| Election Name: | 1938 Arkansas gubernatorial election |
| Country: | Arkansas |
| Type: | Presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 1936 Arkansas gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 1936 |
| Next Election: | 1940 Arkansas gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 1940 |
| Election Date: | 8 November 1938 |
| Nominee1: | Carl E. Bailey |
| Party1: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 118,696 |
| Percentage1: | 86.32% |
| Nominee2: | Charles F. Cole |
| Party2: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 12,077 |
| Percentage2: | 8.78% |
| Map Size: | 200px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Carl E. Bailey |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Carl E. Bailey |
| After Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
The 1938 Arkansas gubernatorial election was held on 8 November 1938, in order to elect the Governor of Arkansas. Incumbent Democratic Governor of Arkansas Carl E. Bailey defeated Republican nominee Charles F. Cole.[1]
The Democratic primary election was held on 9 August 1938. As Carl E. Bailey received a majority of the votes (51.47%), a run-off was unnecessary.
After his primary loss, Walter S. McNutt ran in the general election as an independent.
On election day, 8 November 1938, Democratic nominee Carl E. Bailey won re-election by a margin of 106,619 votes against his foremost opponent Republican nominee Charles F. Cole, thereby retaining Democratic control over the office of Governor. Bailey was sworn in for his second term on 14 January 1939.[2]