1860 Arkansas gubernatorial election

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Candidate Henry Rector Richard H. Johnson Party Independent Democrat Democratic Popular vote 32,048 28,969 Percentage 52.32% 47.29%

Rector:     50%-60%     60%-70%     70%-80%     80%-90%     90%-100% Johnson:     40%-50%     50%-60%     60%-70%     70%-80%

Governor before election Elias Nelson Conway Democratic Elected Governor Henry Massey Rector Independent Democrat

Elections in Arkansas
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Ballot measures 1990 Amendment 3 2000 Amendment 80 2004 Amendment 3 2008 Act 1 2012 Issue 1 2018 Issue 5
Little Rock Mayoral elections 1994 1998 2002 2006 2010 2014 2018 2022
Fayetteville Mayoral elections 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024
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Springdale Mayoral elections 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024
Jonesboro Mayoral elections 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024
Rogers Mayoral elections 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024
Conway Mayoral elections 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024
v t e

The1860 Arkansas gubernatorial election was held on 6 August 1860, in order to elect theGovernor of Arkansas.

Incumbent two-term governorElias Conway, member of the powerfulConway-Johnson family (known as "The Family") which had controlled Arkansas politics since creation ofArkansaw Territory, decided to retire from politics. His chosen successor, Richard H. Johnson, won aDemocratic nomination heavily influenced by The Family. But Conway's first cousin and formerAssociate Justice of the Arkansas Supreme CourtHenry Rector challenged Johnson as anIndependent Democrat and an "outsider" to the Family.^[1] Though the candidates largely agreed on the issues, Johnson's defeat signaled the end of Family control of state politics.

The Democratic Party of Arkansas was controlled by the Conway-Johnson family, which had dominated antebellum politics in the state. A state convention in theArkansas House of Representatives began April 2, 1860. After five days of heated debate, Richard H. Johnson was nominated. Johnson was editor of theTrue Democrat newspaper, which had supported the Conway administration. Johnson also had the support of his elder brother,Robert W. Johnson, who Conway had appointed asUnited States Senator in 1855. Opponents resented the perpetuation of the Conway-Johnson dynasty.^[2]

On April 30, the American Party (successors to theKnow Nothing movement), as well as a remaining group ofWhigs met inHelena, Arkansas. The group passed resolutions opposing secession, endorsing the nominees to be announced at the1860 Constitutional Union Convention, and nominating Thomas Hubbard, circuit court judge from Hempstead County, as the party's candidate for governor. Given the division created at the Democratic convention, many were optimistic about Hubbard's chances.^[2]

Thomas C. Hindman,United States Representative from theArkansas 1st and an opponent of the Family, urged Rector to enter the race. In May 1860,associate justice of theArkansas Supreme CourtHenry Rector resigned his seat on the court to run for governor. Despite being a first cousin the incumbent governor Conway, Rector was viewed as an outsider to the Family.

Hindman committed his political operation to assist Rector, including newspapers and voting turnout organization, and giving speeches.^[3]

The election was described as "fratricidal war". Hindman's machine painted Rector, an aristocratic lawyer and planter, as the friend of thecommon man, usurping the position the Family had successfully adopted sinceAndrew Jackson andJacksonian democracy. Campaign events and debates across the state provided a lively campaign to a voting public accustomed to the Family dictating winners.^[4] Hubbard was often left out of the debates.^[2] Johnson was a poor speaker, and there was little daylight between the candidates on the issues. Instead, the campaign was largely focused on personalities, the Family's highhanded selection of Johnson, and mudslinging. Both candidates agreed on Southern rights and the expansion of slavery into new territories, and both left Arkansas's secession from the United States on the table if necessary.^[4]

The election took place on August 6, 1860, but it took two weeks to tabulate the final results.^[5]Independent Democratic candidateHenry Massey Rector won the election by a margin of 3,079 votes against his opponentDemocratic nominee Richard H. Johnson, thereby gaining Independent Democratic control over the office of Governor. Rector was sworn in as the 6th Governor ofArkansas on 15 November 1860.^[6] The election marked the beginning of the end of Family influence in Arkansas politics.^[5]

• Herndon, Dallas T. (1947).Annals of Arkansas. Vol. 1–4. Hopkinsville, Kentucky: The Historical Record Association.ISBN 978-1-56546-450-6.LCCN 48002456.OCLC 3920841.{{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)

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