1932 Arkansas elections

Arkansas held a general election on November 8, 1932. At the top of the ticket, Franklin D. Roosevelt won the state handily in his successful bid to become the 32nd President of the United States. Arkansans elected Hattie Caraway to the United States Senate, the first woman elected to a full term in history. For the United States House of Representatives, Bill Cravens, a former Representative from 1907 to 1913, returned to politics and defeated a wide field in the Arkansas 4th. Tilman Parks defeated several challengers to retain the Arkansas 7th. All of Arkansas's statewide constitutional offices were up for reelection, including governor. Incumbent Harvey Parnell declined to run for reelection, and was supplanted by Junius Marion Futrell.

During the Solid South, the Democratic Party held firm control of virtually every office in The South, including Arkansas. Winning the Democratic primary was considered tantamount to election, with several different factions of the party battling in the open primaries. The election was held a few years into the Great Depression, and Americans and Arkansans battling steep unemployment and poverty sought politicians and policies to remedy the economic malaise.

Though the state elected big government-liberal Franklin Roosevelt, Futrell represented a realignment toward severe cuts and retrenchment in the governor's mansion. Conservative, small-government Democrats also took state senate and state representative positions across Arkansas. Though 1932 is considered a realignment election nationally toward Democrats and larger government, in Arkansas, Futrell was the most conservative governor elected in decades, marking a shift from Progressive Era-type politicians in Arkansas.

President

Roosevelt defeated Herbert Hoover by an 85.96% to 12.91% margin in Arkansas, earning the state's nine electoral votes. His New Deal was very popular in the state, which was struggling with high unemployment and poor prospects for agriculture, which represented most of Arkansas's economy.

Federal

United States Senate

Thaddeus H. Caraway held Arkansas's Class III senate from 1920 until his death on November 6, 1931. Per the custom at the time, his wife Hattie Caraway was appointed to serve the remainder of his term. Though she faced several primary challengers, Caraway became the first woman to be elected to a full term in the Senate in November 1932 by an 89.5% to 10.5% margin over John W. White, the Republican.

Caraway defeated Vincent Miles, O. L. Bodenhamer, William G. Hutton, William F. Kirby, Melbourne Martin, and Charles Brough.

United States House

State

Governor

Lieutenant governor

Incumbent lieutenant governor Lawrence Wilson faced a six-way primary battle for reelection. Though Democratic voters had historically given two two-year terms to faithful politicians, Wilson had become embroiled in scandals after pardoning his brother from a ten-year prison sentence while serving as acting governor, and in his capacity to dissolve three insolvent banks in his home county.

Candidates in the Democratic primary were Lieutenant Governor Wilson, Lee Cazort, Paul Grabiel, Freed Hutto, Joe W. Kimysey, R.F. Milwee, and J. Rosser Venable.^[1]

Constitutional offices

Attorney general

Hal L. Norwood won reelection as Arkansas Attorney General. He was challenged in the Democratic primary by Hal C. Norwood, Boyd Cypert, John C. Sheffield, and J.G. Ragsdale.^[1]

Secretary of State

Ed F. McDonald won reelection as Arkansas Secretary of State unopposed.

Auditor

J. Oscar Humphrey won reelection as Arkansas State Auditor. He was challenged in the Democratic primary by Roy H. Hand and Charlie Parker.^[1]

Treasurer

Roy V. Leonard won reelection as Arkansas State Treasurer unopposed.

State Land Commissioner

A new Arkansas State Land Commissioner was elected in 1932. The incumbent, Belva Martin, elected not to pursue reelection. Three men sought the Democratic nomination: William L. DeCamp of Little Rock, George W. Neal of Murfreesboro, and Ed P. Rosser of Russellville.^[2]

George W. Neal ultimately won election.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Staff of the Harrison Daily Times (July 16, 1932). "Primary List is Certified by Committee". Harrison Daily Times. Vol. 13, no. 245. Harrison: The Times Publishing Company. p. 1. OCLC 18545584 – via NewspaperARCHIVE.
^ Staff of the Associated Press (April 11, 1932). "State Political Notes". Hope Star. Vol. 88, no. 171. Hope: Star Publishing Company. p. 1. OCLC 23187909 – via NewspaperARCHIVE.

[pri-1] Staff of the Harrison Daily Times (July 16, 1932). "Primary List is Certified by Committee". Harrison Daily Times. Vol. 13, no. 245. Harrison: The Times Publishing Company. p. 1. OCLC 18545584 – via NewspaperARCHIVE.

[2] Staff of the Associated Press (April 11, 1932). "State Political Notes". Hope Star. Vol. 88, no. 171. Hope: Star Publishing Company. p. 1. OCLC 23187909 – via NewspaperARCHIVE.

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v t e Elections in Arkansas
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Governor	1836 1840 1844 1848 1849 S 1852 1856 1860 1862 1864 U 1868 1872 1874 1876 1878 1880 1882 1884 1886 1888 1890 1892 1894 1896 1898 1900 1902 1904 1906 1908 1910 1912 1913 S 1914 1916 1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1990 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
U.S. President	1836 1840 1844 1848 1852 1856 1860 1864 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
U.S. Senate	Class 2: 1833 1839–40 1848 S 1853 1859 1868 S 1870 1876 1883 1885 S 1889 1895 1901 1907 1913 S 1913 1918 1924 1930 1936 1937 S 1942 1948 1954 1960 1966 1972 1978 1984 1990 1996 2002 2008 2014 2020 Class 3: 1837 1843 1845 S 1849 1855 1861 1867 1873 1879 1881 S 1885 1891 1897 1903 1909 1914 1916 S 1920 1926 1932 S 1932 1938 1944 1950 1956 1962 1968 1974 1980 1986 1992 1998 2004 2010 2016 2022
U.S. House	1837 1838 1840 1842 1844 1846 1848 1851 1853 1854 1856 1858 1860 1868 1870 1872 1874 1876 1878 1880 1882 1884 1886 1888 1890 1892 1894 1896 1898 1900 1902 1904 1906 1908 1910 1912 1914 1916 1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934 1936 1938 1940 (4th S) 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 (6th S) 1962 1964 1966 (4th S) 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022
'S,' denotes special election; 'U,' denotes election under Federal (Union) military occupation See also: Political party strength in Arkansas