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]
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]
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]