1932 Arkansas gubernatorial election
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Futrell: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% 90%+ | |||||||||||||||||
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The 1932 Arkansas gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 1932, to elect the
Incumbent
Futrell defeated Livesay in a
Democratic primary
The Democratic primary carried significant weight during the
Current governor Harvey Parnell had recently completed two terms, and declined to run for reelection. Though Parnell had enjoyed early popularity as a reform governor, he had become deeply unpopular following the start of the Great Depression, and the perceived flaws of the Martineau Road Law, which he was instrumental in passing as Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas. By February 1933, the situation had devolved so far, the Arkansas House of Representatives adopted a resolution describing the Parnell administration as "the most corrupt since the days of reconstruction and the most extravagant and wasteful in the history of the state". Many Arkansans blamed Parnell for their hardships in the Great Depression, and his unpopularity caused candidates to dodge his endorsement throughout the contest.[5]
Candidates
A diverse group of state and local politicians sought the nomination, with as many as ten candidates running in the early months. The broad field began to narrow a month before the August primary, with campaign rhetoric and candidate
Declared
- Arkansas State Treasurer
- Junius Marion Futrell, chancery judge, former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives, acting governor for five months during 1913
- A.B. Priddy, circuit judge from Russellville, managed Brooks Hays 1928 gubernatorial campaign[6]
- Howard A. Reed, state comptroller[7]
- Arkansas Secretary of State[8]
- Winston P. Wilson of Little Rock[9]
- Arley Woodrow of Mena[10]
Blackwood's campaign was managed by Lee Seamster, a prominent judge from Fayetteville. Futrell's campaign was managed by
Withdrew
- S. Marcus Bone, circuit judge from Batesville (endorsed Terral)[11]
- Leonard D. Caudle, former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Greenwood (endorsed Terral)[12]
- C.A. Christian, doctor from Dardanelle[13]
- Dan W. Johnson, former representative from Johnson County[14]
- Richard A. Mann, circuit judge from Little Rock[15]
- Charles A. Walls, former member of the
Declined
- Carl E. Bailey, prosecuting attorney from Little Rock[17]
- William Lee Cazort, Parnell's first lieutenant governor, who had challenged him in the 1930 Democratic primary
- Brooks Hays, assistant Arkansas Attorney General from 1925 to 1927[18]
- Sam Rorex, of Russellville[19]
- Lee Seamster, chancery judge, former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Fayetteville[20][21] (endorsed Blackwood)[22]
- Lawrence Elery Wilson, Parnell's second lieutenant governor
Results
Public sentiment toward the Parnell administration turned the 1932 election debate toward corruption and
Priddy promised "a brand new deal", borrowing the term from
Futrell was a reluctant candidate, saying after winning the Democratic primary, "had no ambition to become governor and would prefer to serve out my time as chancellor among the people who know me best".
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Junius Marion Futrell | 124,139 | 44.0 | |
| Democratic | Tom J. Terral | 59,066 | 20.9 | |
| Democratic | A.B. Priddy | 37,134 | 13.2 | |
| Democratic | Dwight H. Blackwood | 33,147 | 11.8 | |
| Democratic | Howard Reed | 12,117 | 4.3 | |
| Democratic | W.P. Wilson | 7,709 | 2.7 | |
| Democratic | Other candidates | 5,188 | 1.8 | |
| Democratic | Arley Woodrow | 3,541 | 1.3 | |
| Total votes | 282,041 | 100.0 | ||
The Democratic primary was a dramatic fight played out via accusations in the press, and ultimately widened major rifts in the party. Though Parnell and Blackwood were already political rivals, the battle continued to escalate. Allegations of corruption flew among several of the candidates, positing other candidates as "members of the machine" or colluding as a political "gang".[32] Parnell was initially thought to run for Senate, but declined and decided to retire from politics, but remained active in the 1932 primary. On July 24, reports emerged that Governor Parnell had switched his support from Priddy to Futrell.[33] Parnell issued a statement, saying "his only interest in the present campaign was to defeat Dwight H. Blackwood".[34] Following Futrell's win, Parnell removed Howard Reed from his state comptroller's position, allegedly for refusing to withdraw as a gubernatorial candidate. Parnell appointed Griffin Smith, manager of Futrell's campaign, to replace Reed. Four of Arkansas's constitutional officers condemned the firing in a statement, calling it "untimely to say the least".[35]
Futrell tried to strike a conciliatory tone, saying "in the discharge of my duties as governor, all bitterness of the controversy will be forgotten, and the earnest co-operation of those who opposed me, and those who supported me, is necessary".[36] He also condemned the overheated rhetoric of the campaign, saying "one thing has been definitely established: A campaign of slander and misrepresentation cannot succeed."[37]
The Democratic state convention was held September 8–10 in Hot Springs. Representative of the conservative wing having taken control of the convention, it adopted as first plank of the party platform, "drastic curtailment of government expenditures and other reforms".[38]
Republican convention
Republicans did not hold primaries in Arkansas until the 1960s, instead nominating their candidates at the state convention. The Republican convention was held in Little Rock on April 26, 1932.[39] James O. Livesay, a lawyer and judge from Foreman, and Republican candidate for governor in 1930, was nominated as the Republican gubernatorial candidate.
Third parties
Candidates
Declared
- Clay Faulks (
- H.C. Coney (
General election
Turnout was expected to be high, mostly due to five constitutional amendments and three initiated acts listed on the November 1932 ballot, all of which were defeated at the polls. It was the longest ballot in Arkansas to date.[42] On election day, turnout broke state records, exceeding even optimistic predictions.
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Junius Marion Futrell | 200,612 | 90.4 | |
| Republican | James O. Livesay | 19,713 | 8.9 | |
| Liberty | Clay Faulks | 911 | 0.4 | |
Socialist
|
Clay Faulks | 461 | 0.2 | |
Communist
|
H.C. Coney | 174 | 0.0 | |
| Total votes | 221,817 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
References
- ^ "Elections" (1950), pp. 25–26.
- ^ "Elections" (1950), pp. 25–26.
- ^ "Arkansas" (2002), p. 321.
- OCLC 18126013– via NewspaperARCHIVE.
- ^ "Denying" (1932), p. 1.
- ^ "Seeking" (1932), p. 1.
- ^ "Caudle" (1932), p. 7.
- ^ "Caudle" (1932), p. 7.
- ^ "Caudle" (1932), p. 7.
- ^ "Caudle" (1932), p. 7.
- ^ "Caudle" (1932), p. 9.
- ^ "Caudle" (1932), p. 9.
- ^ "Seeking" (1932), p. 1.
- ^ "Caudle" (1932), p. 9.
- ^ "Seeking" (1932), p. 1.
- OCLC 18126013– via NewspaperARCHIVE.
- ^ "Seeking" (1932), p. 1.
- ^ "Seeking" (1932), p. 1.
- ^ "Seeking" (1932), p. 1.
- NewspaperARCHIVE.
- OCLC 18126013– via NewspaperARCHIVE.
- Blytheville Courier News. Vol. 29, no. 98. Blytheville: The Courier News Company. p. 1 – via NewspaperARCHIVE.
- OCLC 23187909– via NewspaperARCHIVE.
- ^ "Denying" (1932), p. 1.
- ^ "Capacity" (1932), p. 1.
- ^ "Personal" (1932), p. 1.
- ^ "Priddy" (1932), p. 13.
- ^ "Personal" (1932), p. 1.
- ^ "Arkansas" (2002), p. 321.
- ^ "Governors" (1995), p. 185.
- ^ "Elections" (1950), p. 25.
- ^ "Priddy" (1932), p. 13.
- ^ "Denying" (1932), p. 1.
- ^ "Denying" (1932), p. 1.
- OCLC 18126013– via NewspaperARCHIVE.
- ^ "Personal" (1932), p. 1.
- ^ "Personal" (1932), p. 1.
- OCLC 18126013– via NewspaperARCHIVE.
- OCLC 18126013– via NewspaperARCHIVE.
- ^ "Ballot" (1932), p. 1.
- ^ "Ballot" (1932), p. 1.
- OCLC 18126013– via NewspaperARCHIVE.
- ^ "Elections" (1950), pp. 25–26.
- Arnold, Morris S.; DeBlack, Thomas A.; Sabo III, George; Whayne, Jeannie M. (2002). Arkansas: A narrative history (1st ed.). Fayetteville, Arkansas: The University of Arkansas Press. OCLC 49029558.
- Donovan, Timothy Paul; Gatewood, Willard B.; Whayne, Jeannie M., eds. (1995). The Governors of Arkansas: Essays in Political Biography (2 ed.). University of Arkansas Press.
- Heard, Alexander; Strong, Donald S. (1950). Southern Primaries and Elections, 1920-1949. OCLC 500982.
- Priddy, A.B. (August 4, 1932). "A.B. Priddy for Governor". OCLC 18126013– via NewspaperARCHIVE.
- Staff of the OCLC 18126013– via NewspaperARCHIVE.
- Staff of the Fayetteville Daily Democrat (April 11, 1932). "Seven Seeking Governor Post". Fayetteville Daily Democrat. Vol. 38, no. 119. Fayetteville: Fayetteville Democrat Publishing Company. p. 1. OCLC 18126013– via NewspaperARCHIVE.
- Staff of the Fayetteville Daily Democrat (July 26, 1932). "Double Political Speaking by Bodenhamer, Priddy Draws Capacity Attendance". Fayetteville Daily Democrat. Vol. 37, no. 210. Fayetteville: Fayetteville Democrat Publishing Company. p. 1. OCLC 18126013– via NewspaperARCHIVE.
- Staff of the Fayetteville Daily Democrat (July 26, 1932). "Candidates are Denying Parnell Aid". Fayetteville Daily Democrat. Vol. 37, no. 210. Fayetteville: Fayetteville Democrat Publishing Company. p. 1. OCLC 18126013– via NewspaperARCHIVE.
- Staff of the Fayetteville Daily Democrat (August 10, 1932). "Futrell Says His Victory Not Personal". Fayetteville Daily Democrat. Vol. 37, no. 222. Fayetteville: Fayetteville Democrat Publishing Company. p. 1. OCLC 18126013– via NewspaperARCHIVE.
- Staff of the Harrison Daily Times (November 4, 1932). "Here's Copy of Tuesday's Ballot". OCLC 18545584– via NewspaperARCHIVE.
