List of Governors of Arkansas
Encyclopedia
The Governor of Arkansas is the head of the executive branch of Arkansas
's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's
military forces
. The governor
has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Arkansas Legislature, to convene the legislature, and to grant pardons, except in cases of treason and impeachment.
The state has had 45 elected governors, as well as 10 acting governors who took office following the resignation or death of the governor, totaling 55 distinct terms. Before becoming a state, Arkansas Territory
had four governors appointed to it by the President of the United States
. Orval Faubus
served the longest term as state governor, being elected six times to serve twelve years. Bill Clinton
, elected five times over two distinct terms, fell only one month short of twelve years. The shortest term for an elected governor was the 38 days served by John Sebastian Little
before his nervous breakdown
; one of the acting successors to his term, Jesse M. Martin
, served only three days, the shortest stint overall. The current governor is Mike Beebe, who took office on January 9, 2007; his second term will expire on January 13, 2015.
Arkansaw Territory (renamed Arkansas Territory around 1822) was split from Missouri Territory
on July 4, 1819. It lost land twice, on November 15, 1824, and May 6, 1828, with the land being made unorganized territory
both times; this land eventually became part of Oklahoma
.
As secretary of the territory from 1819 to 1829, Robert Crittenden
served as acting governor whenever the appointed governor was not in the state. This meant he was in fact the first person to perform the office of Governor of Arkansas Territory, since James Miller did not arrive in the territory until nine months after his appointment.
on May 6, 1861, and joined the Confederate States of America
on May 18, 1861; there was no Union government in exile, so there was a single line of governors, though as the state fell to Union forces there was a loyalist government put in place with an insignificant Confederate government in exile
. Following the end of the American Civil War
, it was part of the Fourth Military District
. Arkansas was readmitted to the Union on June 22, 1868.
The first state constitution
of 1836 established four-year terms for governors, which was lowered to two years in the 1874, and current, constitution. Amendment 63 to the Arkansas Constitution, passed in 1984, increased the terms of both governor and lieutenant governor
to four years. Governors were originally limited only to serving no more than eight out of every twelve years, but the 1874 constitution removed any term limit
. A referendum in 1992 limited governors to two terms.
Until 1864, the constitutions provided that, should the office of governor be rendered vacant, the president of the senate
would serve as acting governor
until such time as a new governor were elected or the disability removed, or the acting governor's senate term expired. This led to some situations where the governorship changed hands in quick succession, due to senate terms ending or new senate presidents being elected. For example, after John Sebastian Little
resigned in 1907, three senate presidents acted as governor before the next elected governor took office. Should the president of the senate be similarly incapacitated, the next in line for the governorship was the speaker of the state house of representatives.
The 1864 constitution created the office of lieutenant governor who would also act as president of the senate, and who would serve as acting governor in case of vacancy. The 1868 constitution maintained the position, but the 1874 constitution removed it and returned to the original line of succession. Amendment 6 to the state constitution, passed in 1914 but not recognized until 1925, recreated the office of lieutenant governor, who becomes governor in case of vacancy of the governor's office. The governor and lieutenant governor are not elected on the same ticket
.
Arkansas was a strongly Democratic
state before the Civil War, electing only candidates from the Democratic party. It elected three Republican
governors following Reconstruction, but after the Democratic Party re-established control, 92 years passed before voters chose another Republican.
, an Attorney General
, and an ambassador. Thirteen represented Arkansas in the U.S. Congress
, and another was refused his seat by the U.S. Senate
shortly after the American Civil War
, because Arkansas had not yet been reconstructed. Two governors were elected from other states, and one represented Arkansas in the Confederate Congress. Five governors (marked with *) resigned to take other offices, four going to the Senate and one becoming President of the United States, and two (marked with ) resigned their seat in the House to be governor.
All representatives and senators listed represented Arkansas except where noted.
(1949–1953), who died on October 4, 2003.
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
military forces
Arkansas National Guard
The Arkansas National Guard comprises both Army and Air components. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions. In fact, the National Guard is the only United States military force empowered to function in a state status...
. The governor
Governor (United States)
In the United States, the title governor refers to the chief executive of each state or insular territory, not directly subordinate to the federal authorities, but the political and ceremonial head of the state.-Role and powers:...
has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Arkansas Legislature, to convene the legislature, and to grant pardons, except in cases of treason and impeachment.
The state has had 45 elected governors, as well as 10 acting governors who took office following the resignation or death of the governor, totaling 55 distinct terms. Before becoming a state, Arkansas Territory
Arkansas Territory
The Territory of Arkansas, initially organized as the Territory of Arkansaw, was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 4, 1819 until June 15, 1836, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Arkansas.-History:The...
had four governors appointed to it by the President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
. Orval Faubus
Orval Faubus
Orval Eugene Faubus was the 36th Governor of Arkansas, serving from 1955 to 1967. He is best known for his 1957 stand against the desegregation of Little Rock public schools during the Little Rock Crisis, in which he defied a unanimous decision of the United States Supreme Court by ordering the...
served the longest term as state governor, being elected six times to serve twelve years. Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
, elected five times over two distinct terms, fell only one month short of twelve years. The shortest term for an elected governor was the 38 days served by John Sebastian Little
John Sebastian Little
John Sebastian Little was a member of the United States House of Representatives and the 21st Governor of the U.S. state of Arkansas....
before his nervous breakdown
Nervous breakdown
Mental breakdown is a non-medical term used to describe an acute, time-limited phase of a specific disorder that presents primarily with features of depression or anxiety.-Definition:...
; one of the acting successors to his term, Jesse M. Martin
Jesse M. Martin
Jesse M. Martin was the Acting Governor of the U.S. state of Arkansas.Jesse M. Martin served as Governor of Arkansas from January 11, 1909 to January 14, 1909 after the expiration of the state senate term of Xenophon Overton Pindall, who was acting governor during the unexpired term of John...
, served only three days, the shortest stint overall. The current governor is Mike Beebe, who took office on January 9, 2007; his second term will expire on January 13, 2015.
Governors of the Territory of Arkansas
- For the period before Arkansas Territory was formed, see the list of Governors of Missouri Territory.
Arkansaw Territory (renamed Arkansas Territory around 1822) was split from Missouri Territory
Missouri Territory
The Territory of Missouri was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from June 4, 1812 until August 10, 1821, when the southeastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Missouri.-History:...
on July 4, 1819. It lost land twice, on November 15, 1824, and May 6, 1828, with the land being made unorganized territory
Unorganized territory
An unorganized territory is a region of land without a "normally" constituted system of government. This does not mean that the territory has no government at all or that it is unclaimed territory...
both times; this land eventually became part of Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
.
As secretary of the territory from 1819 to 1829, Robert Crittenden
Robert Crittenden
Robert Crittenden was Governor of Arkansas Territory and co-founder of Rose Law Firm. Robert Crittenden was born near Versailles, Kentucky....
served as acting governor whenever the appointed governor was not in the state. This meant he was in fact the first person to perform the office of Governor of Arkansas Territory, since James Miller did not arrive in the territory until nine months after his appointment.
| Picture | Governor | Took office | Left office | Appointed by | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
James Miller James Miller (general) James Miller was a member of the United States House of Representatives from New Hampshire, the first Governor of Arkansas Territory, and a Brigadier General in the United States Army during the War of 1812.... |
March 3, 1819 | December 27, 1824 | James Monroe James Monroe James Monroe was the fifth President of the United States . Monroe was the last president who was a Founding Father of the United States, and the last president from the Virginia dynasty and the Republican Generation... |
|
 |
George Izard | March 4, 1825 | November 22, 1828 | James Monroe | Died in office. |
| John Quincy Adams John Quincy Adams John Quincy Adams was the sixth President of the United States . He served as an American diplomat, Senator, and Congressional representative. He was a member of the Federalist, Democratic-Republican, National Republican, and later Anti-Masonic and Whig parties. Adams was the son of former... |
|||||
 |
John Pope | March 9, 1829 | March 9, 1835 | Andrew Jackson Andrew Jackson Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans... |
|
 |
William S. Fulton | March 9, 1835 | June 15, 1836 | Andrew Jackson |
Governors of the State of Arkansas
Arkansas was admitted to the Union on June 15, 1836. It seceded from the UnionUnion (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
on May 6, 1861, and joined the Confederate States of America
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
on May 18, 1861; there was no Union government in exile, so there was a single line of governors, though as the state fell to Union forces there was a loyalist government put in place with an insignificant Confederate government in exile
Government in exile
A government in exile is a political group that claims to be a country's legitimate government, but for various reasons is unable to exercise its legal power, and instead resides in a foreign country. Governments in exile usually operate under the assumption that they will one day return to their...
. Following the end of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, it was part of the Fourth Military District
Fourth Military District
The Fourth Military District existed in the American South during the Reconstruction era that followed the American Civil War. It included the occupation troops in the states of Arkansas and Mississippi...
. Arkansas was readmitted to the Union on June 22, 1868.
The first state constitution
Arkansas Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Arkansas is the governing document of the U.S. state of Arkansas. It was adopted in 1874, shortly after the Brooks-Baxter War replacing the 1868 constitution that had allowed Arkansas to rejoin the Union after the conclusion of the American Civil War; the new...
of 1836 established four-year terms for governors, which was lowered to two years in the 1874, and current, constitution. Amendment 63 to the Arkansas Constitution, passed in 1984, increased the terms of both governor and lieutenant governor
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
to four years. Governors were originally limited only to serving no more than eight out of every twelve years, but the 1874 constitution removed any term limit
Term limit
A term limit is a legal restriction that limits the number of terms a person may serve in a particular elected office. When term limits are found in presidential and semi-presidential systems they act as a method to curb the potential for monopoly, where a leader effectively becomes "president for...
. A referendum in 1992 limited governors to two terms.
Until 1864, the constitutions provided that, should the office of governor be rendered vacant, the president of the senate
President of the Senate
The President of the Senate is a title often given to the presiding officer of a senate, and is the speaker of other assemblies.The senate president often ranks high in a jurisdiction's succession for its top executive office: for example, the President of the Senate of Nigeria is second in line...
would serve as acting governor
Acting governor
An acting governor is a constitutional position created in some U.S. states when the governor dies in office or resigns. In some states, the governor may also be declared to be incapacitated and unable to function for various reasons, including illness and absence from the state for more than a...
until such time as a new governor were elected or the disability removed, or the acting governor's senate term expired. This led to some situations where the governorship changed hands in quick succession, due to senate terms ending or new senate presidents being elected. For example, after John Sebastian Little
John Sebastian Little
John Sebastian Little was a member of the United States House of Representatives and the 21st Governor of the U.S. state of Arkansas....
resigned in 1907, three senate presidents acted as governor before the next elected governor took office. Should the president of the senate be similarly incapacitated, the next in line for the governorship was the speaker of the state house of representatives.
The 1864 constitution created the office of lieutenant governor who would also act as president of the senate, and who would serve as acting governor in case of vacancy. The 1868 constitution maintained the position, but the 1874 constitution removed it and returned to the original line of succession. Amendment 6 to the state constitution, passed in 1914 but not recognized until 1925, recreated the office of lieutenant governor, who becomes governor in case of vacancy of the governor's office. The governor and lieutenant governor are not elected on the same ticket
Ticket (election)
A ticket refers to a single election choice which fills more than one political office or seat. For example, in the U.S., the candidates for President and Vice President run on the same "ticket", because they are elected together on a single ballot question rather than separately.A ticket can also...
.
Arkansas was a strongly Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
state before the Civil War, electing only candidates from the Democratic party. It elected three Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
governors following Reconstruction, but after the Democratic Party re-established control, 92 years passed before voters chose another Republican.
| #The official numbering includes repeat governors and omits acting governors. Subsequent terms for repeat governors are marked with their original number italicized. | Governor | Term start | Term end | Party | Lt. Governor Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas The Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas presides over the Arkansas Senate with a tie-breaking vote, serves as governor when the governor is out of state, and serves as governor if the governor is impeached, removed from office, dies or is otherwise unable to discharge the office's duties.The position... Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted. |
TermsThe fractional terms of some governors are not to be understood absolutely literally; rather, they are meant to show single terms during which multiple governors served, due to resignations, deaths and the like. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | James Sevier Conway James Sevier Conway James Sevier Conway was a Democratic Governor of the State of Arkansas, the first elected governor of the state.... |
September 13, 1836 | November 4, 1840 | Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
None | 1 | ||
| 2 | Archibald Yell Archibald Yell Archibald Yell was a member of the United States House of Representatives, second Governor of the State of Arkansas, and a Brigadier General in the United States Army serving in the Mexican-American War.-Early life:... |
November 4, 1840 | April 29, 1844 | Democratic | ||||
| — | Samuel Adams Samuel Adams (governor) Samuel Adams was a Democratic Governor of the State of Arkansas.Samuel Adams was born in Halifax County, Virginia. Adams was self-taught and moved to Arkansas in 1835. Adams became a planter and became active in Arkansas politics.In 1840 Adams was elected to the Arkansas Senate... |
April 29, 1844 | November 5, 1844 | Democratic | As president of the senate, acted as governor for unexpired term. | |||
| 3 | Thomas Stevenson Drew Thomas Stevenson Drew Thomas Stevenson Drew was the third governor of the U.S. state of Arkansas. Though Drew was the third to be elected governor, he was the fourth in office because his predecessor, Samuel Adams, had served as acting governor during much of 1844, having gained the office through the previous... |
November 5, 1844 | January 10, 1849 | Democratic | ||||
| — | Richard C. Byrd Richard C. Byrd Richard C. Byrd was a Democratic Governor of the State of Arkansas.Richard C. Byrd was born in 1805 in Hawkins County, Tennessee. Byrd was a merchant and farmer. He moved to Arkansas in 1826.... |
January 10, 1849 | April 19, 1849 | Democratic | ||||
| 4 | John Selden Roane John Selden Roane John Selden Roane was a Confederate Brigadier General during the American Civil War. He also served as the fourth Governor of the State of Arkansas.-Biography:... |
April 19, 1849 | November 15, 1852 | Democratic | ||||
| 5 | Elias Nelson Conway Elias Nelson Conway Elias Nelson Conway was the fifth Governor of Arkansas.Elias Nelson Conway was brother to James Sevier Conway, the first governor of Arkansas. He and his family moved to Missouri. Conway attended Bonne Femme Academy in Boone County, Missouri.In 1833 Conway moved to Little Rock, Arkansas... |
November 15, 1852 | November 16, 1860 | Democratic | 2 | |||
| 6 | Henry Massey Rector Henry Massey Rector Henry Massey Rector was the sixth Governor of the state of Arkansas.Henry Massey Rector was born near Louisville, Kentucky. Rector was educated by his mother and attended one year of school at Louisville. He moved to Arkansas in 1835. Rector served as U.S... |
November 16, 1860 | November 4, 1862 | Democratic | 1 | |||
| 7 | Harris Flanagin Harris Flanagin Harris Flanagin was the seventh Governor of the State of Arkansas.-Biography:Harris Flanagin was born in Roadstown, New Jersey. Flanagin was educated in Quaker schools in New Jersey. At age 18 he became a professor of mathematics. Flanagin moved west and opened his own private school in Paoli,... |
November 4, 1862 | April 18, 1864 | Democratic | 1 | |||
| 8 | Isaac Murphy Isaac Murphy For the African-American Hall of Fame jockey see: Isaac Burns MurphyIsaac Murphy was the first Reconstruction Governor of Arkansas. He was the first reconstruction governor to come to power under President Abraham Lincoln's conciliatory policy... |
April 18, 1864 | July 2, 1868 | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
Calvin C. Bliss Calvin C. Bliss Calvin Comins Bliss was the first Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas, serving from 1864 to 1868.-References:... |
1 | ||
| James M. Johnson James M. Johnson (Arkansas) James M. Johnson Was an Arkansas politician, and a soldier for the Union Army in the First Arkansas Infantry during the American Civil War. After the war he was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1868, with Powell Clayton as Governor. When the Republican Party of Arkansas split in 1971, Johnson sided... |
||||||||
| 9 | Powell Clayton Powell Clayton Powell Clayton was an engineer, a Union Army general in the American Civil War, the first Reconstruction Governor of the State of Arkansas, and Ambassador to Mexico during the administrations of William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt.-Early life:Clayton was born in Bethel, Pennsylvania, to John... |
July 2, 1868 | March 17, 1871 | Republican | James M. Johnson James M. Johnson (Arkansas) James M. Johnson Was an Arkansas politician, and a soldier for the Union Army in the First Arkansas Infantry during the American Civil War. After the war he was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1868, with Powell Clayton as Governor. When the Republican Party of Arkansas split in 1971, Johnson sided... Resigned to take office as state secretary of state. |
Resigned to take an elected seat in the United States Senate United States Senate The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each... . |
||
| — | Ozra Amander Hadley Ozra Amander Hadley Ozra Amander Hadley was the Governor of the State of Arkansas. He was born in Cherry Creek, New York and was educated in the public schools of New York. He attended Fredonia Academy . He moved to Minnesota in 1855 becoming a farmer, before entering politics being appointed county auditor... |
March 17, 1871 | January 6, 1873 | Republican | Vacant | |||
| 10 | Elisha Baxter Elisha Baxter Elisha Baxter was the tenth Governor of the State of Arkansas.-Biography:Elisha Baxter was born in Rutherford County, North Carolina. Baxter received an appointment to the United States Military Academy but his father would not allow him to attend.In 1852 Baxter moved to Arkansas and opened a... |
January 6, 1873 | November 12, 1874 | Republican | Volney V. Smith Volney V. Smith Volney Voke Smith was an American politician who served as the third Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas from 1873 to 1874. He was the born 1841 to Delazon Smith and Eliza Voke Smith, and was also a second cousin of politician Edward J. Voke.... |
1The 1874 constitution was enacted during Baxter's term, which shortened his tenure to two years as new elections were scheduled. | ||
| 11 | Augustus Hill Garland Augustus Hill Garland Augustus Hill Garland was an Arkansas lawyer and politician. He was a senator in both the United States and the Confederate States, served as 11th Governor of Arkansas and as Attorney General of the United States in the first administration of Grover Cleveland.-Early life and law career:Garland... |
November 12, 1874 | January 11, 1877 | Democratic | None | 2 | ||
| 12 | William Read Miller William Read Miller William Read Miller was the 12th Governor of the State of Arkansas.William Read Miller was born in Batesville, Arkansas. Miller was the first native born Arkansas governor. Miller studied law and was admitted to the Arkansas bar in 1848.Miller was elected county clerk of Independence County,... |
January 11, 1877 | January 11, 1881 | Democratic | 2 | |||
| 13 | Thomas James Churchill Thomas James Churchill Thomas James Churchill was a Confederate major general during the American Civil War and the 13th Governor of the state of Arkansas.-Early life:... |
January 11, 1881 | January 13, 1883 | Democratic | 1 | |||
| 14 | James Henderson Berry James Henderson Berry James Henderson Berry was a United States Senator and served as the 14th Governor of the State of Arkansas.... |
January 13, 1883 | January 17, 1885 | Democratic | 1 | |||
| 15 | Simon Pollard Hughes, Jr. Simon Pollard Hughes, Jr. Simon Pollard Hughes, Jr. was the 15th Governor of the State of Arkansas and an officer in the American Civil War.-Early life:... |
January 17, 1885 | January 8, 1889 | Democratic | 2 | |||
| 16 | James Philip Eagle James Philip Eagle James Philip Eagle was the 16th Governor of the State of Arkansas.James Philip Eagle was born in Maury County, Tennessee. His family moved to Arkansas early in his life and he was educated in the public schools.... |
January 8, 1889 | January 10, 1893 | Democratic | 2 | |||
| 17 | William Meade Fishback William Meade Fishback William Meade Fishback was the 17th Governor of Arkansas and selected to be a member of the United States Senate but was not allowed to serve.... |
January 10, 1893 | January 8, 1895 | Democratic | 1 | |||
| 18 | James Paul Clarke James Paul Clarke James Paul Clarke was a United States Senator and the 18th Governor of Arkansas.James Paul Clarke was born in Yazoo City, Mississippi. Clarke attended public schools as well as Tutwilder's Academy in Greenbrier, Alabama. He graduated with a law degree at the University of Virginia in 1878... |
January 8, 1895 | January 12, 1897 | Democratic | 1 | |||
| 19 | Daniel Webster Jones Daniel Webster Jones (governor) Daniel Webster Jones was the 19th Governor of the U.S. state of Arkansas.-Biography:Daniel Webster Jones was born in Bowie County, Texas. His family moved to Washington, Arkansas in 1840. Jones attended Washington Academy there and later studied law... |
January 12, 1897 | January 8, 1901 | Democratic | 2 | |||
| 20 | Jeff Davis | January 8, 1901 | January 8, 1907 | Democratic | 3 | |||
| 21 | John Sebastian Little John Sebastian Little John Sebastian Little was a member of the United States House of Representatives and the 21st Governor of the U.S. state of Arkansas.... |
January 8, 1907 | February 15, 1907 | Democratic | ||||
| — | John Isaac Moore John Isaac Moore John Isaac "Ike" Moore was the Acting Governor of the U.S. state of Arkansas.Moore was born in Lafayette County, Mississippi. Moore graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1881. He studied law and was admitted to the Arkansas bar in 1882. From 1894 to 1900, Moore served as probate judge in... |
February 15, 1907 | May 14, 1907 | Democratic | ||||
| — | Xenophon Overton Pindall Xenophon Overton Pindall Xenophon Overton Pindall was the Acting Governor of the U.S. state of Arkansas.Xenophon Overton Pindall was born at Middle Grove in Monroe County, Missouri. He attended Central College in Missouri and earned his law degree from the University of Arkansas in 1896... |
May 14, 1907 | January 11, 1909 | Democratic | ||||
| — | Jesse M. Martin Jesse M. Martin Jesse M. Martin was the Acting Governor of the U.S. state of Arkansas.Jesse M. Martin served as Governor of Arkansas from January 11, 1909 to January 14, 1909 after the expiration of the state senate term of Xenophon Overton Pindall, who was acting governor during the unexpired term of John... |
January 11, 1909 | January 14, 1909 | Democratic | ||||
| 22 | George Washington Donaghey George Washington Donaghey George Washington Donaghey was the 22nd Governor of the U.S. state of Arkansas from 1909 to 1913.George W. Donaghey was born in Oakland, Union Parish, Louisiana. From 1882 to 1883, Donaghey attended the University of Arkansas. He was a school teacher, carpenter, and studied both architecture and... |
January 14, 1909 | January 16, 1913 | Democratic | 2 | |||
| 23 | Joseph Taylor Robinson Joseph Taylor Robinson Joseph Taylor Robinson was an American politician from Arkansas, of the Democratic Party. He was a state representative, U.S. Representative, 23rd Governor of Arkansas, U.S... |
January 16, 1913 | March 8, 1913 | Democratic | ||||
| — | William Kavanaugh Oldham William Kavanaugh Oldham William Kavanaugh Oldham was the Acting Governor of the U.S. state of Arkansas for six days in 1913.Oldham was born in Richmond, Kentucky and educated at Central University, also in Richmond. He moved to Pettus, Arkansas in Lonoke County in 1885.He was elected to the Arkansas House of... |
March 8, 1913 | March 13, 1913 | Democratic | ||||
| — | Junius Marion Futrell Junius Marion Futrell Junius Marion Futrell was the 30th Governor of Arkansas from 1933 to 1937, and the Acting Governor for a short stint in 1913.... |
March 13, 1913 | July 23, 1913 | Democratic | ||||
| 24 | George Washington Hays George Washington Hays George Washington Hays was the 24th Governor of the U.S. state of Arkansas.George Washington Hays was born in Camden, Arkansas. He attended public schools in Camden and worked as a farmer. Hays studied law at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia.Hays was probate and county judge... |
July 23, 1913 | January 10, 1917 | Democratic | Vacant | |||
| 25 | Charles Hillman Brough Charles Hillman Brough Charles Hillman Brough was the 25th Governor of the U.S. state of Arkansas from 1917 to 1921.Charles Brough was born in Clinton, Mississippi. In 1894, he graduated from Mississippi College in Clinton. He earned his Ph.D. at Johns Hopkins University in 1898, and graduated from the law school at the... |
January 10, 1917 | January 11, 1921 | Democratic | 2 | |||
| 26 | Thomas Chipman McRae Thomas Chipman McRae Thomas Chipman McRae was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives and was the 26th Governor of Arkansas from 1921 to 1925.-Biography:... |
January 11, 1921 | January 13, 1925 | Democratic | 2 | |||
| 27 | Tom Jefferson Terral Tom Jefferson Terral Thomas Jefferson Terral was the 27th Governor of Arkansas from 1925 to 1927.Thomas Jefferson Terral was born in Union Parish, Louisiana. The attended the University of Kentucky and in 1910 graduated from the University of Arkansas law school... |
January 13, 1925 | January 11, 1927 | Democratic | 1 | |||
| 28 | John Ellis Martineau John Ellis Martineau John Ellis Martineau was the 28th Governor of Arkansas, U.S., from 1927 to 1928.John Ellis Martineau was born in Clay County, Missouri. He graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1896 and obtained his law degree there in 1899... |
January 11, 1927 | March 4, 1928 | Democratic | Harvey Parnell Harvey Parnell Harvey Parnell was the 29th Governor of Arkansas from 1928 to 1933.Harvey Parnell was born in Orlando in Cleveland County, Arkansas. Parnell attended public schools and graduated from Warren High School in Warren, Arkansas... |
|||
| 29 | Harvey Parnell Harvey Parnell Harvey Parnell was the 29th Governor of Arkansas from 1928 to 1933.Harvey Parnell was born in Orlando in Cleveland County, Arkansas. Parnell attended public schools and graduated from Warren High School in Warren, Arkansas... |
March 4, 1928 | January 10, 1933 | Democratic | William Lee Cazort William Lee Cazort William Lee Cazort was the second Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas.-External links:* at Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture... |
As lieutenant governor, acted as governor for unexpired term, and was subsequently elected in his own right. | ||
| Lawrence Elery Wilson Lawrence Elery Wilson Lawrence Elery Wilson was the third Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas, serving as Governor Harvey Parnell's second lieutenant governor.... |
||||||||
| 30 | Junius Marion Futrell Junius Marion Futrell Junius Marion Futrell was the 30th Governor of Arkansas from 1933 to 1937, and the Acting Governor for a short stint in 1913.... |
January 10, 1933 | January 12, 1937 | Democratic | William Lee Cazort William Lee Cazort William Lee Cazort was the second Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas.-External links:* at Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture... |
2 | ||
| 31 | Carl Edward Bailey Carl Edward Bailey Carl Edward Bailey was the 31st Governor of Arkansas from 1937 to 1941.-Early life and career:Carl Edward Bailey was born in Bernie, Missouri. He attended Missouri public schools and graduated from high school in Campbell, Missouri in 1912. Bailey wished to attend the University of Missouri but... |
January 12, 1937 | January 14, 1941 | Democratic | Robert L. Bailey Robert L. Bailey Robert L. Bailey was the fourth Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas, serving as Governor Carl Edward Bailey's lieutenant governor, as well as Governor Homer Martin Adkins' first lieutenant governor.... |
2 | ||
| 32 | Homer Martin Adkins Homer Martin Adkins Homer Martin Adkins was the 32nd Governor of Arkansas. He was born near Jacksonville in Pulaski County, Arkansas. In 1908, he attended Draughon's Business College and graduated from the Little Rock College of Pharmacy in 1911 as a licensed pharmacist.Adkins served in the United States Army during... |
January 14, 1941 | January 9, 1945 | Democratic | Robert L. Bailey Robert L. Bailey Robert L. Bailey was the fourth Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas, serving as Governor Carl Edward Bailey's lieutenant governor, as well as Governor Homer Martin Adkins' first lieutenant governor.... |
2 | ||
| James L. Shaver James L. Shaver James Lavesque Shaver was the fifth Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas, serving as the second lieutenant governor of Governor Homer Martin Adkins, and the first lieutenant governor of Governor Benjamin Travis Laney.... |
||||||||
| 33 | Benjamin Travis Laney Benjamin Travis Laney Benjamin Travis Laney, Jr. , was the 33rd Governor of Arkansas, having served from 1945-1949.Laney was born in Camden, where he attended Ouachita County public schools but never graduated from high school. He was, however, admitted in 1915 to Hendrix College, a liberal arts institution in... |
January 9, 1945 | January 11, 1949 | Democratic | James L. Shaver James L. Shaver James Lavesque Shaver was the fifth Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas, serving as the second lieutenant governor of Governor Homer Martin Adkins, and the first lieutenant governor of Governor Benjamin Travis Laney.... |
2 | ||
| Nathan Green Gordon Nathan Green Gordon Nathan Green Gordon was an American lawyer, politician, and decorated naval aviator. A Democrat, he served as the sixth Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas for ten terms, from 1947 to 1967. As a United States Navy officer in World War II, he received the U.S... |
||||||||
| 34 | Sid McMath Sid McMath Sidney Sanders McMath was a decorated U.S. Marine, attorney and the 34th Governor of Arkansas who, in defiance of his state's political establishment, championed rapid rural electrification, massive highway and school construction, the building of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences,... |
January 11, 1949 | January 13, 1953 | Democratic | Nathan Green Gordon Nathan Green Gordon Nathan Green Gordon was an American lawyer, politician, and decorated naval aviator. A Democrat, he served as the sixth Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas for ten terms, from 1947 to 1967. As a United States Navy officer in World War II, he received the U.S... |
2 | ||
| 35 | Francis Cherry Francis Cherry Francis Adams Cherry was the 35th Governor of Arkansas, elected as a Democrat for a single two-year term from 1953 to 1955. He was only the second governor in Arkansas history to have been denied a second term—the first was Tom Jefferson Terral, who was defeated in 1926. After the... |
January 13, 1953 | January 11, 1955 | Democratic | Nathan Green Gordon Nathan Green Gordon Nathan Green Gordon was an American lawyer, politician, and decorated naval aviator. A Democrat, he served as the sixth Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas for ten terms, from 1947 to 1967. As a United States Navy officer in World War II, he received the U.S... |
1 | ||
| 36 | Orval Faubus Orval Faubus Orval Eugene Faubus was the 36th Governor of Arkansas, serving from 1955 to 1967. He is best known for his 1957 stand against the desegregation of Little Rock public schools during the Little Rock Crisis, in which he defied a unanimous decision of the United States Supreme Court by ordering the... |
January 11, 1955 | January 10, 1967 | Democratic | Nathan Green Gordon Nathan Green Gordon Nathan Green Gordon was an American lawyer, politician, and decorated naval aviator. A Democrat, he served as the sixth Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas for ten terms, from 1947 to 1967. As a United States Navy officer in World War II, he received the U.S... |
6 | ||
| 37 | Winthrop Rockefeller Winthrop Rockefeller Winthrop Rockefeller was a politician and philanthropist who served as the first Republican Governor of Arkansas since Reconstruction. He was a third-generation member of the Rockefeller family.-Early life:... |
January 10, 1967 | January 12, 1971 | Republican | Maurice Britt Maurice Britt Maurice Lee "Footsie" Britt, Jr. , was an American professional football player, World War II hero received the Medal of Honor, businessman, and Republican politician from Arkansas... |
2 | ||
| 38 | Dale Bumpers Dale Bumpers Dale Leon Bumpers is an American politician who served as the 38th Governor of Arkansas from 1971 to 1975; and then in the United States Senate from 1975 until his retirement in January 1999. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Senator Bumpers is currently counsel at the Washington, D.C... |
January 12, 1971 | January 3, 1975 | Democratic | Bob C. Riley Bob C. Riley Bob Cowley Riley was an American educator and politician who served as Acting Governor of Arkansas for 11 days in 1975. He had previously been a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1946 to 1950, the mayor of Arkadelphia, Arkansas, in 1966 and 1967, and the eighth Lieutenant... |
|||
| — | Bob C. Riley Bob C. Riley Bob Cowley Riley was an American educator and politician who served as Acting Governor of Arkansas for 11 days in 1975. He had previously been a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1946 to 1950, the mayor of Arkadelphia, Arkansas, in 1966 and 1967, and the eighth Lieutenant... |
January 3, 1975 | January 14, 1975 | Democratic | Acting as governor | As lieutenant governor, acted as governor for unexpired term. | ||
| 39 | David Pryor David Pryor David Hampton Pryor is a former Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives and United States Senator from the State of Arkansas. Pryor also served as 39th Governor of Arkansas from 1975 to 1979 and was a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1960 to 1966... |
January 14, 1975 | January 3, 1979 | Democratic | Joe Purcell Joe Purcell Joseph Gregory Purcell -References:... |
|||
| — | Joe Purcell Joe Purcell Joseph Gregory Purcell -References:... |
January 3, 1979 | January 9, 1979 | Democratic | Acting as governor | |||
| 40 | Bill Clinton Bill Clinton William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation... |
January 9, 1979 | January 19, 1981 | Democratic | Joe Purcell Joe Purcell Joseph Gregory Purcell -References:... |
1 | ||
| 41 | Frank D. White Frank D. White Frank Durward White was the 41st Governor of the U.S. state of Arkansas since Reconstruction. He served a single two-year term from 1981 to 1983. He is one of only two people to have defeated President Bill Clinton in an election. Frank Durward White (June 4, 1933 – May 21, 2003) was... |
January 19, 1981 | January 11, 1983 | Republican | Winston Bryant Winston Bryant Winston Bryant is a former Democratic Secretary of State , the tenth Lieutenant Governor and attorney general of the U.S. state of Arkansas.He was born in Malvern, the seat of Hot Spring County... Represented the Democratic Party Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... . |
1 | ||
| 42 | Bill Clinton Bill Clinton William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation... |
January 11, 1983 | December 12, 1992 | Democratic | Winston Bryant Winston Bryant Winston Bryant is a former Democratic Secretary of State , the tenth Lieutenant Governor and attorney general of the U.S. state of Arkansas.He was born in Malvern, the seat of Hot Spring County... |
Resigned to be President of the United States President of the United States The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces.... .Gubernatorial terms changed from two years to four years during Clinton's term; he was elected for two-year terms in 1982 and 1984, and for four-year terms in 1986 and 1990. |
||
| Jim Guy Tucker Jim Guy Tucker James "Jim" Guy Tucker, Jr. is an Arkansas political figure. He served as the 43rd Governor of Arkansas, the 11th Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas, Arkansas Attorney General, and U.S. Representative... |
||||||||
| 43 | Jim Guy Tucker Jim Guy Tucker James "Jim" Guy Tucker, Jr. is an Arkansas political figure. He served as the 43rd Governor of Arkansas, the 11th Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas, Arkansas Attorney General, and U.S. Representative... |
December 12, 1992 | July 15, 1996 | Democratic | Mike Huckabee Mike Huckabee Michael "Mike" Dale Huckabee is an American politician who served as the 44th Governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007. He was a candidate in the 2008 United States Republican presidential primaries, finishing second in delegate count and third in both popular vote and number of states won . He won... Represented the Republican Party Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... . |
+ | ||
| 44 | Mike Huckabee Mike Huckabee Michael "Mike" Dale Huckabee is an American politician who served as the 44th Governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007. He was a candidate in the 2008 United States Republican presidential primaries, finishing second in delegate count and third in both popular vote and number of states won . He won... |
July 15, 1996 | January 9, 2007 | Republican | Winthrop P. Rockefeller Winthrop Paul Rockefeller Winthrop Paul Rockefeller was a Republican politician who served as the 13th Lieutenant Governor of the U.S. state of Arkansas from 1996 until his death.-Early life and parents:... |
|||
| 45 | Mike Beebe | January 9, 2007 | Incumbent | Democratic | Bill Halter Bill Halter William A. "Bill" Halter was the 14th Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected to succeed the late Republican Winthrop Paul Rockefeller in 2006, defeating Republican challenger Jim Holt by a margin of 57%–43%.Before his election as lieutenant governor,... |
2Governor Beebe's second term expires on January 13, 2015; he is term limit Term limit A term limit is a legal restriction that limits the number of terms a person may serve in a particular elected office. When term limits are found in presidential and semi-presidential systems they act as a method to curb the potential for monopoly, where a leader effectively becomes "president for... ed. |
||
| Mark Darr Mark Darr Mark A. Darr is the 15th Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas. A member of the Republican Party, he was elected to succeed Democrat Bill Halter in 2010, defeating Democratic challenger State Senator and former Speaker of the House Shane Broadway by a margin of 51% - 49%. -Early life and career:Mark... |
||||||||
Other high offices held
Seventeen of Arkansas's governors have served other high offices, including one President of the United StatesPresident of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, an Attorney General
United States Attorney General
The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. The attorney general is considered to be the chief lawyer of the U.S. government...
, and an ambassador. Thirteen represented Arkansas in the U.S. Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, and another was refused his seat by the U.S. Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
shortly after the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, because Arkansas had not yet been reconstructed. Two governors were elected from other states, and one represented Arkansas in the Confederate Congress. Five governors (marked with *) resigned to take other offices, four going to the Senate and one becoming President of the United States, and two (marked with ) resigned their seat in the House to be governor.
All representatives and senators listed represented Arkansas except where noted.
| Governor | Gubernatorial term | Other offices held | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1819–1825 | Elected Representative from New Hampshire New Hampshire New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian... but did not take his seat. |
||
| 1829–1835 | Representative and Senator from Kentucky Kentucky The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth... (including President pro tempore President pro tempore of the United States Senate The President pro tempore is the second-highest-ranking official of the United States Senate. The United States Constitution states that the Vice President of the United States is the President of the Senate and the highest-ranking official of the Senate despite not being a member of the body... ) |
||
| 1835–1836 | Senator | ||
| 1840–1844 | Representative | ||
| 1868–1871 | Senator*, Minister to Mexico United States Ambassador to Mexico The United States has maintained diplomatic relations with Mexico since 1823, when Andrew Jackson was appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to that country. Jackson declined the appointment, however, and Joel R. Poinsett became the first U.S. envoy to Mexico in 1825. The rank... |
||
| 1874–1877 | Senator, Attorney General United States Attorney General The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. The attorney general is considered to be the chief lawyer of the U.S. government... , Confederate Representative Congress of the Confederate States The Congress of the Confederate States was the legislative body of the Confederate States of America, existing during the American Civil War between 1861 and 1865... , Confederate Senator |
||
| 1883–1885 | Senator | ||
| 1893–1895 | Elected to the Senate but was refused his seat | ||
| 1895–1897 | Senator (including President pro tempore) | ||
| 1901–1907 | Senator | ||
| 1907 | Representative | ||
| 1913 | Representative, Senator* (including Majority Leader and Minority Leader Party leaders of the United States Senate The Senate Majority and Minority Leaders are two United States Senators who are elected by the party conferences that hold the majority and the minority respectively. These leaders serve as the chief Senate spokespeople for their parties and manage and schedule the legislative and executive... ) |
||
| 1921–1925 | Representative | ||
| 1971–1975 | Senator* | ||
| 1975–1979 | Representative, Senator* | ||
| 1979–1981, 1983–1992 | President of the United States President of the United States The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces.... * |
||
| 1992–1996 | Representative |
Living former governors
, five former governors were alive. The most recent death of a former governor was that of Sid McMathSid McMath
Sidney Sanders McMath was a decorated U.S. Marine, attorney and the 34th Governor of Arkansas who, in defiance of his state's political establishment, championed rapid rural electrification, massive highway and school construction, the building of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences,...
(1949–1953), who died on October 4, 2003.
| Governor | Term of office | Date of birth |
|---|---|---|
| Dale Bumpers Dale Bumpers Dale Leon Bumpers is an American politician who served as the 38th Governor of Arkansas from 1971 to 1975; and then in the United States Senate from 1975 until his retirement in January 1999. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Senator Bumpers is currently counsel at the Washington, D.C... |
1971–1975 | 12 August 1925 (age 86) |
| David Pryor David Pryor David Hampton Pryor is a former Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives and United States Senator from the State of Arkansas. Pryor also served as 39th Governor of Arkansas from 1975 to 1979 and was a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1960 to 1966... |
1975–1979 | 29 August 1934 (age 77) |
| Bill Clinton Bill Clinton William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation... |
1979–1981, 1983–1992 | 19 August 1946 (age 65) |
| Jim Guy Tucker Jim Guy Tucker James "Jim" Guy Tucker, Jr. is an Arkansas political figure. He served as the 43rd Governor of Arkansas, the 11th Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas, Arkansas Attorney General, and U.S. Representative... |
1992–1996 | 12 June 1943 (age 68) |
| Mike Huckabee Mike Huckabee Michael "Mike" Dale Huckabee is an American politician who served as the 44th Governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007. He was a candidate in the 2008 United States Republican presidential primaries, finishing second in delegate count and third in both popular vote and number of states won . He won... |
1996–2007 | 24 August 1955 (age 56) |