Chancery judge Junius Marion Futrell won a seven-candidate primary, and was nominated by the party despite insisting he did not want the position.

By February 1933, the situation had devolved so far, the Arkansas House of Representatives adopted a resolution describing the Parnell administration as "the most corrupt since the days of reconstruction and the most extravagant and wasteful in the history of the state".

The broad field began to narrow a month before the August primary, with campaign rhetoric and candidate mudslinging also rising.

Priddy strongly opposed Blackwood's continued service on the Highway Commission, making a campaign promise to unseat him if elected.

Futrell was a reluctant candidate, saying after winning the Democratic primary, "had no ambition to become governor and would prefer to serve out my time as chancellor among the people who know me best".

[27] Futrell emphasized retrenchment and good government reforms, including proposal of a constitutional amendment to require a balanced budget.

The Democratic primary was a dramatic fight played out via accusations in the press, and ultimately widened major rifts in the party.

[32] Parnell was initially thought to run for Senate, but declined and decided to retire from politics, but remained active in the 1932 primary.

[34] Following Futrell's win, Parnell removed Howard Reed from his state comptroller's position, allegedly for refusing to withdraw as a gubernatorial candidate.

[35] Futrell tried to strike a conciliatory tone, saying "in the discharge of my duties as governor, all bitterness of the controversy will be forgotten, and the earnest co-operation of those who opposed me, and those who supported me, is necessary".

Representative of the conservative wing having taken control of the convention, it adopted as first plank of the party platform, "drastic curtailment of government expenditures and other reforms".

Turnout was expected to be high, mostly due to five constitutional amendments and three initiated acts listed on the November 1932 ballot, all of which were defeated at the polls.