The 1966 Arkansas gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1966. Winthrop Rockefeller was elected governor of Arkansas, becoming the first Republican to be elected to the office since Reconstruction in 1872.
The election occurred amidst strong midterm results for the Republican Party nationally, and in the traditionally-Democratic South. Republicans concurrently won the governorship of Florida also for the first time since Reconstruction, and only narrowly lost the governorship of Georgia, despite winning a plurality of the vote.
Popular and powerful six-term (since 1955) incumbentOrval E. Faubus decided against seeking re-election. "Justice Jim" Johnson, a political ally of George C. Wallace of Alabama, ran a segregationist campaign with support of the White Citizens Council. A decade earlier, Johnson had run in the Democratic primary against Faubus, another segregationist, whom he accused of working behind the scenes for racial integration.
Candidatesedit
Thomas Dale Alford, former U.S. Representative and candidate for governor in 1962
Sam Boyce, attorney and former State Representative
Brooks Hays, former U.S. Representative and candidate for governor in 1930
Frank Holt, State Supreme Court Associate Justice and Attorney General
James D. "Justice Jim" Johnson, State Supreme Court Associate Justice, former State Senator and candidate for governor in 1956
Raymond Rebsamen, insurance executive and Ford dealer
Kenneth S. Sulcer, state senator and real estate broker
Holt was supported by many younger, more liberal, Democrats, such as future governor and U.S. PresidentBill Clinton, who served as his campaign aide though he was not old enough to vote at the time.
Republican primaryedit
A northeastern native, multimillionaire and scion of a prominent political/business family Winthrop Rockefeller was nominated with over 96% of the vote over Gus McMillan of Sheridan. Charges abounded that McMillan, a lifelong Democrat, was planted in the race by Faubus in order to force the Republicans to hold an expensive and needless primary. Rockefeller had been the GOP nominee in the 1964 election.
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Rockefeller was an unusual candidate – an eastern establishment member and moderate-to-liberal party wing member (such as his brother, GovernorNelson Rockefeller of New York, an unofficial leader of this wing for many years).
The Republican Party at this time practically played only a most minor role in Arkansas politics.
However, his popularity and the break within Democratic camp, where many were outraged with Johnson's segregationist stances, and good year for the Republicans nationally helped Rockefeller to win.
1966, arkansas, gubernatorial, election, related, races, 1966, united, states, gubernatorial, elections, held, november, 1966, winthrop, rockefeller, elected, governor, arkansas, becoming, first, republican, elected, office, since, reconstruction, 1872, 1964, . For related races see 1966 United States gubernatorial elections The 1966 Arkansas gubernatorial election was held on November 8 1966 Winthrop Rockefeller was elected governor of Arkansas becoming the first Republican to be elected to the office since Reconstruction in 1872 1966 Arkansas gubernatorial election 1964 November 8 1966 1968 Nominee Winthrop Rockefeller James D JohnsonParty Republican DemocraticPopular vote 306 324 257 203Percentage 54 36 45 64 County results Rockefeller 50 60 60 70 70 80 Johnson 50 60 60 70 70 80 Governor before electionOrval FaubusDemocratic Elected Governor Winthrop RockefellerRepublicanThe election occurred amidst strong midterm results for the Republican Party nationally and in the traditionally Democratic South Republicans concurrently won the governorship of Florida also for the first time since Reconstruction and only narrowly lost the governorship of Georgia despite winning a plurality of the vote Contents 1 Democratic primary 1 1 Candidates 1 2 Results 2 Republican primary 3 Campaign 4 Results 5 ReferencesDemocratic primary editPopular and powerful six term since 1955 incumbent Orval E Faubus decided against seeking re election Justice Jim Johnson a political ally of George C Wallace of Alabama ran a segregationist campaign with support of the White Citizens Council A decade earlier Johnson had run in the Democratic primary against Faubus another segregationist whom he accused of working behind the scenes for racial integration Candidates edit Thomas Dale Alford former U S Representative and candidate for governor in 1962 Sam Boyce attorney and former State Representative Brooks Hays former U S Representative and candidate for governor in 1930 Frank Holt State Supreme Court Associate Justice and Attorney General James D Justice Jim Johnson State Supreme Court Associate Justice former State Senator and candidate for governor in 1956 Raymond Rebsamen insurance executive and Ford dealer Kenneth S Sulcer state senator and real estate brokerResults edit July 26 Democratic primary results 1 Party Candidate Votes Democratic James D Johnson 105 607 25 14Democratic Frank Holt 92 711 22 07Democratic Brooks Hays 64 814 15 43Democratic Thomas Dale Alford 53 531 12 74Democratic Sam Boyce 49 744 11 84Democratic Raymond Rebsamen 35 607 8 48Democratic Kenneth S Sulcer 18 051 4 30Total votes 420 065 100 00August 9 Democratic runoff results 2 Party Candidate Votes Democratic James D Johnson 210 543 51 86Democratic Frank Holt 195 442 48 14Total votes 405 985 100 00Holt was supported by many younger more liberal Democrats such as future governor and U S President Bill Clinton who served as his campaign aide though he was not old enough to vote at the time Republican primary editA northeastern native multimillionaire and scion of a prominent political business family Winthrop Rockefeller was nominated with over 96 of the vote over Gus McMillan of Sheridan Charges abounded that McMillan a lifelong Democrat was planted in the race by Faubus in order to force the Republicans to hold an expensive and needless primary Rockefeller had been the GOP nominee in the 1964 election Campaign editRockefeller was an unusual candidate an eastern establishment member and moderate to liberal party wing member such as his brother Governor Nelson Rockefeller of New York an unofficial leader of this wing for many years The Republican Party at this time practically played only a most minor role in Arkansas politics However his popularity and the break within Democratic camp where many were outraged with Johnson s segregationist stances and good year for the Republicans nationally helped Rockefeller to win Results editArkansas gubernatorial election 1966 3 Party Candidate Votes Republican Winthrop Rockefeller 306 324 54 36Democratic James D Johnson 257 203 45 64Total votes 563 527 100 00References edit Our Campaigns AR Governor D Primary Race Jul 26 1966 Our Campaigns AR Governor D Runoff Race Aug 09 1966 Our Campaigns AR Governor Race Nov 08 1966 Portals nbsp 1960s nbsp Politics nbsp United States Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1966 Arkansas gubernatorial election amp oldid 1190695190, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
