2002 Arkansas gubernatorial election

{{Infobox election

| election_name = 2002 Arkansas gubernatorial election

| country = Arkansas

| flag_year = 1924

| type = presidential

| ongoing = no

| previous_election = 1998 Arkansas gubernatorial election

| previous_year = 1998

| next_election = 2006 Arkansas gubernatorial election

| next_year = 2006

| election_date = November 5, 2002

| image1 = File:Mike Huckabee, August 2002 (cropped).jpg

| nominee1 = Mike Huckabee

| party1 = Republican Party (United States)

| popular_vote1 = 427,082

| percentage1 = 53.02%

| image2 = 3x4.svg

| nominee2 = Jimmie Lou Fisher

| party2 = Democratic Party (United States)

| popular_vote2 = 378,250

| percentage2 = 46.96%

| map_image = 2002 Arkansas gubernatorial election results map by county.svg

| map_size = 210px

| map_caption = County results
Huckabee: {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}}
Fisher: {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}}

| title = Governor

| before_election = Mike Huckabee

| before_party = Republican Party (United States)

| after_election = Mike Huckabee

| after_party = 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.

Democratic primary

=Candidates=

Jimmie Lou Fisher, Arkansas State Treasurer
Joe Holmes, former prosecutor
Jim Billie

=Results=

[[File:2002_Arkansas_gubernatorial_Democratic_primary_election_results_map_by_county.svg|thumb|200x200px|Democratic primary results by county{{collapsible list

| title = {{legend|#7996e2|Fisher}}|{{legend|#a5b0ff|40–50%}}|{{legend|#7996e2|50–60%}}|{{legend|#6674de|60–70%}}|{{legend|#584cde|70–80%}}|{{legend|#3933e5|80–90%}}

}}{{collapsible list

| title = {{legend|#5bc75b|Holmes}}|{{legend|#5bc75b|50–60%}}|{{legend|#41b742|60–70%}}

}}]]

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Democratic Party primary results{{cite web|url=http://www.tn.gov/sos/election/results/2006-08/governordem.pdf|title=August 3, 2006, Democratic Primary: Governor|publisher=Tennessee Secretary of State|access-date=June 27, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017204953/http://www.tn.gov/sos/election/results/2006-08/governordem.pdf|archive-date=October 17, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Jimmie Lou Fisher

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 176,126

| percentage = 63.11

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Joe Holmes

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 77,516

| percentage = 27.77

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Jim Billie

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 25,455

| percentage = 9.12

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 279,097

| percentage= 100.00

}}

Republican primary

=Candidates=

Mike Huckabee, incumbent governor of Arkansas
Doyle Cannady, retired banker

=Results=

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Republican Primary results

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Mike Huckabee (incumbent)

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 78,803

| percentage = 85.44

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Doyle Cannady

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 13,434

| percentage = 14.56

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 92,237

| percentage = 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.{{cite web | url = http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=1001639&nav=0jshCE3X | title = Huckabee Goes Back to Work for 4 More Years | access-date = 2008-09-17 | date = 2002-11-06 | work = KAIT | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120213074844/http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=1001639&nav=0jshCE3X | archive-date = 2012-02-13 | url-status = dead }}{{cite web | url = http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=947809&nav=0jshBQc7 | title = Fisher Unveils Domestic Abuse Plan | access-date = 2008-09-17 | date = 2002-09-24 | work = KAIT | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120213074850/http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=947809&nav=0jshBQc7 | archive-date = 2012-02-13 | url-status = 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.{{cite web | url = http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=955983&nav=0jshBXiV | title = Fisher Calls Huckabee a Dictator | access-date = 2008-09-17 | date = 2002-10-01 | work = KAIT | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120213074855/http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=955983&nav=0jshBXiV | archive-date = 2012-02-13 | url-status = dead }}{{cite news| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/31/us/the-2002-campaign-the-states-wedding-ring-is-a-millstone-in-2-arkansas-races.html | title = THE 2002 CAMPAIGN: THE STATES; Wedding Ring Is a Millstone in 2 Arkansas Races | access-date = 2008-09-17 | date = 2002-10-31 | work=The New York Times | first=David M. | last=Halbfinger| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080919033758/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A06E1D6103FF932A05753C1A9649C8B63| archive-date= 19 September 2008 | url-status= 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.{{cite web | url = http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=964519&nav=0jshBfli | title = Fisher Launches Into Huckabee Over Commutation | access-date = 2008-10-20 | date = 2002-10-08 | work = KAIT | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120213074859/http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=964519&nav=0jshBfli | archive-date = 2012-02-13 | url-status = dead }} Huckabee called on voters to support him due to the progress in education, health care and the economy during his period as governor.{{cite web | url = http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=971670&nav=0jshBm5B | title = Polling Shows Huckabee Ahead | access-date = 2008-10-20 | date = 2002-10-14 | work = KAIT | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120213074904/http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=971670&nav=0jshBm5B | archive-date = 2012-02-13 | url-status = dead }} Huckabee also criticised Fisher for receiving help from former governor Bill Clinton, describing him as having had his turn.{{cite news| url = https://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2002-10-25-clinton-campaign_x.htm | title = Clinton's campaign role: Raise money, avoid the spotlight | access-date = 2008-10-20 | work=USA Today | date=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.{{cite news| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/01/us/the-2002-campaign-voting-disputes-with-suit-governor-s-daughter-gets-a-spotlight.html | title = THE 2002 CAMPAIGN: VOTING DISPUTES; With Suit, Governor's Daughter Gets a Spotlight | access-date = 2008-10-20 | date = 2002-11-01 | work=The New York Times | first=Adam | last=Liptak}}

=Predictions=

class="wikitable"

!Source

!Ranking

!As of

The Cook Political Report{{Cite web|url=http://www.cookpolitical.com:80/display.cfm?section=political&edit_id=225|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021208065752/http://www.cookpolitical.com/display.cfm?section=political&edit_id=225|archive-date=December 8, 2002|title=Governor Updated October 31, 2002 {{!}} The Cook Political Report|website=The Cook Political Report|language=en|date=October 31, 2002|access-date=September 18, 2018|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

| {{USRaceRating|Tossup}}

|October 31, 2002

Sabato's Crystal Ball{{Cite web|url=http://www.centerforpolitics.org:80/crystalball/governor_all.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021212142349/http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/governor_all.htm|archive-date=December 12, 2002|title=Governors Races|website=www.centerforpolitics.org|language=en-US|date=November 4, 2002|access-date=September 18, 2018|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

| {{USRaceRating|Lean|R}}

|November 4, 2002

=Results=

{{Election box begin | title=Arkansas gubernatorial election, 2002{{cite web|url=http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/historicalElectionResults/Documents/2002_General.pdf|title=2002 General: November 5, 2002|publisher=Arkansas Secretary of State|access-date=June 27, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021092422/http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/historicalElectionResults/Documents/2002_General.pdf|archive-date=October 21, 2014|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Mike Huckabee (incumbent)

|votes = 427,082

|percentage = 53.02%

|change = -6.75%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Jimmie Lou Fisher

|votes = 378,250

|percentage = 46.96%

|change = +8.30%

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link|

|votes = 210

|percentage = 0.03%

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 48,832

|percentage = 6.06%

|change = -15.05%

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 805,542

|percentage = 100.00%

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

|winner = Republican Party (United States)

}}

==Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic==

Craighead (Largest city: Jonesboro)
Greene (Largest city: Paragould)
Hot Spring (Largest city: Malvern)
Izard (Largest city: Horseshoe Bend)
Arkansas (Largest city: Stuttgart)
Fulton (Largest city: Salem)
Poinsett (largest city: Harrisburg)
Lafayette (Largest city: Stamps)
Little River (largest city: Ashdown)
Bradley (largest city: Warren)
Clark (largest city: Arkadelphia)
Nevada (Largest city: Prescott)
Ouachita (Largest city: Camden)
Dallas (Largest city: Fordyce)
Monroe (largest city: Clarendon)
Mississippi (largest city: Osceola)
Desha (largest city: Dumas)
Lincoln (largest city: Star City)
Ashley (Largest city: Crossett)
Crittenden (Largest city: West Memphis)
Conway (Largest city: Morrilton)
Sevier (Largest city: De Queen)
Hempstead (largest city: Hope)
Phillips (largest city: Helena-West Helena)
Jefferson (largest city: Pine Bluff)
Pulaski (largest city: Little Rock)

References

External links

Campaign websites (Archived)

[http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20020702204110/http://www.jimmieloufisher.com/ Jimmie Lou Fisher]
[http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20021031080115/http://www.huckabeeforarkansas.org/ Mike Huckabee]

2002

Arkansas

Gubernatorial

Category:Mike Huckabee

Category:November 2002 in the United States

Category:May 2002 in the United States