2002 Arkansas gubernatorial election
November 5, 2002
 
Nominee Mike Huckabee Jimmie Lou Fisher
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 427,082 378,250
Percentage 53.01% 46.95%
County results

Huckabee:      50–60%      60–70%

Fisher:      50–60%      60–70%
Governor before election

Mike Huckabee
Republican

 Elected Governor

Mike Huckabee
Republican

Democratic primary results by county
  Fisher
  •   40–50%
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
  Holmes
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%

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.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic Party primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jimmie Lou Fisher 176,126 63.11
Democratic Joe Holmes 77,516 27.77
Democratic Jim Billie 25,455 9.12
Total votes 279,097 100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Republican Primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Huckabee (incumbent) 78,803 85.44
Republican Doyle Cannady 13,434 14.56
Total votes 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.[2][3] Fisher began the campaign by unveiling plans on issues such as prescription drugs, education and domestic violence.[3] 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.[4][5]

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.[5] However Huckabee responded that he had signed more death warrants and executed more people than any other governor of Arkansas.[6] Huckabee called on voters to support him due to the progress in education, health care and the economy during his period as governor.[7] Huckabee also criticised Fisher for receiving help from former governor Bill Clinton, describing him as having had his turn.[8]

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.[3][7] Near the end of October a poll showed Huckabee only 2% ahead of Fisher.[5] 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.[5] In late October a fundraising letter from Huckabee's campaign described it as in crisis.[5] 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.[9]

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[10] Tossup October 31, 2002
Sabato's Crystal Ball[11] Lean R November 4, 2002

Results

Arkansas gubernatorial election, 2002[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Mike Huckabee (incumbent) 427,082 53.02% -6.75%
Democratic Jimmie Lou Fisher 378,250 46.96% +8.30%
Write-in 210 0.03% N/A
Majority 48,832 6.06% -15.05%
Turnout 805,542 100.00% N/A
Republican hold

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

References

  1. 1 2 "August 3, 2006, Democratic Primary: Governor" (PDF). Tennessee Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 17, 2012. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Huckabee Goes Back to Work for 4 More Years". KAIT. November 6, 2002. Archived from the original on February 13, 2012. Retrieved September 17, 2008.
  3. 1 2 3 "Fisher Unveils Domestic Abuse Plan". KAIT. September 24, 2002. Archived from the original on February 13, 2012. Retrieved September 17, 2008.
  4. ↑ "Fisher Calls Huckabee a Dictator". KAIT. October 1, 2002. Archived from the original on February 13, 2012. Retrieved September 17, 2008.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Halbfinger, David M. (October 31, 2002). "THE 2002 CAMPAIGN: THE STATES; Wedding Ring Is a Millstone in 2 Arkansas Races". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 19, 2008. Retrieved September 17, 2008.
  6. ↑ "Fisher Launches Into Huckabee Over Commutation". KAIT. October 8, 2002. Archived from the original on February 13, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2008.
  7. 1 2 "Polling Shows Huckabee Ahead". KAIT. October 14, 2002. Archived from the original on February 13, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2008.
  8. ↑ "Clinton's campaign role: Raise money, avoid the spotlight". USA Today. October 25, 2002. Retrieved October 20, 2008.
  9. ↑ Liptak, Adam (November 1, 2002). "THE 2002 CAMPAIGN: VOTING DISPUTES; With Suit, Governor's Daughter Gets a Spotlight". The New York Times. Retrieved October 20, 2008.
  10. ↑ "Governor Updated October 31, 2002 | The Cook Political Report". The Cook Political Report. October 31, 2002. Archived from the original on December 8, 2002. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Governors Races". www.centerforpolitics.org. November 4, 2002. Archived from the original on December 12, 2002. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  12. ↑ "2002 General: November 5, 2002" (PDF). Arkansas Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 21, 2014. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
Campaign websites (Archived)
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