1970 Arkansas gubernatorial election

1970 Arkansas gubernatorial election
	County results; Bumpers: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% ; Rockefeller: 40-50%
Governor before election; Winthrop Rockefeller; Republican	Elected Governor ; Dale Bumpers; Democratic

The 1970 Arkansas gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 1970.

Incumbent Republican Governor Winthrop Rockefeller ran for a third term but was defeated by Democratic nominee Dale Bumpers who won 61.66% of the vote. As of 2022, this is the last time Lee County voted for the Republican candidate.

Primary elections[]

Primary elections were held on August 25, 1970, with the Democratic runoff held on September 8, 1970.

Democratic primary[]

Candidates[]

Dale Bumpers, Charleston city attorney^[1]
William S. Cheek, businessman^[2]
Robert C. Compton, lawyer and former Prosecuting Attorney ^[2]^[3]
Orval Faubus, former Governor
Hayes C. McClerkin, Speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives
James M. Malone, Jr., farmer, son of J. M. Malone, unsuccessful candidate for Democratic nomination for Governor in 1946^[2]^[4]
Joe Purcell, incumbent Arkansas Attorney General
Bill Wells, Former State Representative and Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 1968^[5]

Results[]

Democratic primary results^[6]^[7]^[8]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Orval Faubus	156,578	36.36
	Democratic	Dale Bumpers	86,156	20.01
	Democratic	Joe Purcell	81,566	18.94
	Democratic	Hayes C. McClerkin	45,011	10.45
	Democratic	Bill Wells	32,543	7.56
	Democratic	Robert C. Compton	19,336	4.49
	Democratic	James M. Malone	6,718	1.56
	Democratic	William S. Cheek	2,725	0.63
Total votes			430,633	100.00

Democratic primary run-off results^[6]^[7]^[9]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Dale Bumpers	259,780	58.71
	Democratic	Orval Faubus	182,732	41.29
Total votes			442,512	100.00

Republican primary[]

Candidates[]

Les Gibbs, former tax collector^[2]^[10]
R. J. Hampton, president of Shorter College, North Little Rock;^[11] first black candidate for Governor since 1920^[12]
James MacKrell, Preacher, radio broadcaster, former public relations executive, and a Democratic Candidate for Governor in 1948^[2]
Winthrop Rockefeller, incumbent Governor

Results[]

Republican primary results^[6]^[7]^[13]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Winthrop Rockefeller (incumbent)	58,197	96.79
	Republican	R. J. Hampton	829	1.38
	Republican	James MacKrell	681	1.13
	Republican	Les Gibbs	423	0.70
Total votes			60,130	100.00

General election[]

Candidates[]

Dale Bumpers, Democratic
Winthrop Rockefeller, Republican
Walter L. Carruth, American Party, farmer^[1]

Results[]

1970 Arkansas gubernatorial election^[14]^[15]^[16]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Dale Bumpers	375,648	61.66%
	Republican	Winthrop Rockefeller (incumbent)	197,418	32.41%
	American	Walter L. Carruth	36,132	5.93%
Majority			178,230	29.25%
Turnout			609,198	100.00%
	Democratic gain from Republican		Swing

References[]

^ ^a ^b "Defeat of Faubus a Sharp Break With Political Past in Arkansas". New York Times. New York, NY. 10 September 1970. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Faubus is leader in Arkansas vote". New York Times. New York, NY. 26 August 1970. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
^ "Classroom to be Named for Law Grad". University of Arkansas. 12 May 2004. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
^ "James Miller Malone, Jr., September 30, 1926 - April 27, 2014". Boyd Funeral Home. Lonoke, AR. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
^ Urwin 1991, p. 176.
^ ^a ^b ^c Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 100.
^ ^a ^b ^c America Votes 9, p. 37.
^ "AR Governor, 1970 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
^ "AR Governor, 1972 - D Runoff". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
^ Urwin 1991, p. 178.
^ "Negro to Seek Nomination For Governor in Arkansas". New York Times. New York, NY. 17 June 1970. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
^ Urwin 1991, p. 177.
^ "AR Governor, 1970 - R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
^ Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 42.
^ America Votes 9, p. 32.
^ "AR Governor, 1970". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 21 May 2020.

Bibliography[]

Gubernatorial Elections, 1787-1997. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly Inc. 1998. ISBN 1-56802-396-0.
Scammon, Richard M., ed. (1972). America Votes 9: a handbook of contemporary American election statistics, 1970. Washington, D.C.: Governmental Affairs Institute.
Urwin, Cathy Kunzinger (1991). Agenda for Reform: Winthrop Rockefeller as Governor of Arkansas, 1967-71. Fayetteville, AR: University of Arkansas Press. ISBN 1-55728-200-5.

[NYT_10_September_1970-1] "Defeat of Faubus a Sharp Break With Political Past in Arkansas". New York Times. New York, NY. 10 September 1970. Retrieved 21 May 2020.

[NYT_26_August_1970-2] "Faubus is leader in Arkansas vote". New York Times. New York, NY. 26 August 1970. Retrieved 21 May 2020.

[3] "Classroom to be Named for Law Grad". University of Arkansas. 12 May 2004. Retrieved 21 May 2020.

[4] "James Miller Malone, Jr., September 30, 1926 - April 27, 2014". Boyd Funeral Home. Lonoke, AR. Retrieved 21 May 2020.

[FOOTNOTEUrwin1991176-5] Urwin 1991, p. 176.

[FOOTNOTECongressional_Quarterly1998100-6] Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 100.

[FOOTNOTEAmerica_Votes_937-7] America Votes 9, p. 37.

[8] "AR Governor, 1970 - D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 21 May 2020.

[9] "AR Governor, 1972 - D Runoff". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 21 May 2020.

[FOOTNOTEUrwin1991178-10] Urwin 1991, p. 178.

[11] "Negro to Seek Nomination For Governor in Arkansas". New York Times. New York, NY. 17 June 1970. Retrieved 21 May 2020.

[FOOTNOTEUrwin1991177-12] Urwin 1991, p. 177.

[13] "AR Governor, 1970 - R Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 21 May 2020.

[FOOTNOTECongressional_Quarterly199842-14] Congressional Quarterly 1998, p. 42.

[FOOTNOTEAmerica_Votes_932-15] America Votes 9, p. 32.

[16] "AR Governor, 1970". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 21 May 2020.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

v t Elections in Arkansas
General	1932 2006 2010 2014 2018 2020 2022
AR Governor	1862 1886 1888 1890 1892 1894 1896 1898 1900 1902 1910 1912 1913 S 1914 1916 1918 1922 1926 1930 1932 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
U.S. President	1836 1840 1844 1848 1852 1856 1860 1864 1868 1872 1876 1880 1884 1888 1892 1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020
U.S. Senate	Class 2: 1848 S 1853 1859 1870 1876 1883 1885 S 1889 1895 1901 1907 1913 S 1913 1918 1924 1930 1936 1937 S 1942 1948 1954 1960 1966 1972 1978 1984 1990 1996 2002 2008 2014 2020 Class 3: 1837 1843 1855 1885 1891 1897 1903 1909 1914 1916 S 1920 1926 1932 S 1932 1938 1944 1950 1956 1962 1968 1974 1980 1986 1992 1998 2004 2010 2016 2022
U.S. House	1853 1854 1856 1858 1860 1868 1870 1872 1874 1876 1878 1880 1882 1884 1886 1888 1890 1892 1894 1896 1898 1900 1902 1904 1906 1908 1910 1912 1914 1916 1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 (4th S) 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 (6th S) 1962 1964 1966 (4th S) 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022
'S,' denotes special election; 'U,' denotes election under Federal (Union) military occupation See also: Political party strength in Arkansas

v t (1968 ←) 1970 United States elections (→ 1972)
U.S. Senate	Alaska (special) Arizona California Connecticut Delaware Florida Hawaii Illinois (special) Indiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Jersey New Mexico New York North Dakota Ohio Pennsylvania Rhode Island Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
U.S. House	Alabama Alaska Arkansas Arizona California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
State governors	Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Lt. Gov Colorado Connecticut Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Iowa Kansas Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Lt. Gov Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Mexico New York Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Vermont Wisconsin Wyoming
Attorneys General	California Florida
State legislatures	Iowa Senate

v t Notable third party performances in United States elections
* Third party is endorsed by a major party
Presidential (since 1832)	1832 1848 1856 1860 1872* 1892 1912 1924 1948 1960 1968 1980 1992 1996
Senatorial (since 1940)	California 1940 Minnesota 1940 North Dakota 1940 Wisconsin 1940 Minnesota 1942 Minnesota 1942 Nebraska 1942 Virginia 1942 North Dakota 1944 Wisconsin 1944 North Dakota 1946 North Dakota 1946 Tennessee 1946 Arkansas 1948 Alabama 1950 New Hampshire 1950 California 1952 Maine 1952 New York 1952 North Dakota 1952 Virginia 1952 South Carolina 1954 (Democratic write-in) Virginia 1954 Utah 1958 Virginia 1958 Virginia 1960 Virginia 1964 Mississippi 1966 Virginia 1966 Virginia 1966 Alabama 1968 Alaska 1968 Maryland 1968 New York 1968 Connecticut 1970 Mississippi 1970 New York 1970 Virginia 1970 Louisiana 1972 Florida 1974 Hawaii 1974 New York 1974 Utah 1974 Minnesota 1976 Virginia 1976 Alabama 1978 Arkansas 1978 Maine 1978 Mississippi 1978 New York 1980 Washington 1982 Tennessee 1984 Virginia 1990 Alaska 1992 Arizona 1992 Hawaii 1992 Louisiana 1992 Ohio 1992 Arizona 1994 Minnesota 1994 Ohio 1994 Vermont 1994 Virginia 1994 Alaska 1996 Minnesota 1996 Arizona 2000 Massachusetts 2000 Minnesota 2000 Alaska 2002 Kansas 2002 Massachusetts 2002 Mississippi 2002 Oklahoma 2002 Virginia 2002 Oklahoma 2004 Connecticut 2006 Indiana 2006 Maine 2006 Vermont 2006* Arkansas 2008 Idaho 2008 Minnesota 2008 Oregon 2008 Alaska 2010 (Republican write-in) Florida 2010 Indiana 2010 South Carolina 2010 Utah 2010 Indiana 2012 Maine 2012 Maryland 2012 Missouri 2012 Montana 2012 Vermont 2012* Kansas 2014 South Dakota 2014 Wyoming 2014 Alaska 2016 Arizona 2016 Idaho 2016 Indiana 2016 Kansas 2016 Maine 2018 New Mexico 2018 Vermont 2018* Alaska 2020* Arkansas 2020 Minnesota 2020 Nebraska 2020
Gubernatorial (since 1940)	Minnesota 1940 Wisconsin 1940 Connecticut 1942 Minnesota 1942 New York 1942 Wisconsin 1942 North Dakota 1944 Wisconsin 1944 California 1946 Tennessee 1950 Maine 1952 Vermont 1952 Tennessee 1954 Nebraska 1956 Texas 1956 Utah 1956 Oklahoma 1958 Tennessee 1958 North Dakota 1960 Tennessee 1962 Virginia 1965 Alabama 1966 Georgia 1966 Idaho 1966 Maryland 1966 New York 1966 Tennessee 1966 Alabama 1970 Arkansas 1970 New Hampshire 1970 New York 1970 Mississippi 1971 New Hampshire 1972 Texas 1972 Washington 1972 Virginia 1973 Maine 1974 Nebraska 1974 Nevada 1974 Texas 1974 Vermont 1974 Vermont 1976 Alaska 1978 California 1978 Maine 1978 Rhode Island 1978 Alaska 1982 Arizona 1982 Hawaii 1982 Alaska 1986 Arizona 1986 Illinois 1986 Maine 1986 Oklahoma 1986 Vermont 1986 Utah 1988 Alaska 1990 Connecticut 1990 Kansas 1990 Maine 1990 New York 1990 Oklahoma 1990 Oregon 1990 Utah 1992 West Virginia 1992 Alaska 1994 Connecticut 1994 Hawaii 1994 Maine 1994 New Mexico 1994 Oklahoma 1994 Pennsylvania 1994 Rhode Island 1994 Vermont 1994 Alaska 1998 Maine 1998 Minnesota 1998 New York 1998 Pennsylvania 1998 Rhode Island 1998 Kentucky 1999 New Hampshire 2000 Vermont 2000 Arizona 2002 California 2002 Maine 2002 Minnesota 2002 New Mexico 2002 New York 2002 Oklahoma 2002 Vermont 2002 Wisconsin 2002 Alaska 2006 Illinois 2006 Maine 2006 Massachusetts 2006 Minnesota 2006 Texas 2006 Louisiana 2007 Vermont 2008 New Jersey 2009 Colorado 2010 Idaho 2010 Maine 2010 Massachusetts 2010 Minnesota 2010 Rhode Island 2010 Wyoming 2010 Kentucky 2011 Virginia 2013 Alaska 2014* Hawaii 2014 Maine 2014 Rhode Island 2014 Wyoming 2014 Maine 2018 Kansas 2018 Indiana 2020 Vermont 2020*
Portal:Politics Third party (United States) Third party officeholders in the United States Third-party members of the United States House of Representatives