2018 Arkansas gubernatorial election

2018 Arkansas gubernatorial election

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November 6, 2018 (2018-11-06)
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Nominee Asa Hutchinson Jared Henderson
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 582,406 283,218
Percentage 65.33% 31.77%

Hutchinson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Henderson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Tie:      40–50%      50%

Governor before election

Asa Hutchinson
Republican

Elected Governor

Asa Hutchinson
Republican

The 2018 Arkansas gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 2018, to elect the governor of Arkansas, concurrently with elections to the United States Senate in other states, elections to the United States House of Representatives, and various state and local elections. Incumbent Republican governor Asa Hutchinson won re-election to a second term, winning by more than 33 percentage points and carrying all but seven counties, marking the largest winning margin of any Republican gubernatorial candidate in Arkansas history.

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Declined

Endorsements

Asa Hutchinson
Federal officials
Organizations
Newspapers

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Asa
Hutchinson
Jan
Morgan
Undecided
Hendrix College[10] April 17–19, 2018 676 ± 3.8% 58% 31% 12%

Results

Results by county:
Hutchinson
  •   80–90%
  •   70–80%
  •   60–70%
  •   50–60%
Morgan
  •   50–60%
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Asa Hutchinson (incumbent) 145,251 69.7
Republican Jan Morgan 63,009 30.3
Total votes 208,260 100.0

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Declined

Results

Results by county:
Henderson
  •   70–80%
  •   60–70%
  •   50–60%
Sanders
  •   50–60%
Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jared Henderson 68,340 63.4
Democratic Leticia Sanders 39,382 36.6
Total votes 107,722 100.0

Independents

Candidates

Declined

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Declared

General election

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[19] Safe R October 26, 2018
The Washington Post[20] Safe R November 5, 2018
FiveThirtyEight[21] Safe R November 5, 2018
Rothenberg Political Report[22] Safe R November 1, 2018
Sabato's Crystal Ball[23] Safe R November 5, 2018
RealClearPolitics[24] Safe R November 4, 2018
Daily Kos[25] Safe R November 5, 2018
Fox News[26][a] Likely R November 5, 2018
Politico[27] Safe R November 5, 2018
Governing[28] Safe R November 5, 2018
Notes
  1. ^ The Fox News Midterm Power Rankings uniquely does not contain a category for Safe/Solid races

Debates

Dates Location Hutchinson Henderson West Link
September 12, 2018 Little Rock, Arkansas Didn't participate Participant Participant Full debate[29] - YouTube
October 12, 2018 Conway, Arkansas Participant Participant Participant Full debate[30] - C-SPAN

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
Asa
Hutchinson (R)
Jared
Henderson (D)
Mark
West (L)
Other Undecided
University of Arkansas[31] October 1–28, 2018 618 ± 3.9% 59% 35% 6%
Hendrix College[32] October 18–19, 2018 528 ± 4.3% 60% 24% 5% 11%
Hendrix College[33] September 5–7, 2018 1,701 ± 2.4% 60% 25% 6% 9%
Mason-Dixon[34] March 21–24, 2018 625 ± 4.0% 63% 24% 13%

Results

2018 Arkansas gubernatorial election[35]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Asa Hutchinson (incumbent) 582,406 65.33% +9.89%
Democratic Jared Henderson 283,218 31.77% –9.72%
Libertarian Mark West 25,885 2.90% +0.98%
Total votes 891,509 100.00% N/A
Republican hold

By county

County[35] Asa Hutchinson
Republican
Jared Henderson
Democratic
Mark West
Libertarian
Margin Total
# % # % # % # %
Arkansas 3,530 71.14% 1,355 27.31% 77 1.55% 2,175 43.83% 4,962
Ashley 4,278 69.50% 1,751 28.45% 126 2.05% 2,527 41.06% 6,155
Baxter 10,694 74.52% 2,978 20.75% 679 4.73% 7,716 53.77% 14,351
Benton 53,185 68.60% 22,316 28.78% 2,033 2.62% 30,869 39.81% 77,534
Boone 9,028 77.67% 2,208 19.00% 387 3.33% 6,820 58.68% 11,623
Bradley 1,906 66.78% 868 30.41% 80 2.80% 1,038 36.37% 2,854
Calhoun 1,335 74.54% 423 23.62% 33 1.84% 912 50.92% 1,791
Carroll 5,796 64.63% 2,968 33.10% 204 2.27% 2,828 31.53% 8,968
Chicot 1,638 46.13% 1,857 52.30% 56 1.58% -219 -6.17% 3,551
Clark 3,988 59.25% 2,611 38.79% 132 1.96% 1,377 20.46% 6,731
Clay 3,218 77.88% 782 18.93% 132 3.19% 2,436 58.95% 4,132
Cleburne 7,856 81.63% 1,495 15.53% 273 2.84% 6,361 66.10% 9,624
Cleveland 2,020 78.02% 513 19.81% 56 2.16% 1,507 58.21% 2,589
Columbia 4,199 66.21% 2,044 32.23% 99 1.56% 2,155 33.98% 6,342
Conway 4,339 67.12% 1,966 30.41% 160 2.47% 2,373 36.71% 6,465
Craighead 17,313 66.39% 7,407 28.40% 1,358 5.21% 9,906 37.99% 26,078
Crawford 13,200 78.29% 3,120 18.51% 540 3.20% 10,080 59.79% 16,860
Crittenden 5,775 48.46% 5,833 48.94% 310 2.60% -58 -0.49% 11,918
Cross 4,108 70.90% 1,498 25.85% 188 3.24% 2,610 45.05% 5,794
Dallas 1,316 62.22% 773 36.55% 26 1.23% 543 25.67% 2,115
Desha 1,833 52.84% 1,560 44.97% 76 2.19% 273 7.87% 3,469
Drew 3,658 67.78% 1,606 29.76% 133 2.46% 2,052 38.02% 5,397
Faulkner 25,643 66.50% 11,689 30.31% 1,227 3.18% 13,954 36.19% 38,559
Franklin 4,204 79.40% 916 17.30% 175 3.31% 3,288 62.10% 5,295
Fulton 2,829 73.83% 900 23.49% 103 2.69% 1,929 50.34% 3,832
Garland 21,969 69.16% 8,865 27.91% 933 2.94% 13,104 41.25% 31,767
Grant 4,524 81.53% 898 16.18% 127 2.29% 3,626 65.35% 5,549
Greene 8,275 75.55% 2,088 19.06% 590 5.39% 6,187 56.49% 10,953
Hempstead 3,312 66.63% 1,554 31.26% 105 2.11% 1,758 35.37% 4,971
Hot Spring 6,368 72.87% 2,113 24.18% 258 2.95% 4,255 48.69% 8,739
Howard 2,489 70.73% 974 27.68% 56 1.59% 1,515 43.05% 3,519
Independence 7,733 76.22% 1,928 19.00% 484 4.77% 5,805 57.22% 10,145
Izard 3,423 76.56% 869 19.44% 179 4.00% 2,554 57.12% 4,471
Jackson 2,998 71.88% 1,067 25.58% 106 2.54% 1,931 46.30% 4,171
Jefferson 9,005 45.43% 10,406 52.50% 409 2.06% -1,401 -7.07% 19,820
Johnson 5,546 74.17% 1,672 22.36% 259 3.46% 3,874 51.81% 7,477
Lafayette 1,395 65.46% 693 32.52% 43 2.02% 702 32.94% 2,131
Lawrence 3,584 76.76% 908 19.45% 177 3.79% 2,676 57.31% 4,669
Lee 947 44.69% 1,130 53.33% 42 1.98% -183 -8.64% 2,119
Lincoln 2,227 73.28% 771 25.37% 41 1.35% 1,456 47.91% 3,039
Little River 2,820 71.85% 1,014 25.83% 91 2.32% 1,806 46.01% 3,925
Logan 4,303 77.84% 1,041 18.83% 184 3.33% 3,262 59.01% 5,528
Lonoke 15,791 76.61% 4,171 20.23% 651 3.16% 11,620 56.37% 20,613
Madison 4,151 74.44% 1,283 23.01% 142 2.55% 2,868 51.43% 5,576
Marion 3,959 76.68% 1,027 19.89% 177 3.43% 2,932 56.79% 5,163
Miller 8,393 73.42% 2,841 24.85% 197 1.72% 5,552 48.57% 11,431
Mississippi 6,429 61.49% 3,660 35.01% 366 3.50% 2,769 26.48% 10,455
Monroe 1,493 56.55% 1,104 41.82% 43 1.63% 389 14.73% 2,640
Montgomery 2,204 77.85% 558 19.71% 69 2.44% 1,646 58.14% 2,831
Nevada 1,628 64.71% 842 33.47% 46 1.83% 786 31.24% 2,516
Newton 2,203 71.27% 695 22.48% 193 6.24% 1,508 48.79% 3,091
Ouachita 4,227 57.23% 3,031 41.04% 128 1.73% 1,196 16.19% 7,386
Perry 2,731 73.79% 838 22.64% 132 3.57% 1,893 51.15% 3,701
Phillips 2,401 44.10% 2,923 53.69% 120 2.20% -522 -9.59% 5,444
Pike 2,708 80.64% 563 16.77% 87 2.59% 2,145 63.88% 3,358
Poinsett 4,690 76.77% 1,194 19.54% 225 3.68% 3,496 57.23% 6,109
Polk 4,903 80.96% 904 14.93% 249 4.11% 3,999 66.03% 6,056
Pope 13,437 74.83% 3,756 20.92% 763 4.25% 9,681 53.92% 17,956
Prairie 2,256 78.88% 560 19.58% 44 1.54% 1,696 59.30% 2,860
Pulaski 62,510 46.42% 69,265 51.43% 2,892 2.15% -6,755 -5.02% 134,667
Randolph 4,285 75.68% 1,063 18.77% 314 5.55% 3,222 56.91% 5,662
Saline 30,756 73.97% 9,676 23.27% 1,146 2.76% 21,080 50.70% 41,578
Scott 2,331 80.97% 390 13.55% 158 5.49% 1,941 67.42% 2,879
Searcy 2,512 78.65% 524 16.41% 158 4.95% 1,988 62.24% 3,194
Sebastian 23,785 71.72% 8,316 25.07% 1,064 3.21% 15,469 46.64% 33,165
Sevier 2,412 75.33% 682 21.30% 108 3.37% 1,730 54.03% 3,202
Sharp 4,430 78.13% 1,038 18.31% 202 3.56% 3,392 59.82% 5,670
St. Francis 2,660 45.78% 3,019 51.95% 132 2.27% -359 -6.18% 5,811
Stone 3,302 74.34% 956 21.52% 184 4.14% 2,346 52.81% 4,442
Union 8,225 65.79% 4,036 32.28% 241 1.93% 4,189 33.51% 12,502
Van Buren 4,937 78.41% 1,157 18.38% 202 3.21% 3,780 60.04% 6,296
Washington 35,967 54.61% 28,051 42.59% 1,845 2.80% 7,916 12.02% 65,863
White 17,610 80.07% 3,799 17.27% 584 2.66% 13,811 62.80% 21,993
Woodruff 1,271 60.93% 760 36.43% 55 2.64% 511 24.50% 2,086
Yell 4,002 75.07% 1,108 20.78% 221 4.15% 2,894 54.29% 5,331
Totals 582,406 65.33% 283,218 31.77% 25,885 2.90% 299,188 33.56% 891,509

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

By congressional district

Hutchinson won all four congressional districts.[36]

District Hutchinson Henderson Representative
1st 69% 27% Rick Crawford
2nd 59% 39% French Hill
3rd 66% 31% Steve Womack
4th 69% 28% Bruce Westerman

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wickline, Michael R. (January 3, 2017). "Arkansas governor to hold fundraiser for term 2; re-election bid not yet formally announced". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  2. ^ Wickline, Michael R. (May 17, 2017). "Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson to pursue second term". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  3. ^ Lanning, Curt (October 3, 2017). "Gov. Hutchinson May Have a GOP Challenger". KNWA-TV. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
  4. ^ "Republican Jan Morgan Announces Run for Arkansas Governor". U.S. News & World Report. January 1, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2018.
  5. ^ Ramsey, David (April 18, 2016). "Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin "opposes Obamacare" (duh), dodges questions on "Arkansas Works"". Arkansas Times. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  6. ^ DeMillo, Andrew (July 11, 2016). "Lt. Gov. Griffin says he's seeking re-election". Log Cabin Democrat. Archived from the original on July 13, 2016. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  7. ^ Donald J. Trump. ".@AsaHutchinson, the great Governor of Arkansas, is in a primary tomorrow. He has done an incredible job with a focus on lower taxes, border security, and crime prevention. Asa loves our military and our veterans. I fully endorse Asa for Governor!". Twitter.
  8. ^ "NRA Endorses Governor Asa Hutchinson In Re-Election Bid". 5newsonline.com. September 20, 2018. Archived from the original on August 14, 2020.
  9. ^ "EDITORIAL: For Asa Hutchinson". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. October 23, 2018.
  10. ^ Hendrix College
  11. ^ Brock, Roby (December 12, 2017). "Jared Henderson to run as Democratic candidate for Governor". Talk Business & Politics. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  12. ^ "Meet Jan Morgan, GOP Candidate For Arkansas Governor". KFSM. March 27, 2018. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  13. ^ Brock, Roby (November 28, 2017). "Former State Rep. Jay Martin eyeing run for governor on Democratic ticket". Talk Business & Politics. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
  14. ^ "Martin says time is not right to run for Arkansas governor's office". Talk Business & Politics. December 1, 2017. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  15. ^ "Radio host Bobby Bones considering run for Ark. governor". THV11 Digital, KTHV. January 3, 2017. Archived from the original on January 4, 2017. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  16. ^ Taha, Nada (March 14, 2017). "Bobby Makes Official Statement On Political Plans". The Bobby Bones Show. Archived from the original on March 20, 2017. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  17. ^ Wickline, Michael R. (June 28, 2017). "Libertarian to run for governor's post". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  18. ^ Lampe, Ellen (June 27, 2017). "Libertarian Party Candidate Announces Run for AR Governor". ArkansasMatters.com. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  19. ^ "2018 Governor Race Ratings for October 26, 2018". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  20. ^ "The Washington Post's gubernatorial race ratings". The Washington Post. October 16, 2018.
  21. ^ "2018 Governor Forecast". FiveThirtyEight. October 17, 2018. Archived from the original on October 18, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  22. ^ "2018 Gubernatorial Ratings | Inside Elections". insideelections.com. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  23. ^ "Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball » 2018 Governor". www.centerforpolitics.org. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
  24. ^ "2018 Governor Races". RealClearPolitics. October 9, 2018.
  25. ^ "2018 Governor Race Ratings". Daily Kos. June 5, 2018.
  26. ^ "2018 Midterm Power Ranking". Fox News. August 2, 2023.
  27. ^ "Politico Race Ratings". Politico.
  28. ^ "2018 Governor Elections: As November Nears, More Governors' Races Become Tossups". www.governing.com. Archived from the original on October 21, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  29. ^ Full debate
  30. ^ Full debate
  31. ^ University of Arkansas
  32. ^ Hendrix College
  33. ^ Hendrix College
  34. ^ Mason-Dixon
  35. ^ a b Martin, Mark (November 6, 2018). "Governor". Secretary of State of Arkansas. Retrieved February 18, 2026.
  36. ^ "DRA 2020". Daves Redistricting. Retrieved August 19, 2024.

Official campaign websites