1974 Arkansas gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1974 United States gubernatorial elections.

1974 Arkansas gubernatorial election

November 5, 1974

Nominee David Pryor Ken Coon Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 358,018 187,872 Percentage 65.57% 34.41%

County results Pryor:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Coon:      50–60%

Governor before election Dale Bumpers Democratic Elected Governor David Pryor Democratic

The 1974 Arkansas gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1974.

Incumbent Democratic Governor Dale Bumpers retired to run for the U.S. Senate.

Democratic nominee David Pryor defeated Republican nominee Ken Coon with 65.57% of the vote.

Primary elections

Primary elections were held on May 28, 1974.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Orval E. Faubus, former Governor
• David Pryor, former U.S. Representative for the 4th district
• Bob C. Riley, incumbent Lieutenant Governor

Results

Democratic primary results^[1]^[2]^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	David Pryor	297,673	51.03
	Democratic	Orval E. Faubus	193,105	33.10
	Democratic	Bob C. Riley	92,612	15.88
Total votes			583,390	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

• Ken Coon, executive director of the Republican Party of Arkansas^[4]
• Joseph H. Weston, editor of the Sharp Citizen^[5]

Results

Republican primary results^[6]^[2]^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Ken Coon	3,698	81.94
	Republican	Joseph H. Weston	815	18.06
Total votes			4,513	100.00

General election

Candidates

• David Pryor, Democratic
• Ken Coon, Republican

Results

1974 Arkansas gubernatorial election^[7]^[8]^[9]^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	David Pryor	358,018	65.57%	−9.87%
	Republican	Ken Coon	187,872	34.41%	+9.85%
	Write-in	Joseph H. Weston	84	0.02%
Majority			170,146	31.16%
Turnout			545,974	100.00%
	Democratic hold		Swing

References

1. "AR Governor, 1974 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
2. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 101.
3. America Votes 11, p. 46.
4. "Political cannon fodder". July 22, 2017.
5. Dumas, Ernest. "Joseph Harry Weston (1911–1983)". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
6. "AR Governor, 1974 - R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
7. "AR Governor, 1974". Our Campaigns. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
8. Glashan 1979, pp. 22–23.
9. Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 42.
10. America Votes 11, p. 39.

Bibliography

• Glashan, Roy R. (1979). American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775-1978. Meckler Books. ISBN 0-930466-17-9.
• Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN 1-56802-396-0.
• Scammon, Richard M., ed. (1975). America Votes 11: a handbook of contemporary American election statistics, 1974. Washington, D.C.: Elections Research Center.