Arkansas gubernatorial election, 1980

The Arkansas gubernatorial election of 1980 was only that state’s third election since Reconstruction when a Republican candidate won governorship, and the first in which an incumbent was defeated.

One-term Democratic Governor of Arkansas Bill Clinton was narrowly defeated by Republican Frank D. White, which made him, as he joked, “the youngest ex-governor in the nation.” He ran again two years later and regained the Governorship, continuing to serve until he was elected President of the United States in 1992.

Democratic nomination

In primary (held on May 17) Clinton easily won renomination, gained 306,735 (68.87%) votes against 138,660 (31.13%) won by State Representative and former rival to 1978 nomination Monroe Schwarzlose. [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=28246 Our Campaigns - AR. Governor - D Primary Race - May 17, 1980 ] ]

Republican nomination

In the Republican Party primaries (May 27), former head of the Arkansas Industrial Development Commission under Winthrop Rockefeller and former Democrat Frank D. White earned 5,867 (71.75%) votes against former State Representative and millionaire Marshall N. Chrisman. [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=28247 Our Campaigns - AR Governor - R Primary Race - May 27, 1980 ] ]

Campaign

Schwarzlose’s unexpected strong challenge in primaries and his 31 percent of the primary vote foreshadowed that Clinton could be in trouble for the upcoming general election.

Clinton’s increase in the cost of automobile registration tags was also unpopular. He was also hurt by President Jimmy Carter’s decision to sending thousands of Cuban refugees, some unruly, to a detention camp at Fort Chaffee, outside Fort Smith in Sebastian County in western Arkansas. (See Mariel boatlift.)

1980 general election was marked by great Republican victory—winning of White House, majority in United States Senate and some seats in the United States House of Representatives. Also Clinton's narrow lost was viewed as part of Reagan’s coattails.

Result

Frank White narrowly won election. [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=28236 Our Campaigns - AR Governor Race - Nov 04, 1980 ] ]

Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (US)
candidate = Frank D. White
votes = 435,684
percentage = 51.98
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (US)
candidate = Bill Clinton
votes = 403,241
percentage = 48.07
change = Election box gain with party link
winner = Republican Party (US)
loser = Democratic Party (US)
swing =

References