1982 Arkansas gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1982 United States gubernatorial elections.

1982 Arkansas gubernatorial election

November 2, 1982

Nominee Bill Clinton Frank D. White Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 431,855 357,496 Percentage 54.71% 45.29%

County results Clinton:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% White:      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election Frank D. White Republican Elected Governor Bill Clinton Democratic

The 1982 Arkansas gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 1982. 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 2025, this is the last time that an incumbent governor of Arkansas lost re-election.

Democratic primary

• Governor Bill Clinton, Governor of Arkansas 1979-1981
• 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

Democratic primary results^[1]

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

• Frank D. White – incumbent governor
• Marshall Chrisman, farmer and former state representative
• Connie Voll, nutritionist

Results

Republican primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Frank D. White (incumbent)	11,111	83.2
	Republican	Marshal 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.

Arkansas gubernatorial election, 1982^[3]^: 36

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

References

1. Gubernatorial elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly. 1998. ISBN 978-1-56802-396-0 – via Internet Archive.
2. Dillard, Tom W. "Frank Durward White (1933–2003)". The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
3. "1982 Arkansas Elections". Arkansas Secretary of State. May 1983. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 11, 2017. Retrieved October 29, 2016.

1. The total number of votes is not provided and therefore estimated based on the missing percentage value of 6.1%.