ARKANSAS
      Nov. 8, 2022 Governor

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+Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R)
571,105
 		62.96%
Chris Jones (D)
 		319,242
 		35.20%
Ricky Dale Harrington, Jr. (L) 16,690
 		1.84%
 
907,037
  
Registration: 1,799,136.  Total ballots cast: 914,227.
Plurality: 251,863 votes (27.77 percentage points)
 AR Secretary of State



Notes:  Gov. Asa Hutchinson was term-limited.  Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R), who served as White House press secretary from 2017 to 2019 and is the daughter of former Gov. Mike Huckabee, defeated Chris Jones (D), an engineer, minister, and former non-profit leader, and Ricky Dale Harrington, Jr. (L), who was the Libertarian nominee for U.S. Senate in 2020 (1, 2).   

Among her key policies, Sanders called for phasing out the state income tax.  Jones advocated a "PB&J" agenda or pre-school, broadband and jobs.  In September, Sanders was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and on Sept. 16 she underwent surgery to remove her thyroid and surrounding lymph nodes; she declared herself cancer-free and returned to the campaign trail.  Sanders, Jones and Harrington debated on Arkansas PBS on Oct. 21.  Jones wrapped up his campaign with an eight-day "Every Last Street" GOTV tour. 

Sanders' general election campaign reported $9.3 million in total contributions including $4.3 million transferred over from her primary campaign; the campaign spent $5.2 million and finished with $4.0 million in cash on hand (>).  Jones general election campaign reported $1.9 million in total contributions including $69,000 transferred over from his primary campaign; the campaign spent $1.8 million (>).

Sanders is the first woman elected governor of Arkansas, and will become the youngest governor in the country at just 40 years old.

May 24 Primaries
Sanders, who announced her candidacy on Jan. 24, 2021 (>), built a formidable campaign.  On Nov. 18 she received the endorsements of 101 Arkansas Republican state legislators (all 26 Senators and 75 House members), and in Jan. 2022 she announced over $12.8 million raised and $7 million in cash on hand.  She easily won the May 24 Republican primary with 83.1% of the vote, defeating former talk radio host Doc Washburn. 

In the Democratic primary, Jones entered the race on June 15, 2021 (>).  He ran an energetic primary campaign, visiting all 75 counties on a "Promise of Arkansas" tour during the month of February.  On May 24 he topped the field of five candidates with 70.5% of the vote.  Pivoting to the general election,  Jones launched a second tour of all 75 counties, the "Walk A Mile In Your Shoes" tour on June 1.
 

 Campaign Managers:
Sarah Huckabee Sanders:  Chris Caldwell
(Feb. 2021).  Member of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council, Apr. 2019-Jan. 2021, and federal co-chairman of the Delta Regional Authority, Jan. 2018-Jan. 2021.  Senior project director for Sen. John Boozman, Jan. 2011-Dec. 2017.  Campaign manager on Boozman for Arkansas, June 2015-Dec. 2016. Political director on Boozman for Arkansas, Feb.-Dec. 2010 (SHS was campaign manager).  South Carolina state director on Huckabee for President, July 2007-Aug. 2008.  Sales manager at Owens Murphy in Little Rock, 2004-07.  Sales rep. for Landers CDJR, 2003-04.  Field representative on Hutchison for U.S. Senate, 2002.  Bachelor's degree in communication from University of Arkansas, 2001.

Chris Jones:  Rhonna-Rose Akama-Makia
(June 2021)  Director of engagement (from June 2021) and senior advisor (Jan.-June 2021) at Think Rubix.  Campaign manager on Jana Sanchez for Texas, Feb.-May 2021.  Campaign manager (Mar.-Nov. 2020) and communications director (Dec. 2019-Mar. 2020) on Joyce Elliott for Congress (AR); also campaign manager (Jan.-Mar. 2020) and communications director (Oct.-Dec. 2019) on Ryan Davis for AR HD 34.  Human resources director (June 2017-Feb. 2020) and statewide outreach director (June 2016-June 2017) for Arkansas Community Foundation.  Program director for Just Communities of Arkansas, June 2010-June 2016.  Studied at Hendrix College.  Little Rock native, second-generation African immigrant.



See also:
Michael R. Wickline.  "Candidates for Arkansas Governor offer vastly different visions, experience."  Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Oct. 16, 2022.

Antoinette Grajeda.  "ON THE TRAIL: Chris Jones takes walking shoes, 'PB&J' across Arkansas."  Arkansas Advocate, Sept. 22, 2022.

Hunter Field.  "ON THE TRAIL: Sarah Huckabee Sanders brings anti-'radical left' message, celebrity."  Arkansas Advocate, Sept. 12, 2022.

Lisa Hammersly.  "Cash disparity an ominous sign for Jones' race."  Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Sept. 4, 2022.








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