1966 Arkansas gubernatorial election

none related races 1966 United States gubernatorial elections January 2025 September 2023 1966 Arkansas gubernatorial election Arkansas 1924 presidential no 1964 Arkansas gubernatorial election 1964 1968 Arkansas gubernatorial election 1968 November 8, 1966 Winthrop Rockefeller 1967 (cropped).jpg Winthrop Rockefeller Republican Party (United States) 306,324 54.36% 3x4.svg James D. Johnson Democratic Party (United States) 257,203 45.64% 1966 Arkansas gubernatorial election results map by county.svg 210px County resultsRockefeller: #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80%Johnson: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% Governor Orval Faubus Democratic Party (United States) Winthrop Rockefeller Republican Party (United States) The 1966 Arkansas gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1966. Winthrop Rockefeller was elected governor of Arkansas, becoming the first Republican to be elected to the office since Reconstruction in 1872. The election occurred amidst strong midterm results for the Republican Party nationally, and in the traditionally-Democratic South. Republicans concurrently won the governorship of Florida also for the first time since Reconstruction, and only narrowly lost the governorship of Georgia, despite winning a plurality of the vote. Democratic primary Popular and powerful six-term (since 1955) incumbent Orval E. Faubus decided against seeking re-election. "Justice Jim" Johnson, a political ally of George C. Wallace of Alabama, ran a segregationist campaign with support of the White Citizens Council. A decade earlier, Johnson had run in the Democratic primary against Faubus, another segregationist, whom he accused of working behind the scenes for racial integration. Candidates Thomas Dale Alford, former U.S. Representative and candidate for governor in 1962 Sam Boyce, attorney and former State Representative Brooks Hays, former U.S. Representative and candidate for governor in 1930 Frank Holt, State Supreme Court Associate Justice and Attorney General James D. "Justice Jim" Johnson, State Supreme Court Associate Justice, former State Senator and candidate for governor in 1956 Raymond Rebsamen, insurance executive and Ford dealer Kenneth S. Sulcer, state senator and real estate broker Results July 26 Democratic primary resultsOur Campaigns – AR Governor – D Primary Race – Jul 26, 1966 James D. Johnson Democratic Party (United States) 105,607 25.14 Frank Holt Democratic Party (United States) 92,711 22.07 Brooks Hays Democratic Party (United States) 64,814 15.43 Thomas Dale Alford Democratic Party (United States) 53,531 12.74 Sam Boyce Democratic Party (United States) 49,744 11.84 Raymond Rebsamen Democratic Party (United States) 35,607 8.48 Kenneth S. Sulcer Democratic Party (United States) 18,051 4.30 420,065 100.00 August 9 Democratic runoff resultsOur Campaigns – AR Governor – D Runoff Race – Aug 09, 1966 James D. Johnson Democratic Party (United States) 210,543 51.86 Frank Holt Democratic Party (United States) 195,442 48.14 405,985 100.00 Holt was supported by many younger, more liberal, Democrats, such as future governor and U.S. President Bill Clinton, who served as his campaign aide though he was not old enough to vote at the time. Republican primary A northeastern native, multimillionaire and scion of a prominent political/business family Winthrop Rockefeller was nominated with over 96% of the vote over Gus McMillan of Sheridan. Charges abounded that McMillan, a lifelong Democrat, was planted in the race by Faubus in order to force the Republicans to hold an expensive and needless primary. Rockefeller had been the GOP nominee in the 1964 election. Campaign Rockefeller was an unusual candidate – an eastern establishment member and moderate-to-liberal party wing member (such as his brother, Governor Nelson Rockefeller of New York, an unofficial leader of this wing for many years). The Republican Party at this time practically played only a most minor role in Arkansas politics. However, his popularity and the break within Democratic camp, where many were outraged with Johnson's segregationist stances, and good year for the Republicans nationally helped Rockefeller to win. Results Arkansas gubernatorial election, 1966Our Campaigns - AR Governor Race - Nov 08, 1966 Winthrop Rockefeller Republican Party (United States) 306,324 54.36 James D. Johnson Democratic Party (United States) 257,203 45.64 563,527 100.00 References 1960s Politics United States 1966 Gubernatorial Category:1966 United States gubernatorial elections Category:November 1966 in the United States