Jim Guy Tucker - Political Career

Political Career

Tucker was elected Arkansas Attorney General in November 1972. He easily defeated the Republican nominee Edwin Bethune, then of Searcy in White County, and later Tucker's successor as U.S. Representative from the Little Rock-based Arkansas's 2nd congressional district.

Tucker served two two-year terms as attorney general, 1973–1977. He was a delegate to the 1972 Democratic National Convention. Running from his post as attorney general, Tucker was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-fifth Congress and served one term, January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1979.

He relinquished the seat to wage an unsuccessful campaign for the United States Senate in 1978. He was defeated by the sitting governor, David Pryor. In the same election, Bill Clinton, who had replaced Tucker in 1977 as attorney general, was elected governor.

Tucker resumed his law practice. A consistent intra-party rival of Clinton, he was defeated by Clinton when both sought the Democratic nomination for governor in 1982 following Clinton's defeat by Republican Frank White in 1980. Eight years later, Tucker announced his intention to run for the governor's office again against Clinton, who was seeking a fifth term. However, he withdrew from the gubernatorial primary and ran instead for the post of Lieutenant Governor.

He recognized that Clinton had his eyes on the presidency and might not serve a full term. He succeeded to the governorship upon Clinton's resignation on December 12, 1992. Tucker won election in 1994 against the Republican Sheffield Nelson to a four year term as Governor and was sworn-in to a full four-year term on January 10, 1995.