Jr., President pro tempore of the Arkansas Senate (2021–present) and state senator from District 11 (2013–present)
  • Ricky Hill, state senator from District 29 (2018–present)
  • David Hillman, state representative from District 13 (2013–present)
  • Mike Holcomb, state representative from District 10 (2013–present)
  • Missy Irvin, state senator from District 18 (2013–present)
  • Lane Jean, state representative from District 2 (2013–present) and District 4 (2011–2012)
  • Joe Jett, state representative from District 56 (2013–present)
  • Vernon Jones, state representative for District 91 (2017–2021) and District 71 (1993–2001)
  • Jack Ladyman, state representative from District 59 (2015–present)
  • Mark Lowery, state representative from District 39 (2013–2023)
  • Robin Lundstrum, state representative from District 87 (2015–present)
  • Roger Lynch, state representative from District 14 (2017–present)
  • Julie Mayberry, state representative from District 27 (2015–present)
  • Austin McCollum, state representative from District 95 (2017–present)
  • Mark McElroy, state representative from District 11 (2021–present)
  • Aaron Pilkington, state representative from District 69 (2017–present)
  • Mathew Pitsch, state senator from District 8 (2019–2023)
  • Jason Rapert, state senator from District 35 (2013–present) and District 18 (2011–2013)
  • Terry Rice, state senator from District 9 (2015–present)
  • Marcus Richmond, state representative from District 21 (2015–present)
  • Bill Sample, state senator from District 14 (2011–present)
  • Matthew Shepherd, Speaker of the State Representative (2018–present) and state representative from District 6 (2011–present)
  • Nelda Speaks, state representative from District 100 (2015–present)
  • Gary Stubblefield, state senator from District 6 (2013–present)
  • James Sturch, state senator from District 19 (2019–present)
  • Dan Sullivan, state senator from District 21 (2021–present)
  • David Tollett, state representative from District 12 (2021–present)
  • Dwight Tosh, state representative from District 52 (2015–present)
  • Kendon Underwood, state representative from District 90 (2021–present)
  • DeAnn Vaught, state representative from District 4 (2015–present)
  • Jeff Wardlaw, state representative from District 8 (2011–present)
  • Danny Watson, state representative from District 3 (2017–present)
  • Richard Womack, state representative from District 18 (2013–present)

Individuals

  • Kid Rock, musician
  • Donald Trump Jr., businessman and son of former president Donald Trump

Organizations

  • American Conservative Union
  • Maggie's List

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Leslie
Rutledge
Sarah
Huckabee Sanders
Francis
Washburn
Undecided
Hendrix College May 2, 2022 802 (LV) ± 4.3% 73% 17% 10%
Remington Research (R) May 1–2, 2022 1,622 (LV) ± 2.2% 80% 14% 6%
November 9, 2021 Rutledge withdraws from the race
Remington Research (R) October 25–26, 2021 800 (LV) ± 3.5% 16% 73% 11%
Hendrix College May 26–31, 2021 535 (LV) ± 5.5% 35% 43% 22%

Results

Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sarah Huckabee Sanders 289,249 83.14%
Republican Francis "Doc" Washburn 58,638 16.86%
Total votes 347,887 100.0%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

  • Chris Jones, nuclear engineer and nonprofit executive

Eliminated in primary

  • Anthony Bland, public school teacher and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2018
  • Jay Martin, lawyer and former Majority Leader of the Arkansas House of Representatives
  • James "Rus" Russell, small business owner
  • Supha Xayprasith-Mays, entrepreneur

Declined

  • Kelly Krout, candidate for state representative in 2020 (unsuccessfully ran for lieutenant governor)
  • Greg Leding, state senator (2019–present), former state representative (2011–2019), and former minority leader of the Arkansas House of Representatives (2012–2014) (successfully ran for re-election to the State Senate)
  • Clarke Tucker, state senator (2021–present), former state representative (2015–2019), and nominee for Arkansas's 2nd congressional district in 2018 (successfully ran for re-election to the State Senate)

Endorsements

Chris Jones

Newspaper and other media

  • Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Democratic primary only)

Organizations

  • 314 Action
  • The Collective PAC
  • Democracy for America
Supha Xayprasith-Mays

Governors

Statewide officials

  • Richard Mays, former associate justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court (1979–1980) (candidate's husband)

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Anthony
Bland
Chris
Jones
Supha
Xayprasith-Mays
Jay
Martin
James
Russell
Undecided
Hendrix College May 2, 2022 597 (LV) ± 5.0% 3% 60% 2% 3% 2% 31%

Results

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Chris Jones 66,540 70.43%
Democratic Anthony Bland 9,055 9.58%
Democratic Jay Martin 7,731 8.18%
Democratic James "Rus" Russell 6,421 6.80%
Democratic Supha Xayprasith-Mays 4,725 5.00%
Total votes 94,472 100.0%

Libertarian convention

Candidates

Nominee

  • Ricky Harrington, Christian missionary, prison chaplain, and nominee for U.S. senator in 2020

Independents

Candidates

Declared

  • William E. Gates, pastor

Write-ins

Candidates

Declared

  • Dan Nelson, activist
  • Elvis Presley, perennial candidate
  • Michael Woodard

General election

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report Solid R March 4, 2022
Inside Elections Solid R March 4, 2022
Sabato's Crystal Ball Safe R January 26, 2022
Politico Solid R April 1, 2022
RCP Safe R January 10, 2022
Fox News Solid R May 12, 2022
538 Solid R June 30, 2022
Elections Daily Safe R November 7, 2022

Post-primary endorsements

Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R)

U.S. Executive Branch officials

  • William Barr, former attorney general of the United States (1991–1993, 2019–2020)
Chris Jones (D)

Labor unions

  • Communications Workers of America

Polling

Aggregate polls

Source of poll
aggregation
Dates
administered
Dates
updated
Sarah
Huckabee
Sanders (R)
Chris
Jones (D)
Undecided
Margin
FiveThirtyEight August 31 – October 31, 2022 November 3, 2022 54.4% 36.1% 9.5% Sanders +18.3

Graphical summary

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Sarah
Huckabee
Sanders (R)
Chris
Jones (D)
Ricky
Harrington (L)
Undecided
University of Arkansas October 13–31, 2022 557 (LV) 53% 34% 4% 9%
Hendrix College October 17–18, 2022 835 (LV) ± 3.8% 51% 41% 3% 5%
Remington Research Group (R) September 14–15, 2022 1,418 (LV) ± 3.4% 59% 34% 3% 4%
Hendrix College September 12, 2022 835 (LV) ± 3.8% 51% 40% 2% 7%
Echelon Insights August 31 – September 7, 2022 382 (RV) ± 7.7% 62% 32% 6%
Remington Research Group (R) February 26–27, 2022 827 (LV) ± 3.4% 58% 28% 3% 10%
Hypothetical polling

Sarah Huckabee Sanders vs. generic Democrat

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Sarah
Huckabee
Sanders (R)
Generic
Democrat
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)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Generic
Republican
Generic
Democrat
Undecided
University of Arkansas October 12–24, 2021 800 (A) ± 3.5% 46% 21% 34%
555 (LV) ± 4.2% 50% 23% 27%

Debates

2022 Arkansas gubernatorial debates
No. Date Host Moderator Link Republican Democratic Libertarian
Key:
 P  Participant   A  Absent   N  Non-invitee   I  Invitee  W  Withdrawn
Sarah Huckabee Sanders Chris Jones Ricky Harrington Jr
1 Oct, 2022 Arkansas PBS Steve Barnes P P P

Results

2022 Arkansas gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sarah Huckabee Sanders 571,105 62.96% −2.37%
Democratic Chris Jones 319,242 35.20% +3.43%
Libertarian Ricky Dale Harrington Jr. 16,690 1.84% −1.06%
Total votes 907,037 100.0% N/A
Turnout 907,037 50.81%
Registered electors 1,799,136
Republican hold

By county

County Sarah Huckabee Sanders
Republican
Chris Jones
Democratic
Ricky Dale Harrington Jr.
Libertarian
Margin Total
# % # % # % # %
Arkansas 3,197 71.22% 1,231 27.42% 61 1.36% 1,966 43.80% 4,489
Ashley 4,012 73.47% 1,386 25.38% 63 1.15% 2,626 48.09% 5,461
Baxter 12,098 77.21% 3,293 21.02% 277 1.77% 8,805 56.20% 15,668
Benton 55,907 61.51% 33,000 36.30% 1,990 2.19% 22,907 25.20% 90,897
Boone 10,127 79.42% 2,319 18.19% 305 2.39% 7,808 61.23% 12,751
Bradley 1,764 66.92% 846 32.09% 26 0.99% 918 34.83% 2,636
Calhoun 1,248 78.54% 324 20.39% 17 1.07% 924 58.15% 1,589
Carroll 5,692 62.96% 3,158 34.93% 190 2.10% 2,534 28.03% 9,040
Chicot 1,601 47.01% 1,782 52.32% 23 0.68% -181 -5.31% 3,406
Clark 3,492 56.62% 2,589 41.98% 86 1.39% 903 14.64% 6,167
Clay 3,060 77.59% 798 20.23% 86 2.18% 2,262 57.35% 3,944
Cleburne 8,252 82.17% 1,608 16.01% 182 1.81% 6,644 66.16% 10,042
Cleveland 2,305 81.88% 479 17.02% 31 1.10% 1,826 64.87% 2,815
Columbia 4,066 66.80% 1,937 31.82% 84 1.38% 2,129 34.98% 6,087
Conway 4,481 66.25% 2,176 32.17% 107 1.58% 2,305 34.08% 6,764
Craighead 18,171 65.57% 8,980 32.40% 561 2.02% 9,191 33.17% 27,712
Crawford 13,814 76.92% 3,778 21.04% 367 2.04% 10,036 55.88% 17,959
Crittenden 5,295 49.25% 5,294 49.24% 163 1.52% 1 0.01% 10,752
Cross 3,672 74.41% 1,174 23.79% 89 1.80% 2,498 50.62% 4,935
Dallas 1,331 63.68% 732 35.02% 27 1.29% 599 28.66% 2,090
Desha 1,611 51.80% 1,464 47.07% 35 1.13% 147 4.73% 3,110
Drew 3,380 63.63% 1,871 35.22% 61 1.15% 1,509 28.41% 5,312
Faulkner 25,382 62.93% 14,131 35.03% 822 2.04% 11,251 27.89% 40,335
Franklin 4,130 75.88% 1,213 22.29% 100 1.84% 2,917 53.59% 5,443
Fulton 3,045 76.43% 834 20.93% 105 2.64% 2,211 55.50% 3,984
Garland 22,225 66.66% 10,493 31.47% 622 1.87% 11,732 35.19% 33,340
Grant 5,112 81.31% 1,055 16.78% 120 1.91% 4,057 64.53% 6,287
Greene 8,982 77.69% 2,330 20.15% 250 2.16% 6,652 57.53% 11,562
Hempstead 3,311 70.67% 1,316 28.09% 58 1.24% 1,995 42.58% 4,685
Hot Spring 7,230 72.74% 2,528 25.44% 181 1.82% 4,702 47.31% 9,939
Howard 2,580 70.84% 1,000 27.46% 62 1.70% 1,580 43.38% 3,642
Independence 8,077 76.31% 2,316 21.88% 192 1.81% 5,761 54.43% 10,585
Izard 3,636 79.10% 861 18.73% 100 2.18% 2,775 60.37% 4,597
Jackson 2,860 70.84% 1,106 27.40% 71 1.76% 1,754 43.45% 4,037
Jefferson 6,874 39.29% 10,466 59.82% 157 0.90% -3,592 -20.53% 17,497
Johnson 5,071 72.34% 1,791 25.55% 148 2.11% 3,280 46.79% 7,010
Lafayette 1,286 64.88% 674 34.01% 22 1.11% 612 30.88% 1,982
Lawrence 3,655 78.74% 876 18.87% 111 2.39% 2,779 59.87% 4,642
Lee 983 48.74% 1,012 50.17% 22 1.09% -29 -1.44% 2,017
Lincoln 2,015 72.56% 730 26.29% 32 1.15% 1,285 46.27% 2,777
Little River 2,906 76.17% 835 21.89% 74 1.94% 2,071 54.29% 3,815
Logan 4,854 77.56% 1,265 20.21% 139 2.22% 3,589 57.35% 6,258
Lonoke 16,603 74.22% 5,287 23.63% 480 2.15% 11,316 50.59% 22,370
Madison 4,403 75.69% 1,304 22.42% 110 1.89% 3,099 53.27% 5,817
Marion 4,744 79.04% 1,119 18.64% 139 2.32% 3,625 60.40% 6,002
Miller 8,571 76.06% 2,523 22.39% 174 1.54% 6,048 53.67% 11,268
Mississippi 5,401 62.13% 3,092 35.57% 200 2.30% 2,309 26.56% 8,693
Monroe 1,233 55.02% 977 43.60% 31 1.38% 256 11.42% 2,241
Montgomery 2,471 79.17% 578 18.52% 72 2.31% 1,893 60.65% 3,121
Nevada 1,658 67.29% 780 31.66% 26 1.06% 878 35.63% 2,464
Newton 2,440 79.22% 557 18.08% 83 2.69% 1,883 61.14% 3,080
Ouachita 4,065 57.88% 2,863 40.77% 95 1.35% 1,202 17.12% 7,023
Perry 2,873 75.25% 871 22.81% 74 1.94% 2,002 52.44% 3,818
Phillips 1,892 43.33% 2,415 55.31% 59 1.35% -523 -11.98% 4,366
Pike 3,121 83.81% 552 14.82% 51 1.37% 2,569 68.98% 3,724
Poinsett 4,386 78.76% 1,050 18.85% 133 2.39% 3,336 59.90% 5,569
Polk 5,634 81.57% 1,123 16.26% 150 2.17% 4,511 65.31% 6,907
Pope 12,928 73.33% 4,418 25.06% 284 1.61% 8,510 48.27% 17,630
Prairie 2,167 81.22% 459 17.20% 42 1.57% 1,708 64.02% 2,668
Pulaski 47,027 37.88% 75,393 60.73% 1,733 1.40% -28,366 -22.85% 124,153
Randolph 4,201 78.42% 1,026 19.15% 130 2.43% 3,175 59.27% 5,357
St. Francis 2,477 48.74% 2,527 49.72% 78 1.53% -50 -0.98% 5,082
Saline 29,872 69.20% 12,532 29.03% 766 1.77% 17,340 40.17% 43,170
Scott 2,498 84.36% 407 13.75% 56 1.89% 2,091 70.62% 2,961
Searcy 2,608 82.27% 492 15.52% 70 2.21% 2,116 66.75% 3,170
Sebastian 22,939 66.73% 10,734 31.23% 703 2.05% 12,205 35.50% 34,376
Sevier 2,825 77.12% 784 21.40% 54 1.47% 2,041 55.72% 3,663
Sharp 4,816 79.64% 1,056 17.46% 175 2.89% 3,760 62.18% 6,047
Stone 3,936 77.04% 1,070 20.94% 103 2.02% 2,866 56.10% 5,109
Union 7,826 66.93% 3,695 31.60% 172 1.47% 4,131 35.33% 11,693
Van Buren 4,810 76.68% 1,335 21.28% 128 2.04% 3,475 55.40% 6,273
Washington 34,361 48.63% 34,842 49.31% 1,453 2.06% -481 -0.68% 70,656
White 18,010 77.88% 4,613 19.95% 502 2.17% 13,397 57.93% 23,125
Woodruff 1,347 64.39% 695 33.22% 50 2.39% 652 31.17% 2,092
Yell 4,172 78.88% 1,022 19.32% 95 1.80% 3,150 59.56% 5,289
Totals 571,105 62.96% 319,242 35.20% 16,690 1.84% 251,863 27.77% 907,037

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

  • Crittenden (largest city: West Memphis)

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

  • Washington (largest city: Fayetteville)

By congressional district

Huckabee Sanders won all four congressional districts.

District Huckabee Sanders Jones Representative
1st 70% 28% Rick Crawford
2nd 56% 43% French Hill
3rd 60% 38% Steve Womack
4th 68% 30% Bruce Westerman

See also

  • 2022 Arkansas elections

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