1978 Arkansas gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1978 United States gubernatorial elections.

The 1978 Arkansas gubernatorial election, held on November 7, was the first time that future President Bill Clinton was elected Governor of Arkansas.

1978 Arkansas gubernatorial election

← 1976 November 7, 1978 1980 →

Nominee Bill Clinton Lynn Lowe Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 335,101 193,746 Percentage 63.36% 36.64%

County results Clinton:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Lowe:      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election David Pryor Democratic Elected Governor Bill Clinton Democratic

Democratic primary

Further information: Electoral history of Bill Clinton § 1978 Arkansas gubernatorial election

At this time, one gubernatorial term was two years. Incumbent two-term Democratic Governor David Pryor decided to not seek re-election in order to run for the United States Senate, as his predecessor and future Senate colleague Dale Bumpers did.^[1]

Candidates

• Bill Clinton, Attorney General
• Frank Lady II, former state representative and candidate for governor in 1976
• Randall Mathis, Clark County Judge
• Monroe Schwarzlose, turkey farmer^{[citation needed]}
• Joe Woodward, Seventh Circuit Prosecuting Attorney

Results

Clinton, a former assistant to U.S. Senator J. William Fulbright and since 1977 the state Attorney General, won the nomination easily.

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bill Clinton	341,118	59.55
	Democratic	Joe Woodward	123,674	21.59
	Democratic	Frank Lady II	76,026	13.27
	Democratic	Randall Mathis	26,096	4.56
	Democratic	Monroe Schwarzlose	5,898	1.03
Total votes			572,809	100.00

Republican nomination

A. Lynn Lowe, a Texarkana farmer, who served as state Republican Party chairman from 1974–1980, was unopposed for the 1978 gubernatorial nomination. He had also been the Republican nominee for Arkansas's 4th congressional district seat in 1966.

Election result

Clinton easily won the general election.^[2]

Arkansas gubernatorial election, 1978

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bill Clinton	335,101	63.36
	Republican	Lynn Lowe	193,746	36.64
Total votes			528,847	100.00
	Democratic hold

Clinton also led in fundraising. His campaign budget combined $709,234.00 while Lynn's was $171,382.^[2]

Clinton, at the age of thirty-two, became the youngest Arkansas governor, the youngest governor in the United States since Harold E. Stassen won in Minnesota in 1938 at the age of thirty-one, and the youngest governor in nation at this time. In 1992 he was elected third-youngest U.S. President.

Lowe's total was the highest for a Republican nominee in Arkansas since Winthrop Rockefeller's third term bid in 1970. He carried fourteen out of seventy-five counties, including Miller, Columbia, and Union counties in South Arkansas.

References

1. Our Campaigns - AR. Governor - D Primary Race - May 30, 1978
2. Our Campaigns - AR Governor Race - Nov 07, 1978