The governor of Arkansas is the head of government of the U.S. 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.AR Const. art. VI

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.

List of governors Arkansas Territory Arkansaw Territory (renamed Arkansas Territory, circa 1822) was split from the Missouri Territory on July 4, 1819. As territorial secretary from 1819 to 1829, Robert Crittenden served as acting governor whenever the appointed governor was not in the state. This meant that Crittenden was the first person to perform the duties of governor, since James Miller did not arrive in the territory until nine months after his appointment.

+ Governors of the Territory of ArkansasGovernorTerm in officeAppointed by1James MillerMarch 3, 1819–December 27, 18242George IzardMarch 3, 1825–November 22, 18283John PopeMarch 9, 1829–March 9, 18354William S. FultonMarch 9, 1835–September 13, 1836

State of Arkansas Arkansas was admitted to the Union on June 15, 1836. The state seceded on May 6, 1861, and was admitted to the Confederacy on May 18, 1861.An Act to admit the State of Arkansas into the Confederacy , accessed July 8, 2015 When Little Rock, the state capital, was captured on September 10, 1863, the state government relocated to Washington, Arkansas, and a Union government was installed in its place, causing an overlap in the terms of Confederate governor Harris Flanagin and Union governor Isaac Murphy. During the post-war Reconstruction period, it was part of the Fourth Military District. Arkansas was readmitted to the Union on June 22, 1868.

The Arkansas Constitution of 1836 established four-year terms for governors,1836 Const. art. V, § 4 which was lowered to two years in the 1874, and current, constitution.AR Const. art. VI, § 1 An amendment in 1984 increased the terms of both governor and lieutenant governor to four years.AR Const. amendment 63 Governors were originally limited only to serving no more than eight out of every twelve years, but the 1874 constitution removed any term limit. A referendum in 1992 limited governors to two terms.

Until 1864, the constitutions provided that, should the office of governor be rendered vacant, the president of the senate would serve as acting governor until such time as a new governor was elected or the disability removed, or the acting governor's senate term expired.1836 Const. art. V, § 181861 Const. art. V, § 18 This led to some situations where the governorship changed hands in quick succession, due to senate terms ending or new senate presidents being elected. For example, after John Sebastian Little resigned in 1907, three senate presidents acted as governors before the next elected governor took office.

The 1864 constitution created the office of lieutenant governor1864 Const. art. VI, § 19 who would also act as president of the senate,1864 Const. art. VI, § 20 and who would serve as acting governor in case of vacancy.1864 Const. art. VI, § 23 The 1868 constitution maintained the position,1868 Const. art. VI, § 1 but the 1874 constitution removed it and returned to the original line of succession.AR Const. art. VI, § 12 An amendment to the constitution, passed in 1914 but not recognized until 1925, recreated the office of lieutenant governor, who becomes governor in case of vacancy of the governor's office. The governor and the lieutenant governor are not officially elected on the same ticket.

Arkansas was a strongly Democratic state before the Civil War, electing only candidates from the Democratic party. It elected three Republican governors following Reconstruction, but after the Democratic Party re-established control, 92 years passed before voters chose another Republican.

+ Governors of the State of ArkansasGovernorTerm in officePartyElectionLt. Governor1 James Sevier ConwaySeptember 13, 1836–November 4, 1840Democratic1836Office did not exist2Archibald YellNovember 4, 1840–April 29, 1844Democratic1840—Samuel AdamsApril 29, 1844–November 9, 1844Democratic3Thomas Stevenson DrewNovember 9, 1844–January 10, 1849Democratic18441848—Richard C. ByrdJanuary 10, 1849–April 19, 1849Democratic4John Selden RoaneApril 19, 1849–November 15, 1852Democratic18495Elias Nelson ConwayNovember 15, 1852–November 15, 1860Democratic185218566Henry Massey RectorNovember 15, 1860–November 3, 1862IndependentDemocratic1860—Thomas FletcherNovember 3, 1862–November 15, 1862Democratic7Harris FlanaginNovember 15, 1862–June 1, 1865Independent18628Isaac MurphyJanuary 20, 1864–July 2, 1868Independent1864 9Powell ClaytonJuly 2, 1868–March 17, 1871Republican1868Vacant—Ozra Amander HadleyMarch 17, 1871–January 6, 1873Republican10Elisha BaxterJanuary 6, 1873–November 12, 1874Republican187211Augustus Hill GarlandNovember 12, 1874–January 11, 1877Democratic1874Office did not exist12William Read MillerJanuary 11, 1877–January 13, 1881Democratic1876187813Thomas James ChurchillJanuary 13, 1881–January 13, 1883Democratic188014James Henderson BerryJanuary 13, 1883–January 15, 1885Democratic188215Simon Pollard Hughes Jr.January 15, 1885–January 17, 1889Democratic1884188616James Philip EagleJanuary 17, 1889–January 14, 1893Democratic1888189017William Meade FishbackJanuary 14, 1893–January 18, 1895Democratic189218James Paul ClarkeJanuary 18, 1895–January 18, 1897Democratic189419Daniel Webster JonesJanuary 18, 1897–January 18, 1901Democratic1896189820Jeff DavisJanuary 18, 1901–January 18, 1907Democratic19001902190421John Sebastian LittleJanuary 18, 1907–February 11, 1907Democratic1906—John Isaac MooreFebruary 11, 1907–May 14, 1907Democratic—Xenophon Overton PindallMay 14, 1907–January 11, 1909Democratic—Jesse M. MartinJanuary 11, 1909–January 14, 1909Democratic22George Washington DonagheyJanuary 14, 1909–January 16, 1913Democratic1908191023Joseph Taylor RobinsonJanuary 16, 1913–March 8, 1913Democratic1912—William Kavanaugh OldhamMarch 8, 1913–March 13, 1913Democratic—Junius Marion FutrellMarch 13, 1913–August 6, 1913Democratic24George Washington HaysAugust 6, 1913–January 10, 1917Democratic1913191425Charles Hillman BroughJanuary 10, 1917–January 12, 1921Democratic1916191826Thomas Chipman McRaeJanuary 12, 1921–January 14, 1925Democratic1920192227Tom TerralJanuary 14, 1925–January 11, 1927Democratic192428John Ellis MartineauJanuary 11, 1927–March 14, 1928Democratic192629Harvey ParnellMarch 14, 1928–January 10, 1933DemocraticVacant1928193030Junius Marion FutrellJanuary 10, 1933–January 12, 1937Democratic1932193431Carl E. BaileyJanuary 12, 1937–January 14, 1941Democratic1936193832Homer Martin AdkinsJanuary 14, 1941–January 9, 1945Democratic1940194233Benjamin T. LaneyJanuary 9, 1945–January 11, 1949Democratic1944194634Sid McMathJanuary 11, 1949–January 13, 1953Democratic1948195035Francis CherryJanuary 13, 1953–January 11, 1955Democratic195236Orval FaubusJanuary 11, 1955–January 10, 1967Democratic19541956195819601962196437Winthrop RockefellerJanuary 10, 1967–January 12, 1971Republican1966196838Dale BumpersJanuary 12, 1971–January 3, 1975Democratic19701972—Bob C. RileyJanuary 3, 1975–January 14, 1975DemocraticVacant39David PryorJanuary 14, 1975–January 3, 1979Democratic19741976—Joe PurcellJanuary 3, 1979–January 9, 1979DemocraticVacant40Bill Clinton January 9, 1979–January 13, 1981Democratic197841Frank D. WhiteJanuary 13, 1981–January 11, 1983Republican198042Bill Clinton January 11, 1983–December 12, 1992Democratic198219841986199043Jim Guy Tucker December 12, 1992–July 15, 1996DemocraticVacant199444Mike Huckabee July 15, 1996–January 9, 2007RepublicanVacant19982002Vacant45Mike Beebe January 9, 2007–January 13, 2015Democratic20062010Vacant46 Asa Hutchinson January 13, 2015–January 10, 2023Republican2014201847Sarah Huckabee SandersJanuary 10, 2023–IncumbentRepublican2022

Timeline Timeline of Arkansas governors

See also List of Arkansas General Assemblies

Notes

References

General

Constitutions

Specific

External links

Office of the Governor of Arkansas