The 2002 Arkansas gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 2002, for the post of Governor of Arkansas. Incumbent Republican governor Mike Huckabee defeated Democratic State Treasurer Jimmie Lou Fisher.
 | |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
 County results Huckabee: 50–60% 60–70% Fisher: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
Democratic primary
editCandidates
edit- Jimmie Lou Fisher, Arkansas State Treasurer
- Joe Holmes, former prosecutor
- Jim Billie
Results
edit
- 40–50%
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
- 70–80%
- 80–90%
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jimmie Lou Fisher | 176,126 | 63.11 | |
| Democratic | Joe Holmes | 77,516 | 27.77 | |
| Democratic | Jim Billie | 25,455 | 9.12 | |
| Total votes | 279,097 | 100.00 | ||
Republican primary
editCandidates
edit- Mike Huckabee, incumbent governor of Arkansas
- Doyle Cannady, retired banker
Results
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mike Huckabee (incumbent) | 78,803 | 85.44 | |
| Republican | Doyle Cannady | 13,434 | 14.56 | |
| Total votes | 92,237 | 100.00 | ||
General election
editCampaign
editAt the start of the election campaign Huckabee was expected to win the election easily with a poll in July showing him 16% ahead.[2][3] Fisher began the campaign by unveiling plans on issues such as prescription drugs, education and domestic violence.[3] She also attacked Huckabee for mismanagement and likened him to a dictator for his response to criticism over cost overruns in a new computer system.[4][5]
Huckabee's record as governor became an issue in the election with Fisher's campaign attacking Huckabee for granting clemency to violent criminals, including a rapist.[5] However Huckabee responded that he had signed more death warrants and executed more people than any other governor of Arkansas.[6] Huckabee called on voters to support him due to the progress in education, health care and the economy during his period as governor.[7] Huckabee also criticised Fisher for receiving help from former governor Bill Clinton, describing him as having had his turn.[8]
Huckabee's lead in the polls declined as the election neared, with a poll in September showing him with a 12% lead and one in mid-October showing him 10% ahead.[3][7] Near the end of October a poll showed Huckabee only 2% ahead of Fisher.[5] Huckabee's campaign was hurt by his wife's struggling campaign to become Arkansas secretary of state; voters were concerned over the couple holding too much power, with polls showing Janet Huckabee over 20% behind.[5] In late October a fundraising letter from Huckabee's campaign described it as in crisis.[5] Huckabee was also sued by his daughter Sarah in his role as governor in a lawsuit he wanted to lose. This came after a state court ordered that students should be removed from the voting rolls in Arkadelphia. Huckabee suggested his daughter join a federal lawsuit which succeeded in getting the students restored.[9]
Predictions
edit| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[10] | Tossup | October 31, 2002 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[11] | Lean R | November 4, 2002 |
Results
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Mike Huckabee (incumbent) | 427,082 | 53.02% | −6.75% | |
| Democratic | Jimmie Lou Fisher | 378,250 | 46.96% | +8.30% | |
| Write-in | 210 | 0.03% | N/A | ||
| Majority | 48,832 | 6.06% | −15.05% | ||
| Turnout | 805,542 | 100.00% | N/A | ||
| Republican hold | |||||
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
edit- Craighead (Largest city: Jonesboro)
- Greene (Largest city: Paragould)
- Hot Spring (Largest city: Malvern)
- Izard (Largest city: Horseshoe Bend)
- Arkansas (Largest city: Stuttgart)
- Fulton (Largest city: Salem)
- Poinsett (largest city: Harrisburg)
- Lafayette (Largest city: Stamps)
- Little River (largest city: Ashdown)
- Bradley (largest city: Warren)
- Clark (largest city: Arkadelphia)
- Nevada (Largest city: Prescott)
- Ouachita (Largest city: Camden)
- Dallas (Largest city: Fordyce)
- Monroe (largest city: Clarendon)
- Mississippi (largest city: Osceola)
- Desha (largest city: Dumas)
- Lincoln (largest city: Star City)
- Ashley (Largest city: Crossett)
- Crittenden (Largest city: West Memphis)
- Conway (Largest city: Morrilton)
- Sevier (Largest city: De Queen)
- Hempstead (largest city: Hope)
- Phillips (largest city: Helena-West Helena)
- Jefferson (largest city: Pine Bluff)
- Pulaski (largest city: Little Rock)
References
edit- ^ a b "August 3, 2006, Democratic Primary: Governor" (PDF). Tennessee Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 17, 2012. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
- ^ "Huckabee Goes Back to Work for 4 More Years". KAIT. November 6, 2002. Archived from the original on February 13, 2012. Retrieved September 17, 2008.
- ^ a b c "Fisher Unveils Domestic Abuse Plan". KAIT. September 24, 2002. Archived from the original on February 13, 2012. Retrieved September 17, 2008.
- ^ "Fisher Calls Huckabee a Dictator". KAIT. October 1, 2002. Archived from the original on February 13, 2012. Retrieved September 17, 2008.
- ^ a b c d e Halbfinger, David M. (October 31, 2002). "THE 2002 CAMPAIGN: THE STATES; Wedding Ring Is a Millstone in 2 Arkansas Races". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 19, 2008. Retrieved September 17, 2008.
- ^ "Fisher Launches Into Huckabee Over Commutation". KAIT. October 8, 2002. Archived from the original on February 13, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2008.
- ^ a b "Polling Shows Huckabee Ahead". KAIT. October 14, 2002. Archived from the original on February 13, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2008.
- ^ "Clinton's campaign role: Raise money, avoid the spotlight". USA Today. October 25, 2002. Retrieved October 20, 2008.
- ^ Liptak, Adam (November 1, 2002). "THE 2002 CAMPAIGN: VOTING DISPUTES; With Suit, Governor's Daughter Gets a Spotlight". The New York Times. Retrieved October 20, 2008.
- ^ "Governor Updated October 31, 2002 | The Cook Political Report". The Cook Political Report. October 31, 2002. Archived from the original on December 8, 2002. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
- ^ "Governors Races". www.centerforpolitics.org. November 4, 2002. Archived from the original on December 12, 2002. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
- ^ "2002 General: November 5, 2002" (PDF). Arkansas Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 21, 2014. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
External links
editCampaign websites (Archived)
