1932 Arkansas gubernatorial election

A diverse group of state and local politicians sought the nomination, with as many as ten candidates running in the early months. The broad field began to narrow a month before the August primary, with campaign rhetoric and candidate mudslinging also rising. On primary day, August 9, 1932, there was a seven-man field, with four serious candidates: Dwight H. Blackwood of Osceola, chairman of the powerful Arkansas State Highway Commission, chancery judge Junius Marion Futrell of Paragould, former governor Tom J. Terral, and circuit judge A.B. Priddy of Russellville.

• Dwight H. Blackwood, member of the Arkansas State Highway Commission, former Mississippi County Sheriff and Arkansas State Treasurer
• Junius Marion Futrell, chancery judge, former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives, acting governor for five months during 1913
• A.B. Priddy, circuit judge from Russellville, managed Brooks Hays 1928 gubernatorial campaign[6]
• Howard A. Reed, state comptroller[7]
• Tom J. Terral, former governor and Arkansas Secretary of State[8]
• Winston P. Wilson of Little Rock[9]
• Arley Woodrow of Mena[10]

Blackwood's campaign was managed by Lee Seamster, a prominent judge from Fayetteville. Futrell's campaign was managed by C.E. Johnson, a chancery judge from Texarkana, and Griffin Smith, who would become an associate justice on the Arkansas Supreme Court.

• S. Marcus Bone, circuit judge from Batesville (endorsed Terral)[11]
• Leonard D. Caudle, former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Greenwood (endorsed Terral)[12]
• C.A. Christian, doctor from Dardanelle[13]
• Dan W. Johnson, former representative from Johnson County[14]
• Richard A. Mann, circuit judge from Little Rock[15]
• Charles A. Walls, former member of the Arkansas State Senate from Lonoke[16]

• Carl E. Bailey, prosecuting attorney from Little Rock[17]
• William Lee Cazort, Parnell's first lieutenant governor, who had challenged him in the 1930 Democratic primary
• Brooks Hays, assistant Arkansas Attorney General from 1925 to 1927[18]
• Sam Rorex, of Russellville[19]
• Lee Seamster, chancery judge, former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Fayetteville[20][21] (endorsed Blackwood)[22]
• Lawrence Elery Wilson, Parnell's second lieutenant governor

Public sentiment toward the Parnell administration turned the 1932 election debate toward corruption and good government reforms. One of the main issues was corruption at the Arkansas Highway Department, which is directed by the State Highway Commission, chaired by Blackwood. Public schools were also an issue in the race.[23]

Priddy promised "a brand new deal", borrowing the term from President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal. Priddy strongly opposed Blackwood's continued service on the Highway Commission, making a campaign promise to unseat him if elected. Blackwood had "boasted" he could not be removed from the Highway Commission unless indicted. Though Priddy had never supported the Parnell administration, Priddy was known as the governor's favored choice, though he did not give an official endorsement.[24] Priddy also accused former governor Terral of aligning with Blackwood, saying "the difference would be in name only if either should be elected governor".[25] Futrell had previously served on an audit committee tasked with investigating the Highway Commission, but resigned before publishing a report. Priddy used his resignation to tar and feather Futrell, and link him to the Blackwood and Parnell as corrupt.

Futrell was a reluctant candidate, saying after winning the Democratic primary, "had no ambition to become governor and would prefer to serve out my time as chancellor among the people who know me best".[26] A planter from Paragould in Northeast Arkansas, Futrell had significant state government experience, but retained everyman credentials, nicknamed "the commoner from Paragould".[27] Futrell emphasized retrenchment and good government reforms, including proposal of a constitutional amendment to require a balanced budget.[28][29] Arkansas was facing a $15 million shortfall in 1933-1934, and the repayment of $146 million of highway bonds under the Martineau Road Law now seemed insurmountable.[30] Futrell planned to modify the funding of highways upon election to ensure a balanced budget.

The Democratic primary was a dramatic fight played out via accusations in the press, and ultimately widened major rifts in the party. Though Parnell and Blackwood were already political rivals, the battle continued to escalate. Allegations of corruption flew among several of the candidates, positing other candidates as "members of the machine" or colluding as a political "gang".[32] Parnell was initially thought to run for Senate, but declined and decided to retire from politics, but remained active in the 1932 primary. On July 24, reports emerged that Governor Parnell had switched his support from Priddy to Futrell.[33] Parnell issued a statement, saying "his only interest in the present campaign was to defeat Dwight H. Blackwood".[34] Following Futrell's win, Parnell removed Howard Reed from his state comptroller's position, allegedly for refusing to withdraw as a gubernatorial candidate. Parnell appointed Griffin Smith, manager of Futrell's campaign, to replace Reed. Four of Arkansas's constitutional officers condemned the firing in a statement, calling it "untimely to say the least".[35]

Futrell tried to strike a conciliatory tone, saying "in the discharge of my duties as governor, all bitterness of the controversy will be forgotten, and the earnest co-operation of those who opposed me, and those who supported me, is necessary".[36] He also condemned the overheated rhetoric of the campaign, saying "one thing has been definitely established: A campaign of slander and misrepresentation cannot succeed."[37]

The Democratic state convention was held September 8–10 in Hot Springs. Representative of the conservative wing having taken control of the convention, it adopted as first plank of the party platform, "drastic curtailment of government expenditures and other reforms".[38]

• Clay Faulks (Liberty and Socialist), of Mena[40]
• H.C. Coney (Communist) of England[41]