1986 Arkansas gubernatorial election

The Arkansas gubernatorial election of 1986 was conducted on November 4, 1986, to elect the Governor of Arkansas.

1986 Arkansas gubernatorial election

November 4, 1986

Nominee Bill Clinton Frank D. White Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 439,802 248,427 Percentage 63.9% 36.1%

County Results Clinton:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% White:      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election Bill Clinton Democratic Elected Governor Bill Clinton Democratic

Elections in Arkansas
Federal government Presidential elections 1836 1840 1844 1848 1852 1856 1860 1868 1872 1876 1880 1884 1888 1892 1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 Presidential primaries Democratic 2008 2016 2020 Republican 2008 2012 2020 U.S. Senate elections 1968 1972 1974 1978 1980 1984 1986 1990 1992 1996 1998 2002 2004 2008 2010 2014 2016 2020 U.S. House elections 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 Special elections Senate, 1937 3rd District, 2001
State government Gubernatorial elections 1912 1913 1930 1932 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 State elections 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2018
Ballot measures 2004 Constitutional Amendment 3 2008 Proposed Initiative Act No. 1 2018 Issue 5
Little Rock Mayoral elections 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018

Incumbent Democratic Governor Bill Clinton stood for re-election. He had been elected in 1982 and re-elected in 1984, and sought a third consecutive term and fourth overall (Clinton had been first elected in 1978). His opponent was former Republican Governor Frank D. White, who was seeking to return to the office he had defeated Clinton for in the 1980 election.

After Amendment 63 to the Arkansas state constitution took effect, the term for all Arkansas governors was extended from two years to four. The 1986 election was the first to take place since then, meaning whoever managed to win would become the first elected to a four-year term as Governor of Arkansas.