2006 Arkansas gubernatorial election

The 2006 Arkansas gubernatorial election took place on Tuesday, November 7, 2006. Incumbent Republican governor Mike Huckabee was barred from seeking candidacy due to term limits set by the State Constitution in 1998, stating that the governor may only serve two terms in their lifetime. Democratic State Attorney General Mike Beebe, defeated Republican former U.S. representative Asa Hutchinson by a wide margin. This was the first open seat election since 1978. Hutchinson later served as Arkansas’ Governor from 2015 to 2023.

Democratic primary

Nominee

Mike Beebe, Arkansas Attorney General

Republican primary

Candidates

Asa Hutchinson, former administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, former U.S. representative from Arkansas's 3rd congressional district

Withdrew

Winthrop Paul Rockefeller, Lieutenant Governor

Independents

Declared

Rod Bryan, bass player for Ho-Hum and owner of Anthro-Pop Records

General election

Results

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic