1968 Arkansas gubernatorial election

none related races 1968 United States gubernatorial elections January 2025 September 2023 1968 Arkansas gubernatorial election Arkansas 1924 presidential no 1966 Arkansas gubernatorial election 1966 November 5, 1968 1970 Arkansas gubernatorial election 1970 Winthrop Rockefeller 1967 (cropped).jpg Winthrop Rockefeller Republican Party (United States) 322,782 52.43% 3x4.svg Marion H. Crank Democratic Party (United States) 292,813 47.57% 1968 Arkansas gubernatorial election results map by county.svg 210px County resultsRockefeller: #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80%Crank: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% Governor Winthrop Rockefeller Republican Party (United States) Winthrop Rockefeller Republican Party (United States) The 1968 Arkansas gubernatorial election was held in the U.S. state on November 5, when incumbent Republican Winthrop Rockefeller defeated former speakerhttp://www.arkansashouse.org/about-the-house/past-speakers-of-the-house Speaker Archive - Arkansas House of Representatives of the Arkansas House of Representatives Marion Crank by a small margin. Rockefeller was first elected in 1966, and was the first Republican to hold the office since Reconstruction. This was the first time a Republican was re-elected as governor of Arkansas, and would be the only time until 2002. 2022, this is the last time that Chicot County and St. Francis County voted for the Republican candidate. Background Probably due to the crowded Democratic primary and allegations of nepotism cast upon Crank,Arkansas Politics in the 20th Century: Twelve Elections That Shaped a Century: Darth, Dumas, p. 51 aided by the recent full enfranchisement of African Americans who supported Rockefeller and his liberal reforms Rockefeller prevailed with a clear majority, though a reduced one, compared to his 1966 margin. Virginia Johnson was the wife of former Arkansas Supreme Court Justice James D. Johnson who, concurrently with her candidacy, unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination against J. William Fulbright in the Senate election. Democratic primary Candidates: Marion H. Crank, state representative, former house speaker, and president of Foreman Cement Company Virginia Johnson, legal secretary and wife of James D. "Justice Jim" Johnson, Democratic nominee for governor in 1966 Ted Boswell, attorney Bruce Bennett, former attorney general Frank Whitbeck, insurance executive Clyde Byrd, state senator Arkansas Democratic primary Marion H. Crank Democratic Party (United States) 106,092 25.57 Virginia Johnson Democratic Party (United States) 86,038 20.74 Ted Boswell Democratic Party (United States) 86,629 20.64 Bruce Bennett Democratic Party (United States) 65,095 15.69 Frank Whitbeck Democratic Party (United States) 61,758 14.89 Clyde E. Byrd Democratic Party (United States) 10,265 2.47 Runoff Arkansas Democratic primary runoff Marion H. Crank Democratic Party (United States) 215,087 63.27 Virginia Johnson Democratic Party (United States) 124,880 36.73 Election results Arkansas gubernatorial election, 1968 Winthrop Rockefeller (incumbent) Republican Party (United States) 322,782 52.43 -1.93% Marion Crank Democratic Party (United States) 292,813 47.57 +1.93% 615,595 100.00 References 1960s Politics United States Gubernatorial Category:1968 United States gubernatorial elections 1968 Category:November 1968 in the United States