Topzle Topzle

List of governors of Arkansas

Updated: Wikipedia source

List of governors of Arkansas

The governor of Arkansas is the head of government of the U . state of Arkansas. The governor is the head of the executive branch of the Arkansas government and is charged with enforcing state laws. They have the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Arkansas General Assembly, to convene the legislature, and to grant pardons, except in cases of treason and impeachment. The state has had 46 elected governors, as well as 11 acting governors who assumed powers and duties following the resignation or death of the governor. Before becoming a state, Arkansas Territory had four governors appointed to it by the president of the United States. Orval Faubus (1955–1967) served the longest term as governor, being elected six times to serve 12 years. Bill Clinton (1979–1981; 1983–1992), elected five times over two distinct terms, fell only one month short of 12 years, and Mike Huckabee (1996–2007) served 10 years for two full four-year terms. The shortest term for an elected governor was the 38 days served by John Sebastian Little before his nervous breakdown; one of the acting successors to his term, Jesse M. Martin, took office only three days before the end of the term, the shortest term overall. The current governor of Arkansas is Republican Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who was sworn in on January 10, 2023.

Infobox

Style
Governor (informal) The Honorable (formal)
Status
Head of Government
Residence
Arkansas Governor's Mansion
Seat
State Capitol, Little Rock, Arkansas
Term length
Four years, renewable once
Constituting instrument
Constitution of Arkansas
Precursor
Governor of Arkansas Territory
Inaugural holder
James Sevier Conway
Formation
September 13, 1836 (1836-09-13)
Succession
Line of succession
Deputy
Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas
Salary
$158,739 (2022)
Website
governor

Tables

Governors of Arkansas Territory · List of governors › Arkansas Territory
1
1
No.
1
Governor
Governor
James Miller (1776–1851)
Term in office
March 3, 1819 – December 27, 1824 (resigned)
Appointed by
James Monroe
2
2
No.
2
Governor
Governor
George Izard (1776–1828)
Term in office
March 3, 1825 – November 22, 1828 (died in office)
Appointed by
James Monroe
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams
No.
John Quincy Adams
3
3
No.
3
Governor
Governor
John Pope (1770–1845)
Term in office
March 9, 1829 – March 9, 1835 (successor appointed)
Appointed by
Andrew Jackson
4
4
No.
4
Governor
Governor
William S. Fulton (1795–1844)
Term in office
March 9, 1835 – September 13, 1836 (statehood)
Appointed by
Andrew Jackson
No.
Governor
Term in office
Appointed by
1
James Miller (1776–1851)
March 3, 1819 – December 27, 1824 (resigned)
James Monroe
2
George Izard (1776–1828)
March 3, 1825 – November 22, 1828 (died in office)
James Monroe
John Quincy Adams
3
John Pope (1770–1845)
March 9, 1829 – March 9, 1835 (successor appointed)
Andrew Jackson
4
William S. Fulton (1795–1844)
March 9, 1835 – September 13, 1836 (statehood)
Andrew Jackson
Governors of Arkansas · List of governors › State of Arkansas
1
1
No.
1
Governor
Governor
James Sevier Conway (1796–1855)
Term in office
September 13, 1836 – November 4, 1840 (did not run)
Party
Democratic
Election
1836
Lt. Governor
Office did not exist
2
2
No.
2
Governor
Governor
Archibald Yell (1797–1847)
Governor
November 4, 1840 – April 29, 1844 (resigned)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1840
—
—
No.
—
Governor
Governor
Samuel Adams (1805–1850)
Governor
April 29, 1844 – November 9, 1844 (successor took office)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
President of the Senate acting
3
3
No.
3
Governor
Governor
Thomas Stevenson Drew (1802–1879)
Governor
November 9, 1844 – January 10, 1849 (resigned)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1844
1848
1848
No.
1848
—
—
No.
—
Governor
Governor
Richard C. Byrd (1805–1854)
Governor
January 10, 1849 – April 19, 1849 (successor took office)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
President of the Senate acting
4
4
No.
4
Governor
Governor
John Selden Roane (1817–1867)
Governor
April 19, 1849 – November 15, 1852 (did not run)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1849 (special)
5
5
No.
5
Governor
Governor
Elias Nelson Conway (1812–1892)
Governor
November 15, 1852 – November 15, 1860 (term-limited)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1852
1856
1856
No.
1856
6
6
No.
6
Governor
Governor
Henry Massey Rector (1816–1899)
Term in office
November 15, 1860 – November 3, 1862 (resigned)
Party
Independent Democratic
Election
1860
—
—
No.
—
Governor
Governor
Thomas Fletcher (1817–1880)
Term in office
November 3, 1862 – November 15, 1862 (successor took office)
Party
Democratic
Election
President of the Senate acting
7
7
No.
7
Governor
Governor
Harris Flanagin (1817–1874)
Term in office
November 15, 1862 – June 1, 1865 (government in exile disestablished)
Party
Independent
Election
1862
8
8
No.
8
Governor
Governor
Isaac Murphy (d. 1882)
Governor
January 20, 1864 – July 2, 1868 (did not run)
Term in office
Independent
Party
Provisional governor appointed by constitutional convention
1864
1864
No.
1864
Governor
Calvin C. Bliss
9
9
No.
9
Governor
Governor
Powell Clayton (1833–1914)
Term in office
July 2, 1868 – March 17, 1871 (resigned)
Party
Republican
Election
1868
Lt. Governor
James M. Johnson (resigned March 14, 1871)
Vacant
Vacant
No.
Vacant
—
—
No.
—
Governor
Governor
Ozra Amander Hadley (1826–1915)
Governor
March 17, 1871 – January 6, 1873 (successor took office)
Term in office
Republican
Party
President of the Senate acting
10
10
No.
10
Governor
Governor
Elisha Baxter (1827–1899)
Governor
January 6, 1873 – November 12, 1874 (did not run)
Term in office
Republican
Party
1872
Lt. Governor
Volney V. Smith
11
11
No.
11
Governor
Governor
Augustus Hill Garland (1832–1899)
Term in office
November 12, 1874 – January 11, 1877 (did not run)
Party
Democratic
Election
1874
Lt. Governor
Office did not exist
12
12
No.
12
Governor
Governor
William Read Miller (1823–1887)
Governor
January 11, 1877 – January 13, 1881 (lost nomination)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1876
1878
1878
No.
1878
13
13
No.
13
Governor
Governor
Thomas James Churchill (1824–1905)
Governor
January 13, 1881 – January 13, 1883 (did not run)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1880
14
14
No.
14
Governor
Governor
James Henderson Berry (1841–1913)
Governor
January 13, 1883 – January 15, 1885 (did not run)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1882
15
15
No.
15
Governor
Governor
Simon Pollard Hughes Jr. (1830–1906)
Governor
January 15, 1885 – January 17, 1889 (lost nomination)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1884
1886
1886
No.
1886
16
16
No.
16
Governor
Governor
James Philip Eagle (1837–1904)
Governor
January 17, 1889 – January 14, 1893 (did not run)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1888
1890
1890
No.
1890
17
17
No.
17
Governor
Governor
William Meade Fishback (1831–1903)
Governor
January 14, 1893 – January 18, 1895 (did not run)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1892
18
18
No.
18
Governor
Governor
James Paul Clarke (1854–1916)
Governor
January 18, 1895 – January 18, 1897 (did not run)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1894
19
19
No.
19
Governor
Governor
Daniel Webster Jones (1839–1918)
Governor
January 18, 1897 – January 18, 1901 (did not run)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1896
1898
1898
No.
1898
20
20
No.
20
Governor
Governor
Jeff Davis (1862–1913)
Governor
January 18, 1901 – January 18, 1907 (did not run)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1900
1902
1902
No.
1902
1904
1904
No.
1904
21
21
No.
21
Governor
Governor
John Sebastian Little (1851–1916)
Governor
January 18, 1907 – February 11, 1907 (resigned)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1906
—
—
No.
—
Governor
Governor
John Isaac Moore (1856–1937)
Governor
February 11, 1907 – May 14, 1907 (legislature adjourned)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
President of the Senate acting
—
—
No.
—
Governor
Governor
Xenophon Overton Pindall (1873–1935)
Governor
May 14, 1907 – January 11, 1909 (senate term expired)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
President of the Senate acting
—
—
No.
—
Governor
Governor
Jesse M. Martin (1877–1915)
Governor
January 11, 1909 – January 14, 1909 (successor took office)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
President of the Senate acting
22
22
No.
22
Governor
Governor
George Washington Donaghey (1856–1937)
Governor
January 14, 1909 – January 16, 1913 (lost nomination)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1908
1910
1910
No.
1910
23
23
No.
23
Governor
Governor
Joseph Taylor Robinson (1872–1937)
Governor
January 16, 1913 – March 8, 1913 (resigned)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1912
—
—
No.
—
Governor
Governor
William Kavanaugh Oldham (1865–1938)
Governor
March 8, 1913 – March 13, 1913 (new president of the senate elected)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
President of the Senate acting
—
—
No.
—
Governor
Governor
Junius Marion Futrell (1870–1955)
Governor
March 13, 1913 – August 6, 1913 (successor took office)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
President of the Senate acting
24
24
No.
24
Governor
Governor
George Washington Hays (1863–1927)
Governor
August 6, 1913 – January 10, 1917 (did not run)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1913 (special)
1914
1914
No.
1914
25
25
No.
25
Governor
Governor
Charles Hillman Brough (1876–1935)
Governor
January 10, 1917 – January 12, 1921 (did not run)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1916
1918
1918
No.
1918
26
26
No.
26
Governor
Governor
Thomas Chipman McRae (1851–1929)
Governor
January 12, 1921 – January 14, 1925 (did not run)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1920
1922
1922
No.
1922
27
27
No.
27
Governor
Governor
Tom Terral (1882–1946)
Governor
January 14, 1925 – January 11, 1927 (lost nomination)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1924
28
28
No.
28
Governor
Governor
John Ellis Martineau (1873–1937)
Governor
January 11, 1927 – March 14, 1928 (resigned)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1926
Lt. Governor
Harvey Parnell
29
29
No.
29
Governor
Governor
Harvey Parnell (1880–1936)
Governor
March 14, 1928 – January 10, 1933 (did not run)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
Succeeded from lieutenant governor
Election
Vacant
1928
1928
No.
1928
Governor
Lee Cazort
1930
1930
No.
1930
Governor
Lawrence Elery Wilson
30
30
No.
30
Governor
Governor
Junius Marion Futrell (1870–1955)
Governor
January 10, 1933 – January 12, 1937 (did not run)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1932
Election
Lee Cazort
1934
1934
No.
1934
31
31
No.
31
Governor
Governor
Carl E. Bailey (1894–1948)
Governor
January 12, 1937 – January 14, 1941 (lost nomination)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1936
Election
Robert L. Bailey
1938
1938
No.
1938
32
32
No.
32
Governor
Governor
Homer Martin Adkins (1890–1964)
Governor
January 14, 1941 – January 9, 1945 (did not run)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1940
1942
1942
No.
1942
Governor
James L. Shaver
33
33
No.
33
Governor
Governor
Benjamin T. Laney (1896–1977)
Governor
January 9, 1945 – January 11, 1949 (did not run)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1944
1946
1946
No.
1946
Governor
Nathan Green Gordon
34
34
No.
34
Governor
Governor
Sid McMath (1912–2003)
Governor
January 11, 1949 – January 13, 1953 (lost nomination)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1948
1950
1950
No.
1950
35
35
No.
35
Governor
Governor
Francis Cherry (1908–1965)
Governor
January 13, 1953 – January 11, 1955 (lost nomination)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1952
36
36
No.
36
Governor
Governor
Orval Faubus (1910–1994)
Governor
January 11, 1955 – January 10, 1967 (did not run)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1954
1956
1956
No.
1956
1958
1958
No.
1958
1960
1960
No.
1960
1962
1962
No.
1962
1964
1964
No.
1964
37
37
No.
37
Governor
Governor
Winthrop Rockefeller (1912–1973)
Term in office
January 10, 1967 – January 12, 1971 (lost election)
Party
Republican
Election
1966
Lt. Governor
Maurice Britt
1968
1968
No.
1968
38
38
No.
38
Governor
Governor
Dale Bumpers (1925–2016)
Term in office
January 12, 1971 – January 3, 1975 (resigned)
Party
Democratic
Election
1970
Lt. Governor
Bob C. Riley
1972
1972
No.
1972
—
—
No.
—
Governor
Governor
Bob C. Riley (1924–1994)
Governor
January 3, 1975 – January 14, 1975 (successor took office)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
Succeeded from lieutenant governor
Election
Vacant
39
39
No.
39
Governor
Governor
David Pryor (1934–2024)
Governor
January 14, 1975 – January 3, 1979 (resigned)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
1974
Lt. Governor
Joe Purcell
1976
1976
No.
1976
—
—
No.
—
Governor
Governor
Joe Purcell (1923–1987)
Governor
January 3, 1979 – January 9, 1979 (successor took office)
Term in office
Democratic
Party
Succeeded from lieutenant governor
Election
Vacant
No.
Governor
Term in office
Party
Election
Lt. Governor
1
James Sevier Conway (1796–1855)
September 13, 1836 – November 4, 1840 (did not run)
Democratic
1836
Office did not exist
2
Archibald Yell (1797–1847)
November 4, 1840 – April 29, 1844 (resigned)
Democratic
1840
—
Samuel Adams (1805–1850)
April 29, 1844 – November 9, 1844 (successor took office)
Democratic
President of the Senate acting
3
Thomas Stevenson Drew (1802–1879)
November 9, 1844 – January 10, 1849 (resigned)
Democratic
1844
1848
—
Richard C. Byrd (1805–1854)
January 10, 1849 – April 19, 1849 (successor took office)
Democratic
President of the Senate acting
4
John Selden Roane (1817–1867)
April 19, 1849 – November 15, 1852 (did not run)
Democratic
1849 (special)
5
Elias Nelson Conway (1812–1892)
November 15, 1852 – November 15, 1860 (term-limited)
Democratic
1852
1856
6
Henry Massey Rector (1816–1899)
November 15, 1860 – November 3, 1862 (resigned)
Independent Democratic
1860
—
Thomas Fletcher (1817–1880)
November 3, 1862 – November 15, 1862 (successor took office)
Democratic
President of the Senate acting
7
Harris Flanagin (1817–1874)
November 15, 1862 – June 1, 1865 (government in exile disestablished)
Independent
1862
8
Isaac Murphy (d. 1882)
January 20, 1864 – July 2, 1868 (did not run)
Independent
Provisional governor appointed by constitutional convention
1864
Calvin C. Bliss
9
Powell Clayton (1833–1914)
July 2, 1868 – March 17, 1871 (resigned)
Republican
1868
James M. Johnson (resigned March 14, 1871)
Vacant
—
Ozra Amander Hadley (1826–1915)
March 17, 1871 – January 6, 1873 (successor took office)
Republican
President of the Senate acting
10
Elisha Baxter (1827–1899)
January 6, 1873 – November 12, 1874 (did not run)
Republican
1872
Volney V. Smith
11
Augustus Hill Garland (1832–1899)
November 12, 1874 – January 11, 1877 (did not run)
Democratic
1874
Office did not exist
12
William Read Miller (1823–1887)
January 11, 1877 – January 13, 1881 (lost nomination)
Democratic
1876
1878
13
Thomas James Churchill (1824–1905)
January 13, 1881 – January 13, 1883 (did not run)
Democratic
1880
14
James Henderson Berry (1841–1913)
January 13, 1883 – January 15, 1885 (did not run)
Democratic
1882
15
Simon Pollard Hughes Jr. (1830–1906)
January 15, 1885 – January 17, 1889 (lost nomination)
Democratic
1884
1886
16
James Philip Eagle (1837–1904)
January 17, 1889 – January 14, 1893 (did not run)
Democratic
1888
1890
17
William Meade Fishback (1831–1903)
January 14, 1893 – January 18, 1895 (did not run)
Democratic
1892
18
James Paul Clarke (1854–1916)
January 18, 1895 – January 18, 1897 (did not run)
Democratic
1894
19
Daniel Webster Jones (1839–1918)
January 18, 1897 – January 18, 1901 (did not run)
Democratic
1896
1898
20
Jeff Davis (1862–1913)
January 18, 1901 – January 18, 1907 (did not run)
Democratic
1900
1902
1904
21
John Sebastian Little (1851–1916)
January 18, 1907 – February 11, 1907 (resigned)
Democratic
1906
—
John Isaac Moore (1856–1937)
February 11, 1907 – May 14, 1907 (legislature adjourned)
Democratic
President of the Senate acting
—
Xenophon Overton Pindall (1873–1935)
May 14, 1907 – January 11, 1909 (senate term expired)
Democratic
President of the Senate acting
—
Jesse M. Martin (1877–1915)
January 11, 1909 – January 14, 1909 (successor took office)
Democratic
President of the Senate acting
22
George Washington Donaghey (1856–1937)
January 14, 1909 – January 16, 1913 (lost nomination)
Democratic
1908
1910
23
Joseph Taylor Robinson (1872–1937)
January 16, 1913 – March 8, 1913 (resigned)
Democratic
1912
—
William Kavanaugh Oldham (1865–1938)
March 8, 1913 – March 13, 1913 (new president of the senate elected)
Democratic
President of the Senate acting
—
Junius Marion Futrell (1870–1955)
March 13, 1913 – August 6, 1913 (successor took office)
Democratic
President of the Senate acting
24
George Washington Hays (1863–1927)
August 6, 1913 – January 10, 1917 (did not run)
Democratic
1913 (special)
1914
25
Charles Hillman Brough (1876–1935)
January 10, 1917 – January 12, 1921 (did not run)
Democratic
1916
1918
26
Thomas Chipman McRae (1851–1929)
January 12, 1921 – January 14, 1925 (did not run)
Democratic
1920
1922
· Timeline
Timeline of Arkansas governors

References

  1. The territory was formally organized with the name "Arkansaw", but spellings including "Arkansas" and "Arkansa" remained
  2. The range given is from the date the governor was confirmed by the Senate, or appointed by the President during a Senate
  3. Miller was nominated, and confirmed by the Senate, on March 3, 1819. However, to avoid the hot southern summer, he delay
  4. Miller resigned citing poor health; at the time of his resignation, he had been absent from the territory for 18 months.
  5. Izard was nominated on February 22, 1825, confirmed by the Senate on March 3, and took office on May 31. Until he arrive
  6. By the time notice of Izard's death reached Washington, D ., Andrew Jackson had been elected president, and the United S
  7. Fulton was nominated on February 2, 1835, and confirmed by the Senate on February 23, for a term to begin March 9. No co
  8. Fulton served as governor until statehood, when he was elected to the United States Senate.
  9. According to the numbering generally used, acting governors are not numbered.
  10. The office of lieutenant governor was created in 1864 and abolished in 1874. It was recreated in 1914, and was not fille
  11. Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
  12. Yell resigned to successfully run for the United States House of Representatives.
  13. Drew resigned due to the low salary he received as governor.
  14. Roane was out of state enough in 1851 that John R. Hampton, president of the Senate, was sworn in as acting governor on
  15. Roane was elected in a special election to fill the remainder of the term vacated by Thomas S. Drew's resignation.
  16. Conway was out of state in 1857, and president of the Senate John R. Hampton was sworn in as acting governor and served
  17. Under the 1836 constitution, governors were not eligible to serve more than eight years in any term of twelve years.
  18. Rector resigned two weeks before the end of his term, having lost re-election. Sources suggest he resigned because he wa
  19. This term was shortened to two years due to the 1861 constitution moving the election schedule.
  20. Sobel's entry on Fletcher mixes information with a similarly named man who ran for governor twice; even contemporary sou
Image
Source: —
Tip: Wheel or +/− to zoom, drag to pan, Esc to close.