# 2022 Arkansas gubernatorial election

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The 2022 Arkansas gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 2022, to elect the next governor of Arkansas. Incumbent Republican governor Asa Hutchinson was term-limited and could not seek a third term. Republican Sarah Huckabee Sanders, daughter of former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, defeated Democrat Chris Jones to become the first woman ever elected to the office, and was sworn in on January 10, 2023.
Primary elections in Arkansas were held on May 24. Runoff elections for instances where no candidate receives over 50% of the vote were scheduled for June 21. Former White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders won the Republican nomination, while Chris Jones won the Democratic nomination.
Leading up to the Republican primary, Sanders received many endorsements from key Republican figures, including Donald Trump, Mike Pence, incumbent Asa Hutchinson, Arkansas' entire U.S. Congressional delegation, and the majority of Republicans in both state legislative chambers. Her primary victory was not remotely close, as she won every county in the state with at least 70% of the vote.
As Arkansas is a Republican stronghold, her primary victory virtually guaranteed she would win the general election, in which she defeated Jones by 28 points. Jones became the first Democrat to win Washington County since 2010, and Sanders became the first Republican to win majority-Black Crittenden County since her father in 1998, winning the county by one vote. This was the only 2022 election where Washington County voted against the Republican nominee. This is the first time ever that the Republican Party won three straight gubernatorial elections in the state's history.
Sanders became the first female governor of Arkansas. With the election of Leslie Rutledge as lieutenant governor, Arkansas, along with Massachusetts, became the first two U.S. states to elect both a female governor and female lieutenant governor to serve at the same time.

## Republican primary
### Candidates
#### Nominee

* Sarah Huckabee Sanders, former White House press secretary (2017–2019) and daughter of former governor Mike Huckabee

#### Eliminated in primary

* Francis "Doc" Washburn, radio personality

#### Withdrew

* Tim Griffin, lieutenant governor of Arkansas (2015–2023) (successfully ran for attorney general) (endorsed Sanders)
* Leslie Rutledge, Arkansas attorney general (2015–2023) (successfully ran for lieutenant governor) (endorsed Sanders)

### Endorsements

U.S. Executive Branch officials
* Donald Trump, 45th president of the United States (2017–2021)
* Mike Pence, 48th vice president of the United States (2017–2021)
* Mike Pompeo, former secretary of state (2018–2021)
* Matt Schlapp, White House Director of Political Affairs (2003–2005)
U.S. senators
* John Boozman, Senator from Arkansas (2011–present)
* Tom Cotton, Senator from Arkansas (2015–present)
U.S. representatives
* Rick Crawford, U.S. representative from Arkansas's 1st congressional district (2011–present)
* French Hill, U.S. representative from Arkansas's 2nd congressional district (2015–present)
* Bruce Westerman, U.S. representative from Arkansas's 4th congressional district (2015–present)
* Steve Womack, U.S. representative from Arkansas's 3rd congressional district (2011–present)
U.S. Governors
* Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas (1996–2007) and candidate for President of the United States in 2008 and 2016 (candidate's father)
* Asa Hutchinson, Governor of Arkansas (2015–2023)
State officials
* Bob Ballinger, state senator from District 5 (2019–2023)
* Sonia Eubanks Barker, state representative from District 7 (2016–present)
* Howard Beaty, state representative from District 9 (2021–present)
* Mary Bentley, state representative from District 73 (2015–present)
* Cecile Bledsoe, state senator from District 3 (2013–present)
* Ken Bragg, state representative from District 15 (2013–present)
* Karilyn Brown, state representative from District 41 (2015–present)
* Ron Caldwell, state senator from District 23 (2013–present)
* Alan Clark, state senator from District 13 (2013–present)
* Cameron Cooper, state representative from District 44 (2019–present)
* Bruce Cozart, state representative from District 24 (2011–present)
* Carol Dalby, state representative from District 1 (2017–present)
* Breanne Davis, state senator from District 29 (2018–present)
* Marsh Davis, state representative from District 61 (2019–present)
* Jonathan Dismang, state senator from District 28 (2013–present)
* Les Eaves, state representative from District 46 (2015–present)
* Jane English, state senator from District 34 (2013–present)
* John Eubanks, state representative from District 74 (2011–present)
* Charlene Fite, state representative from District 80 (2013–present)
* Lanny Fite, state representative from District 23 (2015–present)
* Scott Flippo, Majority Leader of the Arkansas Senate (2021–present) and state senator from District 17 (2015–present)
* Tony Furman, state representative from District 28 (2021–present)
* Trent Garner, state senator from District 27 (2017–present)
* Jimmy Gazaway, state representative from District 57 (2017–present)
* Justin Gonzales, state representative from District 19 (2015–present)
* Michelle Gray, state representative from District 62 (2015–present)
* Tim Griffin, Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas (2015–present)
* Delia Haak, state representative from District 91 (2021–present)
* Kim Hammer, state senator from District 33 (2019–present)
* Spencer Hawks, state representative from District 70 (2019–present)
* Bart Hester, state senator from District 1 (2013–present)
* Jimmy Hickey Jr., President pro tempore of the Arkansas Senate (2021–present) and state senator from District 11 (2013–present)
* Ricky Hill, state senator from District 29 (2018–present)
* David Hillman, state representative from District 13 (2013–present)
* Mike Holcomb, state representative from District 10 (2013–present)
* Missy Irvin, state senator from District 18 (2013–present)
* Lane Jean, state representative from District 2 (2013–present) and District 4 (2011–2012)
* Joe Jett, state representative from District 56 (2013–present)
* Vernon Jones, state representative for District 91 (2017–2021) and District 71 (1993–2001)
* Jack Ladyman, state representative from District 59 (2015–present)
* Mark Lowery, state representative from District 39 (2013–2023)
* Robin Lundstrum, state representative from District 87 (2015–present)
* Roger Lynch, state representative from District 14 (2017–present)
* Julie Mayberry, state representative from District 27 (2015–present)
* Austin McCollum, state representative from District 95 (2017–present)
* Mark McElroy, state representative from District 11 (2021–present)
* Aaron Pilkington, state representative from District 69 (2017–present)
* Mathew Pitsch, state senator from District 8 (2019–2023)
* Jason Rapert, state senator from District 35 (2013–present) and District 18 (2011–2013)
* Terry Rice, state senator from District 9 (2015–present)
* Marcus Richmond, state representative from District 21 (2015–present)
* Bill Sample, state senator from District 14 (2011–present)
* Matthew Shepherd, Speaker of the State Representative (2018–present) and state representative from District 6 (2011–present)
* Nelda Speaks, state representative from District 100 (2015–present)
* Gary Stubblefield, state senator from District 6 (2013–present)
* James Sturch, state senator from District 19 (2019–present)
* Dan Sullivan, state senator from District 21 (2021–present)
* David Tollett, state representative from District 12 (2021–present)
* Dwight Tosh, state representative from District 52 (2015–present)
* Kendon Underwood, state representative from District 90 (2021–present)
* DeAnn Vaught, state representative from District 4 (2015–present)
* Jeff Wardlaw, state representative from District 8 (2011–present)
* Danny Watson, state representative from District 3 (2017–present)
* Richard Womack, state representative from District 18 (2013–present)
Individuals
* Kid Rock, musician
* Donald Trump Jr., businessman and son of former president Donald Trump
Organizations
* American Conservative Union
* Maggie's List

### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Leslie Rutledge | Sarah Huckabee Sanders | Francis Washburn | Undecided |
| Hendrix College | May 2, 2022 | 802 (LV) | ± 4.3% | – | 73% | 17% | 10% |
| Remington Research (R) | May 1–2, 2022 | 1,622 (LV) | ± 2.2% | – | 80% | 14% | 6% |
| | November 9, 2021 | Rutledge withdraws from the race | Rutledge withdraws from the race | Rutledge withdraws from the race | Rutledge withdraws from the race | Rutledge withdraws from the race | Rutledge withdraws from the race |
| Remington Research (R) | October 25–26, 2021 | 800 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 16% | 73% | – | 11% |
| Hendrix College | May 26–31, 2021 | 535 (LV) | ± 5.5% | 35% | 43% | – | 22% |

### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Sarah Huckabee Sanders | 289,249 | 83.14% |
| | Republican | Francis "Doc" Washburn | 58,638 | 16.86% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 347,887 | 100.0% |

## Democratic primary
### Candidates
#### Nominee

* Chris Jones, nuclear engineer

#### Eliminated in primary

* Anthony Bland, public school teacher and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2018
* Jay Martin, lawyer and former Majority Leader of the Arkansas House of Representatives
* James "Rus" Russell, small business owner
* Supha Xayprasith-Mays, entrepreneur

#### Declined

* Kelly Krout, candidate for state representative in 2020 (unsuccessfully ran for lieutenant governor)
* Greg Leding, state senator (2019–present), former state representative (2011–2019), and former minority leader of the Arkansas House of Representatives (2012–2014) (successfully ran for re-election to the State Senate)
* Clarke Tucker, state senator (2021–present), former state representative (2015–2019), and nominee for Arkansas's 2nd congressional district in 2018 (successfully ran for re-election to the State Senate)

### Endorsements

Newspaper and other media
* Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Democratic primary only)
Organizations
* 314 Action
* The Collective PAC
* Democracy for America
Governors
* Jim Guy Tucker, former governor of Arkansas (1992–1996)
Statewide officials
* Richard Mays, former associate justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court (1979–1980) (candidate's husband)

### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Anthony Bland | Chris Jones | Supha Xayprasith-Mays | Jay Martin | James Russell | Undecided |
| Hendrix College | May 2, 2022 | 597 (LV) | ± 5.0% | 3% | 60% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 31% |

### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Chris Jones | 66,540 | 70.43% |
| | Democratic | Anthony Bland | 9,055 | 9.58% |
| | Democratic | Jay Martin | 7,731 | 8.18% |
| | Democratic | James "Rus" Russell | 6,421 | 6.80% |
| | Democratic | Supha Xayprasith-Mays | 4,725 | 5.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 94,472 | 100.0% |

## Libertarian convention
### Candidates
#### Nominee

* Ricky Harrington, Christian missionary, prison chaplain, and nominee for U.S. senator in 2020

## Independents
### Candidates
#### Declared

* William E. Gates, senior pastor at the church of Christian Jewish Freedom in Little Rock

## Write-ins
### Candidates
#### Declared

* Dan Nelson, activist
* Elvis Presley, perennial candidate
* Michael Woodard

## General election
### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Solid R | March 4, 2022 |
| Inside Elections | Solid R | March 4, 2022 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Safe R | January 26, 2022 |
| Politico | Solid R | April 1, 2022 |
| RCP | Safe R | January 10, 2022 |
| Fox News | Solid R | May 12, 2022 |
| 538 | Solid R | June 30, 2022 |
| Elections Daily | Safe R | November 7, 2022 |

### Post-primary endorsements

U.S. Executive Branch officials
* William Barr, former attorney general of the United States (1991–1993, 2019–2020)
Labor unions
* Communications Workers of America

### Polling

Aggregate polls
| Source of poll aggregation | Dates administered | Dates updated | Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) | Chris Jones (D) | Undecided | Margin |
| FiveThirtyEight | August 31 – October 31, 2022 | November 3, 2022 | 54.4% | 36.1% | 9.5% | Sanders +18.3 |
Graphical summary
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) | Chris Jones (D) | Ricky Harrington (L) | Undecided |
| University of Arkansas | October 13–31, 2022 | 557 (LV) | – | 53% | 34% | 4% | 9% |
| Hendrix College | October 17–18, 2022 | 835 (LV) | ± 3.8% | 51% | 41% | 3% | 5% |
| Remington Research Group (R) | September 14–15, 2022 | 1,418 (LV) | ± 3.4% | 59% | 34% | 3% | 4% |
| Hendrix College | September 12, 2022 | 835 (LV) | ± 3.8% | 51% | 40% | 2% | 7% |
| Echelon Insights | August 31 – September 7, 2022 | 382 (RV) | ± 7.7% | 62% | 32% | – | 6% |
| Remington Research Group (R) | February 26–27, 2022 | 827 (LV) | ± 3.4% | 58% | 28% | 3% | 10% |
Sarah Huckabee Sanders vs. generic Democrat
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) | Generic Democrat | Other | Undecided |
| Hendrix College | February 7–8, 2022 | 961 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 44% | 34% | 8% | 15% |
Generic Republican vs. generic Democrat
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Generic Republican | Generic Democrat | Undecided |
| University of Arkansas | October 12–24, 2021 | 800 (A) | ± 3.5% | 46% | 21% | 34% |
| University of Arkansas | October 12–24, 2021 | 555 (LV) | ± 4.2% | 50% | 23% | 27% |

### Debates

2022 Arkansas gubernatorial debates :
| No. | Date | Host | Moderator | Link | Republican | Democratic | Libertarian |
| Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Non-invitee  I Invitee W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Non-invitee  I Invitee W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Non-invitee  I Invitee W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Non-invitee  I Invitee W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Non-invitee  I Invitee W Withdrawn | | | |
| Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Non-invitee  I Invitee W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Non-invitee  I Invitee W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Non-invitee  I Invitee W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Non-invitee  I Invitee W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Non-invitee  I Invitee W Withdrawn | Sarah Huckabee Sanders | Chris Jones | Ricky Harrington Jr |
| 1 | Oct, 2022 | Arkansas PBS | | | P | P | P |

### Results

* Democratic — +>15%
* Democratic — +12.5–15%
* Democratic — +10-12.5%
* Democratic — +7.5–10%
* Democratic — +5-7.5%
* Democratic — +2.5-5%
* Democratic — +0-2.5%
* Republican — +0-2.5%
* Republican — +2.5-5%
* Republican — +5-7.5%
* Republican — +7.5–10%
* Republican — +10-12.5%
* Republican — +12.5–15%
* Republican — +>15%
* Democratic — +>15%
* Democratic — +12.5–15%
* Democratic — +10-12.5%
* Democratic — +7.5–10%
* Democratic — +5-7.5%
* Democratic — +2.5-5%
* Democratic — +0-2.5%
* Republican — +0-2.5%
* Republican — +2.5-5%
* Republican — +5-7.5%
* Republican — +7.5–10%
* Republican — +10-12.5%
* Republican — +12.5–15%
* Republican — +>15%
2022 Arkansas gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Sarah Huckabee Sanders | 571,105 | 62.96% | −2.37% |
| | Democratic | Chris Jones | 319,242 | 35.20% | +3.43% |
| | Libertarian | Ricky Dale Harrington Jr. | 16,690 | 1.84% | −1.06% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 907,037 | 100.0% | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 907,037 | 50.81% | |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 1,799,136 | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

#### Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

* Crittenden (largest city: West Memphis)

#### Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

* Washington (largest city: Fayetteville)

#### By congressional district

Huckabee Sanders won all 4 congressional districts.
| District | Huckabee Sanders | Jones | Representative |
| 1st | 70.1% | 27.9% | Rick Crawford |
| 2nd | 55.5% | 42.8% | French Hill |
| 3rd | 59.6% | 38.3% | Steve Womack |
| 4th | 67.9% | 30.5% | Bruce Westerman |