| | Pryor is a native of [[Camden, Arkansas|Camden]] in Ouachita County in south Arkansas, and a lawyer who graduated from the [[University of Arkansas]] in Fayetteville. He served prior to 1966 as a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives. From 1966 to 1973, he was a member of the [[United States House of Representatives]] for Arkansas' 4th congressional district. He ran unsuccessfully for the [[United States Senate]] in the 1972 Democratic primary, having been defeated by the long-term incumbent [[John McClellan]], who was more [[conservative]] than Pryor and strongly backed by the Camden publisher [[Walter E. Hussman, Sr.]] | | Pryor is a native of [[Camden, Arkansas|Camden]] in Ouachita County in south Arkansas, and a lawyer who graduated from the [[University of Arkansas]] in Fayetteville. He served prior to 1966 as a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives. From 1966 to 1973, he was a member of the [[United States House of Representatives]] for Arkansas' 4th congressional district. He ran unsuccessfully for the [[United States Senate]] in the 1972 Democratic primary, having been defeated by the long-term incumbent [[John McClellan]], who was more [[conservative]] than Pryor and strongly backed by the Camden publisher [[Walter E. Hussman, Sr.]] |
| − | In 1974, Pryor defeated former Governor [[Orval E. Faubus]] for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination and then handily beat the [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Ken Coon]] in the [[general election]] for the right to succeed Governor [[Dale Bumpers]], who became U. S. senator after defeating [[J. William Fulbright]] in the Democratic primary. After four years as governor, Pryor was succeeded by [[Bill Clinton]]. In 1978, Pryor was handily elected to the U.S. Senate and reelected in 1984 and 1990. He declined to run again in 1996 and was succeeded by the Republican [[Tim Hutchinson]], then a U.S. representative. In 2002, Hutchinson was unseated after a single term by Pryor's son, [[Mark Pryor]], who still holds the seat. | + | In 1974, Pryor defeated former Governor [[Orval E. Faubus]] for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination and then handily beat the [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Ken Coon]] in the [[general election]] for the right to succeed Governor [[Dale Bumpers]], who became U. S. senator after defeating [[J. William Fulbright]] in the Democratic primary. After four years as governor, Pryor was succeeded by [[Bill Clinton]]. In 1978, Pryor was handily elected to the U.S. Senate and reelected in 1984 and 1990. He declined to run again in 1996 and was succeeded by the Republican [[Tim Hutchinson]], then a U.S. representative. In 2002, Hutchinson was unseated after a single term by Pryor's son, [[Mark Pryor]], who still holds the seat.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/P000556|title=Pryor, David Hampton|publisher=bioguide.congress.gov|accessdate=March 6, 2021}}</ref> |
| | From September 2008 to February 2009, Pryor was chairman of the Arkansas Democratic Party. He resides in the capital city of [[Little Rock]]. | | From September 2008 to February 2009, Pryor was chairman of the Arkansas Democratic Party. He resides in the capital city of [[Little Rock]]. |