Mike Huckabee: Facts & Related Content

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Correction: Mideast Wars-Gaza Aid story • May 13, 2025, 4:06 AM ET (AP)

Mike Huckabee served as governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007. He was also known for his various media ventures, including an eponymous show that debuted on the Fox News Channel in 2008 and ran through 2015; in 2017 the show "Huckabee" returned to television, airing on the Christian-based Trinity Broadcast Network. Huckabee ran for the 2008 and 2016 Republican U.S. presidential nomination.

Facts

Also Known As	Michael Dale Huckabee
Born	August 24, 1955 (age 69) • Hope • Arkansas
Title / Office	governor (1996-2007), Arkansas
Political Affiliation	Republican Party
Notable Family Members	married to Janet (McCain) Huckabee (1974–present) • father of John Mark • father of David • father of Sarah Huckabee Sanders
Role In	United States presidential election of 2008 • United States presidential election of 2016
Education	Ouachita Baptist University (B.A., 1975) • Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.A., 1980)
Published Works	"Character Is the Issue: How People with Integrity Can Revolutionize America" (1997; with John Perry) • "The Three Cs That Made America Great: Christianity, Capitalism, and the Constitution" (2020; with Steve Feazel) • "Rare, Medium or Done Well: Make the Most of Your Life" (2018) • "From Hope to Higher Ground: 12 Stops to Restoring America’s Greatness" (2007) • "God, Guns, Grits, and Gravy" (2015) • "Can't Wait till Christmas" (2010; illustrated by Jed Henry) • "Dear Chandler, Dear Scarlett: A Grandfather's Thoughts on Faith, Family, and the Things That Matter Most" (2012) • "Quit Digging Your Grave with a Knife and Fork: A 12-Stop Program to End Bad Habits and Begin a Healthy Lifestyle" (2005) • "A Simple Government: Twelve Things We Really Need from Washington (And a Trillion That We Don't!)" (2011) • "A Simple Christmas: Twelve Stories That Celebrate the True Holiday Spirit" (2009) • "Living Beyond Your Lifetime: How to Be Intentional About the Legacy You Leave" (2000) • "Kids Who Kill: Confronting Our Culture of Violence" (1998; with Dr. George Grant) • "Do the Right Thing: Inside the Movement That’s Bringing Common Sense Back to America" (2008) • "Character Makes a Difference: Where I'm From, Where I've Been, What I Believe" (2007; with John Perry)
Twitter Handle	@GovMikeHuckabee
Instagram Username	govmikehuckabee

Did You Know?

Huckabee played bass guitar in the rock band Capitol Offense.
Huckabee was only the third Republican governor of Arkansas since Reconstruction.
Huckabee's 2005 book, "Quit Digging Your Grave with a Knife and Fork," chronicled how he managed to lose 110 pounds after learning that he had type 2 diabetes.
After receiving a master's degree from the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Huckabee became an ordained Baptist minister, and he spent the next decade as a pastor in various Arkansas churches.