# Who is the governor of Arkansas?

*Sanders was inaugurated on January 10, 2023, and is the first woman to hold the office, according to the governor's office.*

- Type: Explainer
- Section: Politics
- By: Politics Desk
- Published: 2026-11-12T02:11:00-05:00
- Updated: 2026-11-12T02:11:00-05:00
- URL: https://factsdesk.com/politics/who-is-the-governor-of-arkansas/

## Key facts

- Sarah Huckabee Sanders is the governor of Arkansas, the 47th Governor of Arkansas. Source: [Office of the Governor of Arkansas](https://governor.arkansas.gov/). Confirmed 2026-11-12T02:04:00-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/politics/who-is-the-governor-of-arkansas/#sarah-huckabee-sanders-is-the-governor-of-arkansas-the-47th
- Sanders was inaugurated as governor on January 10, 2023. Source: [Office of the Governor of Arkansas](https://governor.arkansas.gov/administration/governor-sanders/). Confirmed 2026-11-12T02:05:00-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/politics/who-is-the-governor-of-arkansas/#sanders-was-inaugurated-as-governor-on-january-10-2023
- She is the first woman to serve as governor of Arkansas, according to the governor's office. Source: [Office of the Governor of Arkansas](https://governor.arkansas.gov/administration/governor-sanders/). Confirmed 2026-11-12T02:05:00-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/politics/who-is-the-governor-of-arkansas/#she-is-the-first-woman-to-serve-as-governor-of-arkansas
- Before she was governor, Sanders was White House press secretary for President Donald Trump from 2017 to 2019. Source: [Office of the Governor of Arkansas](https://governor.arkansas.gov/administration/governor-sanders/). Confirmed 2026-11-12T02:05:00-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/politics/who-is-the-governor-of-arkansas/#before-she-was-governor-sanders-was-white-house-press
- The Arkansas Secretary of State's 2026 election calendar set the state's general election for November 3, 2026. Source: [Arkansas Secretary of State](https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/uploads/elections/2026_Election_Calendar_Rev._6-2025_.pdf). Confirmed 2026-11-12T02:10:00-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/politics/who-is-the-governor-of-arkansas/#the-arkansas-secretary-of-state-s-2026-election-calendar-set

Sarah Huckabee Sanders is the governor of Arkansas. The [governor's office](https://governor.arkansas.gov/) identifies her as the state's 47th governor, and her [official biography](https://governor.arkansas.gov/administration/governor-sanders/) says she was inaugurated on January 10, 2023.

## The 2026 election

Arkansas held its general election on November 3, 2026, the date set in the Secretary of State's [2026 election calendar](https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/uploads/elections/2026_Election_Calendar_Rev._6-2025_.pdf). The Arkansas Secretary of State's [election results page](https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/research/election-results) links to the vote counts under the label "2026 General Election & Judicial Runoff".

## Key facts about the governor

| Fact | Detail |
| --- | --- |
| Governor | Sarah Huckabee Sanders |
| Number | 47th governor of Arkansas |
| Inaugurated | January 10, 2023 |

All three details come from the [governor's official biography](https://governor.arkansas.gov/administration/governor-sanders/).

## Who Sarah Huckabee Sanders is

Sanders is the first woman to serve as governor of Arkansas, according to her [official biography](https://governor.arkansas.gov/administration/governor-sanders/). Her father, Mike Huckabee, is a former governor of the state.

The biography lists her earlier work in politics and government:

- She was White House press secretary for President Donald Trump from 2017 to 2019.
- She joined the Trump campaign as a senior advisor in February 2016.
- She was a senior advisor to Sen. Tom Cotton's 2014 campaign and the campaign manager for Sen. John Boozman's 2010 campaign.
- She worked in the Department of Education under President George W. Bush.

The same page says she grew up in Pine Bluff and Texarkana and graduated from Little Rock Central High and Ouachita Baptist University. She lives in Little Rock with her husband, Bryan, and their three children.

## Sources

1. [Home Page - Arkansas Governor - Sarah Huckabee Sanders](https://governor.arkansas.gov/), Office of the Governor of Arkansas, 2026-11-12 (primary source)
2. [The Governor](https://governor.arkansas.gov/administration/governor-sanders/), Office of the Governor of Arkansas, 2026-11-12 (primary source)
3. [2026 Election Dates](https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/uploads/elections/2026_Election_Calendar_Rev._6-2025_.pdf), Arkansas Secretary of State, 2026-11-12 (primary source)
4. [Election Results](https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/research/election-results), Arkansas Secretary of State, 2026-11-12 (primary source)