The 1864 Arkansas gubernatorial Union election was held on March 14, 1864, in order to elect the
Governor of Arkansas.
Independent nominee and
incumbent Provisional Governor
Isaac Murphy won the election as he ran unopposed.[1]
Civil War
Following the fall of
Little Rock to Union forces on September 10, 1863,
Confederate Governor
Harris Flanagin established a
Government in exile at
Washington, Arkansas. Meanwhile, the occupation authorities of the
Union Army, consisting of the Unionist constitutional convention, appointed former member of the
Arkansas SenateIsaac Murphy as the Provisional Governor of Arkansas on January 20, 1864. However, Murphy refused to exercise his power as Governor, until the constitution was ratified and he was elected by popular vote. The popular vote election was held on March 14, 1864, with the approval of
PresidentLincoln.[2]
General election
On election day, March 14, 1864,
Independent nominee
Isaac Murphy won the election unopposed with 12,418 votes, thereby retaining Independent control over the office of Governor. Murphy was sworn in for his first elected term on April 18, 1864.[3]