2002 Arkansas gubernatorial election

none related races 2002 United States gubernatorial elections January 2025 September 2023 2002 Arkansas gubernatorial election Arkansas 1924 presidential no 1998 Arkansas gubernatorial election 1998 2006 Arkansas gubernatorial election 2006 November 5, 2002 File:Mike Huckabee, August 2002 (cropped).jpg Mike Huckabee Republican Party (United States) 427,082 53.02% 3x4.svg Jimmie Lou Fisher Democratic Party (United States) 378,250 46.96% 2002 Arkansas gubernatorial election results map by county.svg 210px County resultsHuckabee: #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% Fisher: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% Governor Mike Huckabee Republican Party (United States) Mike Huckabee Republican Party (United States) The 2002 Arkansas gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 2002, for the post of Governor of Arkansas. Incumbent Republican governor Mike Huckabee defeated Democratic State Treasurer Jimmie Lou Fisher to win a second full term in office, despite losing 26 counties he won in 1998. This is the last gubernatorial election in Arkansas decided by a single-digit margin. Democratic primary Candidates Jimmie Lou Fisher, Arkansas State Treasurer Joe Holmes, former prosecutor Jim Billie Results thumb|200x200px|Democratic primary results by county #7996e2 Fisher #a5b0ff 40–50% #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #3933e5 80–90% #5bc75b Holmes #5bc75b 50–60% #41b742 60–70% Democratic Party primary resultshttp://www.tn.gov/sos/election/results/2006-08/governordem.pdf August 3, 2006, Democratic Primary: Governor Tennessee Secretary of State June 27, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20121017204953/http://www.tn.gov/sos/election/results/2006-08/governordem.pdf October 17, 2012 dead mdy-all Jimmie Lou Fisher Democratic Party (United States) 176,126 63.11 Joe Holmes Democratic Party (United States) 77,516 27.77 Jim Billie Democratic Party (United States) 25,455 9.12 279,097 100.00 Republican primary Candidates Mike Huckabee, incumbent governor of Arkansas Doyle Cannady, retired banker Results Republican Primary results Mike Huckabee (incumbent) Republican Party (United States) 78,803 85.44 Doyle Cannady Republican Party (United States) 13,434 14.56 92,237 100.00 General election Campaign At the start of the election campaign Huckabee was expected to win the election easily with a poll in July showing him 16% ahead. http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=1001639&nav=0jshCE3X Huckabee Goes Back to Work for 4 More Years 2008-09-17 2002-11-06 KAIT https://web.archive.org/web/20120213074844/http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=1001639&nav=0jshCE3X 2012-02-13 dead http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=947809&nav=0jshBQc7 Fisher Unveils Domestic Abuse Plan 2008-09-17 2002-09-24 KAIT https://web.archive.org/web/20120213074850/http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=947809&nav=0jshBQc7 2012-02-13 dead Fisher began the campaign by unveiling plans on issues such as prescription drugs, education and domestic violence. She also attacked Huckabee for mismanagement and likened him to a dictator for his response to criticism over cost overruns in a new computer system. http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=955983&nav=0jshBXiV Fisher Calls Huckabee a Dictator 2008-09-17 2002-10-01 KAIT https://web.archive.org/web/20120213074855/http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=955983&nav=0jshBXiV 2012-02-13 dead https://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/31/us/the-2002-campaign-the-states-wedding-ring-is-a-millstone-in-2-arkansas-races.html THE 2002 CAMPAIGN: THE STATES; Wedding Ring Is a Millstone in 2 Arkansas Races 2008-09-17 2002-10-31 The New York Times David M. Halbfinger https://web.archive.org/web/20080919033758/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A06E1D6103FF932A05753C1A9649C8B63 19 September 2008 live Huckabee's record as governor became an issue in the election with Fisher's campaign attacking Huckabee for granting clemency to violent criminals, including a rapist. However Huckabee responded that he had signed more death warrants and executed more people than any other governor of Arkansas. http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=964519&nav=0jshBfli Fisher Launches Into Huckabee Over Commutation 2008-10-20 2002-10-08 KAIT https://web.archive.org/web/20120213074859/http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=964519&nav=0jshBfli 2012-02-13 dead Huckabee called on voters to support him due to the progress in education, health care and the economy during his period as governor. http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=971670&nav=0jshBm5B Polling Shows Huckabee Ahead 2008-10-20 2002-10-14 KAIT https://web.archive.org/web/20120213074904/http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=971670&nav=0jshBm5B 2012-02-13 dead Huckabee also criticised Fisher for receiving help from former governor Bill Clinton, describing him as having had his turn. https://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2002-10-25-clinton-campaign_x.htm Clinton's campaign role: Raise money, avoid the spotlight 2008-10-20 USA Today 2002-10-25 Huckabee's lead in the polls declined as the election neared, with a poll in September showing him with a 12% lead and one in mid-October showing him 10% ahead. Near the end of October a poll showed Huckabee only 2% ahead of Fisher. Huckabee's campaign was hurt by his wife's struggling campaign to become Arkansas secretary of state; voters were concerned over the couple holding too much power, with polls showing Janet Huckabee over 20% behind. In late October a fundraising letter from Huckabee's campaign described it as in crisis. Huckabee was also sued by his daughter Sarah in his role as governor in a lawsuit he wanted to lose. This came after a state court ordered that students should be removed from the voting rolls in Arkadelphia. Huckabee suggested his daughter join a federal lawsuit which succeeded in getting the students restored. https://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/01/us/the-2002-campaign-voting-disputes-with-suit-governor-s-daughter-gets-a-spotlight.html THE 2002 CAMPAIGN: VOTING DISPUTES; With Suit, Governor's Daughter Gets a Spotlight 2008-10-20 2002-11-01 The New York Times Adam Liptak Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political Reporthttp://www.cookpolitical.com:80/display.cfm?section=political&edit_id=225 https://web.archive.org/web/20021208065752/http://www.cookpolitical.com/display.cfm?section=political&edit_id=225 December 8, 2002 Governor Updated October 31, 2002 The Cook Political Report The Cook Political Report en October 31, 2002 September 18, 2018 dead mdy-all TossupOctober 31, 2002Sabato's Crystal Ballhttp://www.centerforpolitics.org:80/crystalball/governor_all.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20021212142349/http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/governor_all.htm December 12, 2002 Governors Races www.centerforpolitics.org en-US November 4, 2002 September 18, 2018 dead mdy-all Lean RNovember 4, 2002 Results Arkansas gubernatorial election, 2002http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/historicalElectionResults/Documents/2002_General.pdf 2002 General: November 5, 2002 Arkansas Secretary of State June 27, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141021092422/http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/historicalElectionResults/Documents/2002_General.pdf October 21, 2014 dead mdy-all Republican Party (United States) Mike Huckabee (incumbent) 427,082 53.02% -6.75% Democratic Party (United States) Jimmie Lou Fisher 378,250 46.96% +8.30% 210 0.03% N/A 48,832 6.06% -15.05% 805,542 100.00% N/A Republican Party (United States) Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Arkansas (Largest city: Stuttgart) Ashley (Largest city: Crossett) Bradley (largest city: Warren) Clark (largest city: Arkadelphia) Conway (Largest city: Morrilton) Craighead (Largest city: Jonesboro) Crittenden (Largest city: West Memphis) Dallas (Largest city: Fordyce) Desha (largest city: Dumas) Fulton (Largest city: Salem) Greene (Largest city: Paragould) Hempstead (largest city: Hope) Hot Spring (Largest city: Malvern) Izard (Largest city: Horseshoe Bend) Jefferson (largest city: Pine Bluff) Lafayette (Largest city: Stamps) Lincoln (largest city: Star City) Little River (largest city: Ashdown) Monroe (largest city: Clarendon) Mississippi (largest city: Osceola) Nevada (Largest city: Prescott) Ouachita (Largest city: Camden) Phillips (largest city: Helena-West Helena) Poinsett (largest city: Harrisburg) Pulaski (largest city: Little Rock) Sevier (Largest city: De Queen) References 2 External links Campaign websites (Archived) Jimmie Lou Fisher Mike Huckabee Politics United States 2002 Arkansas Gubernatorial Category:Mike Huckabee Category:November 2002 in the United States Category:May 2002 in the United States