In a historic gubernatorial race Nov. 8, voters elected Sarah Huckabee Sanders as the state’s first female governor.
“I know it will be the honor of a lifetime to serve as Arkansas’ 47th governor and the first female governor of the state,” Sanders said to a crowd of her supporters on election night at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock.
Sanders, a Republican, commented on the historic election night, thanking Arkansas voters and acknowledging Jones and Harrington.
“One of the most amazing things about tonight is that, no matter how it turned out, Arkansas was going to make history tonight,” Sanders said.
Sanders, who will become that state’s 47th governor, received 63.1% of the vote and 568,846 total votes in defeating Democrat Chris Jones and Libertarian Ricky Harrington.
Jones received 35.1% of the vote and 316, 607 total votes, and Harrington received 1.8% of the vote and 16,608 total votes.
If Jones or Harrington had won, either candidate would have become the first Black governor of Arkansas.
Governor-elect Sanders is no stranger to politics.
Sanders’ father Republican Mike Huckabee served as governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007. Winning the election will make Sanders the first daughter in U.S. history to serve as governor of the same state her father once led.
Sanders previously served as the White House press secretary and Communications Director for former President Donald Trump from 2017-2019.
Sanders has previously worked in leadership roles for U.S. senators, governors and presidential campaigns, including Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Dardanelle, and Sen. John Boozman, R-Rogers, according to her website.
“The math is clear, and the results of the race are clear. I congratulate Governor-elect Sarah Huckabee Sanders on her history-making election as the first woman elected governor of Arkansas,” Jones said in a statement on his website.
“Our state was poised to make history no matter the results. Arkansas would either elect the first African American or the first female governor. History was made. Sarah’s election has shown women, including my little girls, that being a woman is no longer a barrier to becoming governor in our state,” Jones said.
Arkansas, a predominantly red state, last elected a Democratic governor in 2010.
Arkansans voted in several key federal races across the state on election night, including U.S. Senate and U.S. Congressional Districts.
Boozman, an incumbent, won reelection with 65.85% of the vote and 588,676 votes against Democrat Natalie James with 30.95% of the vote and 276,693 votes and Libertarian candidate Kenneth Cates with 3.19% of the vote and 28,553 votes.
Incumbents in individual U.S. Congressional District races across Arkansas all won reelection, including Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro, District 1; French Hill, R-Little Rock, District 2; Steve Womack, R-Russellville, District 3; and Bruce Westerman, R-Hot Springs, District 4.
Current Republican Attorney General Leslie Rutledge won the lieutenant governor’s race, with current Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin, R-Little Rock, winning the attorney general’s race. Incumbent Secretary of State John Thurston, R-East End, won reelection.
In Faulkner County, Republican Allen Dodson defeated incumbent Democrat Jim Baker to become Faulkner County judge. Dodson won with 55.6% of the vote and 22,252 votes against Baker’s 44.34% of the vote and 17,730 votes.
Faulkner County Sheriff Tim Ryals, the Republican incumbent, won reelection, defeating Libertarian Kevin Johnston.
In mayoral races across Faulkner County, Greenbrier Mayor Sammy Hartwick defeated challenger Randy Goodnight. In Guy, Terry Williams defeated incumbent Mayor Sam Higdon, and Danny Hester won the Mayflower mayoral race against Kaleb Posey, with Vilonia Mayor Preston Scroggin beating challenger Clint Tucker.
For Conway City Council’s Ward 3, Position 2, seat, Cindy Webb defeated Craig Conner in a close race that saw Webb take nearly 53% of the vote.
Arkansas voters rejected all four proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot.
Arkansas Issue 1 would have revised rules for calling special legislative sessions. Issue 2 revised rules for ballot initiatives and constitution amendments. Issue 3 would have added a religious freedom amendment to the state constitution, and Issue 4 would have legalized recreational marijuana in the state.