The 1956 Arkansas gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 1956, to elect the Governor of Arkansas. Incumbent Democratic Governor Orval Faubus sought re-election to a second two-year term.
In the Democratic primary, held on July 31, 1956, Faubus faced challenges from former Governor Francis Cherry (whom Faubus had defeated in the 1954 primary runoff) and James D. Johnson, a state senator and segregationist activist. Faubus won the primary outright with a majority of the vote, avoiding a runoff.
In the general election, Faubus faced Republican nominee Roy Mitchell. Faubus won decisively, securing approximately 80% of the vote. This victory solidified Faubus's political standing prior to the 1957 Little Rock Crisis, which began the following year over the desegregation of Little Rock Central High School.
