2014 Arkansas gubernatorial election

For related races, see 2014 United States gubernatorial elections.

The 2014 Arkansas gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 2014, to elect the governor of Arkansas, concurrently with the election to Arkansas's Class II U.S. Senate seat, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. This was the last time the Arkansas governor's changed partisan control.

2014 Arkansas gubernatorial election

← 2010 November 4, 2014 (2014-11-04) 2018 →

Nominee Asa Hutchinson Mike Ross Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 470,429 352,115 Percentage 55.44% 41.49%

County results Congressional district results Hutchinson:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Ross:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election Mike Beebe Democratic Elected Governor Asa Hutchinson Republican

Incumbent Democratic governor Mike Beebe was ineligible to run for re-election due to term limits established by the Arkansas Constitution. Arkansas is one of eight states that limits its governors to two terms for life.^[1] Democrats nominated former U.S. representative Mike Ross and Republicans nominated former DEA Administrator, former U.S. representative and 2006 Arkansas gubernatorial nominee Asa Hutchinson.

Hutchinson won the general election by the largest margin recorded for a Republican in an open-seat gubernatorial race since Reconstruction, a record held until 2022. The race was called for Hutchinson roughly half an hour after the polls closed; his victory gave Republicans complete control of state government for the first time since 1874.

This was the only Democratic-held governorship up for election in a state that Mitt Romney won in the 2012 presidential election.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Mike Ross, former U.S. representative^[2]

Eliminated in primary

• Lynette "Doc" Bryant, activist^[3]

Withdrew

• Bill Halter, former lieutenant governor of Arkansas and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2010 (endorsed Ross)^[4]
• Dustin McDaniel, Arkansas Attorney General^[5]

Declined

• Shane Broadway, interim director of the Department of Higher Education and former state senator^[6][7]
• John Burkhalter, former State Highway Commissioner (running for Lieutenant Governor)^[8]
• Conner Eldridge, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas^[9]
• G. David Gearhart, chancellor of the University of Arkansas^[10]
• Pat Hays, former mayor of North Little Rock (running for U.S. House)^[11]
• Keith Ingram, state senator (endorsed Ross)^[12]
• Bruce Maloch, state senator^[6][13]
• Michael Malone, president and CEO of the Northwest Arkansas Council^[14][15]
• Vic Snyder, former U.S. representative^[6]
• Paul Suskie, former chairman of the Arkansas Public Service Commission and candidate for Attorney General of Arkansas in 2006^[9]
• Chris Thomason, chancellor of the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope and former state representative^[6][16]
• Robert F. Thompson, state senator (endorsed Ross)^[6][17]
• Darrin Williams, state representative, former speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives^[6]

Endorsements

Mike Ross

National political figures

• Bill Clinton, former president of the United States^[18]

Arkansas political figures

• John Baine, state representative^[19]
• Mike Beebe, incumbent governor of Arkansas^[20]
• Paul Bookout, former state senator^[19]
• Mary Broadway, state representative^[19]
• Harry Brown, Mayor of Stephens^[19]
• John Burkhalter, former State Highway Commissioner and nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas in 2014^[19]
• David Burnett, state senator^[19]
• JoAnne Bush, Republican mayor of Lake Village^[19]
• Eddie Cheatham, state senator^[19]
• Wesley Clark, retired U.S. General and candidate for president in 2004^[19]
• Curtis Coleman, businessman and former Republican candidate for governor in 2014^[19]
• Deborah Ferguson, state representative^[19]
• David Fielding, state representative^[19]
• Jimmie Lou Fisher, former Arkansas State Treasurer, nominee for governor in 2002 and former president of the Arkansas Democratic Women's Club^[19]
• John Hall, County Judge of Crawford County^[19]
• Bill Halter, former lieutenant governor of Arkansas and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2010^[21]
• Fonda Hawthorne, state representative^[19]
• Sherman Hiatt, mayor of Charleston^[19]
• Keith Ingram, state senator^[19]
• David Johnson, state senator^[19]
• Sheila Lampkin, state representative^[19]
• Sue Madison, former state senator^[19]
• Allen Maxwell, mayor of Monticello^[19]
• Stewart Nelson, mayor of Morrilton^[19]
• Steve Northcutt, mayor of Malvern^[19]
• Terry Oliver, mayor of Prescott^[19]
• Harold Perrin, mayor of Jonesboro^[19]
• Johnnie Roebuck, former Majority Leader of the Arkansas House of Representatives^[19]
• Bob Stacy, mayor of Wynne^[19]
• Brent Talley, state representative^[19]
• Robert F. Thompson, state senator^[19]
• Tab Townsell, mayor of Conway^[19]
• Kathy Webb, former state representative^[19]
• Dane Weindorf, mayor of Hamburg^[19]
• Hank Wilkins, state representative^[19]
• James Lee Witt, former FEMA Director and former County Judge of Yell County^[19]
• David Wyatt, state senator^[19]

Business leaders

• Abraham Carpenter Jr., owner and operator of Carpenter's Produce^[19]
• Jim Gaston, owner of Gaston's White River Resort, former Arkansas Business Executive of the Year and emeritus member of the Arkansas Parks & Tourism Commission^[19]

Organizations

• Arkansas Professional Fire Fighters Association^[19]
• Arkansas Timber Producers Association^[19]
• Central South Carpenters Regional Council^[19]
• Laborers International Union of North America^[19]
• Laborers Local 107^[19]
• Laborers Local 1282^[19]
• Southern States Millwright Regional Council^[19]
• Southwest Laborers District Council^[19]

Polling

Hypothetical polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Bill Halter	Mike Ross	Undecided
Clark Research[22]	July 23–27, 2013	370	± 5%	26%	40%	34%

Results

Results by county:

Ross

•   >90%
•   80–90%
•   70–80%

Democratic primary results^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Mike Ross	129,437	84.41
	Democratic	Lynette "Doc" Bryant	23,906	15.59
Total votes			153,343	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Asa Hutchinson, former administrator of the DEA, former U.S. representative and nominee for governor in 2006^[24]

Eliminated in primary

• Curtis Coleman, founder of a food safety company and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2010^[1]

Withdrew

• Debra Hobbs, state representative (running for Lieutenant Governor)^[25]

Declined

• Davy Carter, Speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives^[26][27]
• Tom Cotton, U.S. representative for Arkansas's 4th congressional district (2013–2015) (running for the U.S. Senate)^[28]
• Rick Crawford, U.S. representative for Arkansas's 1st congressional district (2011–present)^[29]
• Mark Darr, former lieutenant governor of Arkansas^[30]
• G. David Gearhart, chancellor of the University of Arkansas^[10]
• Tim Griffin, U.S. representative for Arkansas's 2nd congressional district (2011–2015) (running for Lieutenant Governor)^[31]
• Missy Irvin, state senator^[32]
• Jim Keet, former state senator and nominee for governor in 2010^[8][33]
• Johnny Key, state senator^[34]
• Mark Martin, Secretary of State of Arkansas (running for re-election)^[1]
• Sheffield Nelson, businessman and nominee for governor in 1990 and 1994^[35]
• Steve Womack, U.S. representative Arkansas's 3rd congressional district (2011–present)^[36]

Endorsements

Curtis Coleman

National politicians

• Ron Paul, former U.S. representative (R-TX) and candidate for president in 2008 and 2012^[37][38]

Elected legislators

• Randy Alexander, state representative^[39]
• John Cooper, state senator
• Joe Farrer, state representative^[40]
• John "Hutch" Hutchison, state representative
• John Payton, state representative^[41]
• Richard Womack, state representative^[42]

Local elected leaders

• Larry E. Burgess, Miller County Judge^[43]
• Jayme Nicholson, Baxter County Assessor^[44]
• Wayne Smith, Mayor of Texarkana^[45]
• Tim Stockdale, Garland County Treasurer^[46]

Organizations

• Miller County Patriots^[47]

Organization leaders

• Bishop Robert E. Smith Sr., founder of Total Outreach for Christ Ministries, Inc. and Word of Outreach Christian Center^[48]
• Timothy Stephenson, founder of the EAST Initiative^[49]

Asa Hutchinson

Federal legislators

• Rick Crawford, U.S. representative
• Tim Griffin, U.S. representative

State legislators

• Nate Bell, state representative^[50]
• Cecile Bledsoe, state senator^[50]
• John Burris, state representative^[50]
• Ron Caldwell, state senator^[50]
• Davy Carter, Speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives^[50]
• Alan Clark, state senator from Garland County^[51]
• Andy Davis, state representative^[50]
• Jonathan Dismang, Majority Whip of the Arkansas Senate^[50]
• Jon Eubanks, state representative^[50]
• Bill Gossage, state representative^[50]
• Justin Harris, state representative^[50]
• Bart Hester, state senator^[50]
• Michael Lamoureux, President Pro Tempore of the Arkansas Senate^[50]
• Micah Neal, state representative^[50]
• Matthew Shepherd, state representative^[50]

Local elected officials

• Jerry Taylor, Democratic former state senator, state representative, and mayor of Pine Bluff^[52]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Curtis Coleman	Asa Hutchinson	Undecided
Talk Business/Hendrix College[53]	April 29, 2014	1,516	± 2.5%	20%	70%	10%
Public Policy Polling[54]	April 25–27, 2014	342	± 5.3%	23%	62%	15%

Results

Results by county:

Hutchinson

•   80–90%
•   70–80%
•   60–70%
•   50–60%

Coleman

•   50–60%

Republican primary results^[23]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Asa Hutchinson	130,752	72.95
	Republican	Curtis Coleman	48,473	27.05
Total votes			179,225	100.00

Third parties

Candidates

Declared

• Josh Drake (Green), attorney and nominee for Arkansas's 4th congressional district in 2008, 2010 and 2012^[55]
• Frank Gilbert (Libertarian), DeKalb Township Constable, former mayor of Tull and nominee for the state senate in 2012^[56]

Declined

• Sheffield Nelson (Independent), businessman and Republican nominee for governor in 1990 and 1994^[35]

General election

Debates

• Complete video of debate, September 19, 2014 - C-SPAN
• Complete video of debate, October 7, 2014 - C-SPAN

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report[57]	Lean R (flip)	November 3, 2014
Sabato's Crystal Ball[58]	Likely R (flip)	November 3, 2014
Inside Elections[59]	Lean R (flip)	November 3, 2014
Real Clear Politics[60]	Lean R (flip)	November 3, 2014

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Mike Ross (D)	Asa Hutchinson (R)	Other	Undecided
Opinion Research Associates[61]	October 30–November 1, 2014	400	± 5%	43%	39%	5%[62]	14%
Public Policy Polling[63]	October 30–November 1, 2014	1,092	± 3%	41%	51%	4%[64]	4%
				44%	53%	—	3%
Rasmussen Reports[65]	October 27–29, 2014	967	± 3%	43%	50%	3%	4%
Issues & Answers Network[66]	October 21–27, 2014	568	± 4.1%	39%	50%	—	11%
Opinion Research Associates[67]	October 25–26, 2014	401	± 5%	44%	42%	2%[68]	11%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov[69]	October 16–23, 2014	1,567	± 4%	38%	47%	0%	15%
NBC News/Marist[70]	October 19–23, 2014	621	± 3.9%	44%	47%	4%[71]	5%
		971	± 3.1%	44%	43%	5%[72]	8%
Hendrix Poll[73]	October 15–16, 2014	2,075	± 2.2%	41%	49%	5%	6%
Rasmussen Reports[65]	October 13–15, 2014	940	± 3%	47%	49%	1%	3%
Fox News[74]	October 4–7, 2014	707	± 3.5%	37%	46%	5%[75]	12%
Opinion Research Associates[76]	October 1–5, 2014	400	± 5%	45%	41%	3%	11%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov[77]	September 20–October 1, 2014	1,991	± 2%	38%	49%	1%	12%
Rasmussen Reports[65]	September 24–25, 2014	750	± 4%	42%	46%	4%	8%
Suffolk[78]	September 20–23, 2014	500	± 4.4%	41%	43%	5%[79]	11%
Public Policy Polling[80]	September 18–21, 2014	1,453	± 2.6%	38%	44%	5%[79]	13%
				40%	46%	—	14%
Gravis Marketing[81]	September 8–11, 2014	902	± 4%	42%	46%	2%[82]	10%
Answers Unlimited[83]	September 7–9, 2014	600	± 3.5%	44%	44%	4%[64]	8%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov[84]	August 18–September 2, 2014	1,572	± 3%	38%	45%	1%	15%
NBC News/Marist[85]	September 2–4, 2014	639 LV	± 3.9%	39%	48%	6%[86]	7%
		1,068 RV	± 3%	39%	46%	7%[87]	8%
Rasmussen Reports[65]	August 25–26, 2014	750	± 4%	46%	44%	3%	7%
Opinion Research Associates[88]	August 6–14, 2014	414	± 4.9%	44%	44%	3%[89]	9%
Public Policy Polling[90]	August 1–3, 2014	1,066	± 3%	38%	43%	7%[91]	12%
				40%	46%	—	14%
Talk Business/Hendrix College[92]	July 22–25, 2014	1,780	± 2.3%	41%	46%	6%[93]	7.5%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov[94]	July 5–24, 2014	1,616	± 3.5%	45%	48%	2%	4%
Gravis Marketing[95]	July 7–8, 2014	987	± 3%	46%	49%	5%[82]	—
Public Opinion Strategies[96]	May 27–29, 2014	500	± 4.39%	42%	48%	—	10%
Rasmussen Reports[65]	May 27–28, 2014	750	± 4%	41%	48%	4%	6%
NBC News/Marist[97]	April 30–May 4, 2014	876	± 3.3%	42%	49%	2%	7%
Public Policy Polling[54]	April 25–27, 2014	840	± 3.4%	38%	46%	—	16%
New York Times/Kaiser Family[98]	April 8–15, 2014	857	± ?	40%	41%	4%	16%
Opinion Research Associates[99]	April 1–8, 2014	400	± 5%	45%	39%	—	17%
Talk Business/Hendrix College[100]	April 3–4, 2014	1,068	± 3%	44%	43%	5%[79]	8%
Impact Management Group[101]	February 10, 2014	1,202	± 2.83%	42%	42%	—	17%
Rasmussen Reports[65]	February 4–5, 2014	500	± 4.5%	44%	41%	3%	12%
Public Policy Polling[102]	December 13–15, 2013	1,004	± 3.1%	43%	44%	—	14%
Impact Management Group[103]	October 24, 2013	911	± 3.2%	37%	40%	—	23%
University of Arkansas[104]	October 10–17, 2013	800	± 3.5%	30%	32%	—	38%
Talk Business/Hendrix College[105]	October 8, 2013	603	± 4.%	37%	41%	—	22%
Harper Polling[106]	August 4–5, 2013	587	± 4.04%	38%	46%	—	16%
Talk Business/Hendrix College[107]	February 20, 2013	675	± 3.8%	38%	43%	—	19%

Hypothetical polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Lynette Bryant (D)	Asa Hutchinson (R)	Other	Undecided
Talk Business/Hendrix College[100]	April 3–4, 2014	1,068	± 3%	27.5%	48%	8%[108]	17%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Bill Halter (D)	Asa Hutchinson (R)	Other	Undecided
Talk Business/Hendrix College[107]	February 20, 2013	675	± 3.8%	31%	47%	—	22%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Dustin McDaniel (D)	Asa Hutchinson (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling[109]	January 10–13, 2013	600	± 4.0%	33%	46%	—	22%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Mike Ross (D)	Curtis Coleman (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling[54]	April 25–27, 2014	840	± 3.4%	43%	33%	—	24%
Talk Business/Hendrix College[100]	April 3–4, 2014	1,068	± 3%	48%	30%	7%[110]	15%

Results

Arkansas gubernatorial election, 2014^[111]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Asa Hutchinson	470,429	55.44%	+21.81%
	Democratic	Mike Ross	352,115	41.49%	−22.93%
	Libertarian	Frank Gilbert	16,319	1.92%	N/A
	Green	Josh Drake	9,729	1.15%	−0.71%
Total votes			848,592	100.00%	N/A
	Republican gain from Democratic

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

• Arkansas (Largest city: Stuttgart)
• Baxter (Largest city: Mountain Home)
• Benton (Largest city: Rogers)
• Boone (Largest city: Harrison)
• Calhoun (Largest city: Hampton)
• Carroll (Largest city: Berryville)
• Clay (largest city: Piggott)
• Cleburne (Largest city: Heber Springs)
• Cleveland (Largest city: Rison)
• Columbia (Largest city: Magnolia)
• Conway (Largest city: Morrilton)
• Craighead (Largest city: Jonesboro)
• Crawford (Largest city: Van Buren)
• Cross (Largest city: Wynne)
• Faulkner (Largest city: Conway)
• Franklin (Largest city: Ozark)
• Fulton (Largest city: Salem)
• Garland (Largest city: Hot Springs)
• Grant (Largest city: Sheridan)
• Greene (Largest city: Paragould)
• Hempstead (largest city: Hope)
• Hot Spring (Largest city: Malvern)
• Independence (Largest city: Batesville)
• Izard (Largest city: Horseshoe Bend)
• Johnson (Largest city: Clarksville)
• Lawrence (largest city: Walnut Ridge)
• Logan (Largest city: Booneville)
• Lonoke (Largest city: Cabot)
• Madison (Largest city: Huntsville)
• Marion (Largest city: Bull Shoals)
• Miller (Largest city: Texarkana)
• Montgomery (Largest city: Mount Ida)
• Newton (Largest city: Jasper)
• Perry (Largest city: Perryville)
• Pike (Largest city: Glenwood)
• Poinsett (largest city: Harrisburg)
• Polk (Largest city: Mena)
• Pope (Largest city: Russellville)
• Prairie (Largest city: Des Arc)
• Randolph (largest city: Pocahontas)
• Saline (Largest city: Benton)
• Scott (Largest city: Waldron)
• Searcy (Largest city: Marshall)
• Sebastian (Largest city: Fort Smith)
• Sevier (Largest city: De Queen)
• Sharp (Largest city: Cherokee Village)
• Stone (Largest city: Mountain View)
• Union (Largest city: El Dorado)
• Van Buren (Largest city: Clinton)
• Washington (Largest city: Fayetteville)
• White (Largest city: Searcy)
• Yell (Largest city: Dardanelle)

By congressional district

Hutchinson won all four congressional districts.^[112]

District	Ross	Hutchinson	Representative
1st	43%	54%	Rick Crawford
2nd	46%	52%	French Hill
3rd	33%	64%	Steve Womack
4th	44%	53%	Bruce Westerman