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List of governors of Arkansas facts for kids

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Governor of Arkansas
Flag of Arkansas.svg
Seal of Arkansas.svg
Sarah Sanders September 2024 (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Sarah Huckabee Sanders

since January 10, 2023 (2023-01-10)
Government of Arkansas
Style
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
(188 years ago)
 (1836-09-13)
Succession Line of succession
Deputy Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas
Salary $158,739 (2022)

The governor of Arkansas is the main leader of the government in the U.S. state of Arkansas. The governor is in charge of the executive branch, which means they make sure state laws are followed. They can approve or reject new laws passed by the Arkansas General Assembly. They can also call special meetings of the legislature and grant pardons to people, except in cases of treason or impeachment.

Arkansas has had 46 elected governors. There have also been 11 acting governors. These acting governors took over when a governor resigned or passed away. Before Arkansas became a state, the Arkansas Territory had four governors. These were chosen by the president of the United States.

Orval Faubus served the longest term as governor. He was elected six times and served for 12 years (1955–1967). Bill Clinton served almost 12 years too. He was elected five times in two separate periods (1979–1981; 1983–1992). Mike Huckabee served 10 years (1996–2007). The shortest term for an elected governor was John Sebastian Little. He served only 38 days before he had a nervous breakdown. One of the acting governors after him, Jesse M. Martin, served only three days.

The current governor of Arkansas is Republican Sarah Huckabee Sanders. She started her term on January 10, 2023.

Governors of Arkansas

Arkansas Territory Leaders

Arkansaw Territory was created on July 4, 1819. It was separated from the Missouri Territory. Robert Crittenden was the territorial secretary from 1819 to 1829. He often served as acting governor when the appointed governor was not in the state. This means Crittenden was the first person to act as governor. The first official governor, James Miller, arrived nine months after he was chosen.


Governors of Arkansas Territory
No. Governor Term in office Appointed by
1 AR Miller James.jpg James Miller
March 3, 1819

December 27, 1824
(resigned)
Monroe, JamesJames Monroe
2 George Izard.jpg George Izard
March 3, 1825

November 22, 1828
(died in office)
Monroe, JamesJames Monroe
Adams, John QuincyJohn Quincy Adams
3 AR Pope John.jpg John Pope
March 9, 1829

March 9, 1835
(successor appointed)
Jackson, AndrewAndrew Jackson
4 WSFulton.jpg William S. Fulton
March 9, 1835

September 13, 1836
(statehood)
Jackson, AndrewAndrew Jackson

Governors of the State of Arkansas

Arkansas became a state on June 15, 1836. During the American Civil War, Arkansas left the Union on May 6, 1861. It joined the Confederacy on May 18, 1861. When the state capital, Little Rock, was captured in 1863, the state government moved. A new government was set up by the Union. This meant there were two governors at the same time for a while. After the war, Arkansas rejoined the Union on June 22, 1868.

The first Arkansas Constitution said governors would serve four-year terms. This was changed to two years in 1874. Then, in 1984, an amendment made terms four years again. Governors used to have no term limits. But in 1992, a new rule limited them to two terms.

Before 1864, if the governor's office became empty, the leader of the state senate would become acting governor. This sometimes caused the governorship to change hands very quickly. For example, after John Sebastian Little resigned in 1907, three different senate leaders acted as governor. If the senate leader could not serve, the speaker of the state house of representatives was next in line.

The 1864 constitution created the job of lieutenant governor. This person would also lead the senate and become acting governor if needed. The 1874 constitution removed this job. But an amendment in 1914 brought it back. Now, the lieutenant governor becomes governor if the governor's office is empty. The governor and lieutenant governor are not elected together.

Arkansas was mostly a Democratic state before the Civil War. After the war, it elected three Republican governors. But then, it was 92 years before another Republican was chosen.


Governors of Arkansas
No. Governor Term in office Party Election Lt. Governor
1 AR Conway James Sevier.jpg   James Sevier Conway
September 13, 1836

November 4, 1840
(did not run)
Democratic 1836 Office did not exist
2 Archibald Yell - 2er Gouverneur Arkansas.jpg Archibald Yell
November 4, 1840

April 29, 1844
(resigned)
Democratic 1840
Samuel Adams (governor).jpg Samuel Adams
April 29, 1844

November 9, 1844
(successor took office)
Democratic President of
the Senate
acting
3 Thomas Stevenson Drew - Gouverneur von Arkansas.jpg Thomas Stevenson Drew
November 9, 1844

January 10, 1849
(resigned)
Democratic 1844
1848
No image.svg Richard C. Byrd
January 10, 1849

April 19, 1849
(successor took office)
Democratic President of
the Senate
acting
4 Gubernatorial portrait of 4th Governor of Arkansas John Selden Roane.jpg John Selden Roane
April 19, 1849

November 15, 1852
(did not run)
Democratic 1849
(special)
5 Portrait of 5th Governor of Arkansas Elias Nelson Conway.jpg Elias Nelson Conway
November 15, 1852

November 15, 1860
(term-limited)
Democratic 1852
1856
6 Henry Massey Rector.jpg Henry Massey Rector
November 15, 1860

November 3, 1862
(resigned)
Independent
Democratic
1860
No image.svg Thomas Fletcher
November 3, 1862

November 15, 1862
(successor took office)
Democratic President of
the Senate
acting
7 Governor Harris Flanigin.jpg Harris Flanagin
November 15, 1862

June 1, 1865
(government in exile
disestablished)
Independent 1862
8 Portrait of 8th Governor of Arkansas Isaac Murphy.jpg Isaac Murphy
January 20, 1864

July 2, 1868
(did not run)
Independent Provisional
governor
appointed by
constitutional
convention
1864   Bliss, Calvin C.Calvin C. Bliss
9 Powell Clayton.jpg Powell Clayton
July 2, 1868

March 17, 1871
(resigned)
Republican 1868 Johnson, James M.James M. Johnson
(resigned March 14, 1871)
Vacant
O. A. Hadley (Arkansas Governor) 2.jpg Ozra Amander Hadley
March 17, 1871

January 6, 1873
(successor took office)
Republican President of
the Senate
acting
10 Elisha Baxter.png Elisha Baxter
January 6, 1873

November 12, 1874
(did not run)
Republican 1872 Smith, Volney V.Volney V. Smith
11 Augustus Hill Garland - Brady-Handy.jpg Augustus Hill Garland
November 12, 1874

January 11, 1877
(did not run)
Democratic 1874 Office did not exist
12 Painting, Portrait - Governor William R. Miller.jpg William Read Miller
January 11, 1877

January 13, 1881
(lost nomination)
Democratic 1876
1878
13 Thomas James Churchill.jpg Thomas James Churchill
January 13, 1881

January 13, 1883
(did not run)
Democratic 1880
14 Photograph, Cabinet Card - Arkansas Governor James Berry (cropped).jpg James Henderson Berry
January 13, 1883

January 15, 1885
(did not run)
Democratic 1882
15 Simon P. Hughes, Jr - Gouverneur von Arkansas.jpg Simon Pollard Hughes Jr.
January 15, 1885

January 17, 1889
(lost nomination)
Democratic 1884
1886
16 Photograph, Sepia - James P. Eagle (cropped).jpg James Philip Eagle
January 17, 1889

January 14, 1893
(did not run)
Democratic 1888
1890
17 William Meade Fishback.jpg William Meade Fishback
January 14, 1893

January 18, 1895
(did not run)
Democratic 1892
18 AR Clarke John.jpg James Paul Clarke
January 18, 1895

January 18, 1897
(did not run)
Democratic 1894
19 Daniel Webster Jones (governor).jpg Daniel Webster Jones
January 18, 1897

January 18, 1901
(did not run)
Democratic 1896
1898
20 Photograph, Cabinet Card - Arkansas Govenor Jeff Davis (cropped).jpg Jeff Davis
January 18, 1901

January 18, 1907
(did not run)
Democratic 1900
1902
1904
21 AR Little John.jpg John Sebastian Little
January 18, 1907

February 11, 1907
(resigned)
Democratic 1906
John Isaac Moore.jpg John Isaac Moore
February 11, 1907

May 14, 1907
(legislature adjourned)
Democratic President of
the Senate
acting
PindallXO f.jpg Xenophon Overton Pindall
May 14, 1907

January 11, 1909
(senate term expired)
Democratic President of
the Senate
acting
Jesse M. Martin.jpg Jesse M. Martin
January 11, 1909

January 14, 1909
(successor took office)
Democratic President of
the Senate
acting
22 Portrait of George Washington Donaghey.jpg George Washington Donaghey
January 14, 1909

January 16, 1913
(lost nomination)
Democratic 1908
1910
23 Joseph T. Robinson cropped.jpg Joseph Taylor Robinson
January 16, 1913

March 8, 1913
(resigned)
Democratic 1912
W. K. Oldham 2.jpg William Kavanaugh Oldham
March 8, 1913

March 13, 1913
(new president of
the senate elected)
Democratic President of
the Senate
acting
Junius Marion Futrell.jpg Junius Marion Futrell
March 13, 1913

August 6, 1913
(successor took office)
Democratic President of
the Senate
acting
24 George W. Hays (Arkansas governor).jpg George Washington Hays
August 6, 1913

January 10, 1917
(did not run)
Democratic 1913
(special)
1914
25 Charles Hillman Brough in 1916 (cropped).jpg Charles Hillman Brough
January 10, 1917

January 12, 1921
(did not run)
Democratic 1916
1918
26 AR McRae Thomas.jpg Thomas Chipman McRae
January 12, 1921

January 14, 1925
(did not run)
Democratic 1920
1922
27 Gov. T.J. Terrell of Ark., 6-4-25 LCCN2016850440 (cropped).jpg Tom Terral
January 14, 1925

January 11, 1927
(lost nomination)
Democratic 1924
28 JohnEllisMartineau.jpg John Ellis Martineau
January 11, 1927

March 14, 1928
(resigned)
Democratic 1926 Parnell, HarveyHarvey Parnell
29 Harvey Parnell.jpg Harvey Parnell
March 14, 1928

January 10, 1933
(did not run)
Democratic Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Vacant
1928 Cazort, LeeLee Cazort
1930 Wilson, Lawrence EleryLawrence Elery Wilson
30 Junius Marion Futrell.jpg Junius Marion Futrell
January 10, 1933

January 12, 1937
(did not run)
Democratic 1932 Cazort, LeeLee Cazort
1934
31 Carl E. Bailey (cropped).jpg Carl E. Bailey
January 12, 1937

January 14, 1941
(lost nomination)
Democratic 1936 Bailey, Robert L.Robert L. Bailey
1938
32 Homer M. Adkins.jpg Homer Martin Adkins
January 14, 1941

January 9, 1945
(did not run)
Democratic 1940
1942 Shaver, James L.James L. Shaver
33 Ben Laney.jpg Benjamin T. Laney
January 9, 1945

January 11, 1949
(did not run)
Democratic 1944
1946 Gordon, Nathan GreenNathan Green Gordon
34 Sid mcmath1.JPG Sid McMath
January 11, 1949

January 13, 1953
(lost nomination)
Democratic 1948
1950
35 Francis Cherry.jpg Francis Cherry
January 13, 1953

January 11, 1955
(lost nomination)
Democratic 1952
36 Orval Faubus.jpg Orval Faubus
January 11, 1955

January 10, 1967
(did not run)
Democratic 1954
1956
1958
1960
1962
1964
37 Winthrop Rockefeller Razorback 1969 (cropped).jpg Winthrop Rockefeller
January 10, 1967

January 12, 1971
(lost election)
Republican 1966 Britt, MauriceMaurice Britt
1968
38 Dale Bumpers (AR).png Dale Bumpers
January 12, 1971

January 3, 1975
(resigned)
Democratic 1970 Riley, Bob C.Bob C. Riley
1972
Bob C. Riley (Arkansas governor).jpg Bob C. Riley
January 3, 1975

January 14, 1975
(successor took office)
Democratic Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Vacant
39 David Pryor (AR).png David Pryor
January 14, 1975

January 3, 1979
(resigned)
Democratic 1974 Purcell, JoeJoe Purcell
1976
Joe Purcell (1975).png Joe Purcell
January 3, 1979

January 9, 1979
(successor took office)
Democratic Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Vacant
40 Bill Clinton (37899881792) (cropped2).jpg Bill Clinton
January 9, 1979

January 13, 1981
(lost election)
Democratic 1978 Purcell, JoeJoe Purcell
41 Frank D. White 1995 (cropped).jpg Frank D. White
January 13, 1981

January 11, 1983
(lost election)
Republican 1980 Bryant, WinstonWinston Bryant
42 Bill Clinton 1986.jpg Bill Clinton
January 11, 1983

December 12, 1992
(resigned)
Democratic 1982
1984
1986
1990 Tucker, Jim GuyJim Guy Tucker
43 Jim Guy Tucker.jpg Jim Guy Tucker
December 12, 1992

July 15, 1996
(resigned)
Democratic Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Vacant
Huckabee, MikeMike Huckabee
(elected November 20, 1993)
1994
44 Mike Huckabee, August 2002 (cropped).jpg Mike Huckabee
July 15, 1996

January 9, 2007
(term-limited)
Republican Succeeded from
lieutenant
governor
Vacant
Rockefeller, Winthrop PaulWinthrop Paul Rockefeller
(elected November 19, 1996)
(died July 16, 2006)
1998
2002
Vacant
45 MikeBeebe2009 (cropped) (cropped).jpg Mike Beebe
January 9, 2007

January 13, 2015
(term-limited)
Democratic 2006 Halter, BillBill Halter
2010 Darr, MarkMark Darr
(resigned February 1, 2014)
Vacant
46 Asa Hutchinson by Gage Skidmore.jpg Asa Hutchinson
January 13, 2015

January 10, 2023
(term-limited)
Republican 2014 Griffin, TimTim Griffin
2018
47 Sarah Sanders September 2024 (cropped).jpg Sarah Huckabee Sanders
January 10, 2023

Incumbent
Republican 2022 Rutledge, LeslieLeslie Rutledge

Timeline of Arkansas Governors

This timeline shows when each governor served. You can see how long each person was in office.

More Information

  • List of Arkansas General Assemblies
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