2010 United States Senate election in Arkansas

The 2010 United States Senate election in Arkansas took place on November 2, 2010 alongside other elections to the United States Senate in other states, as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

Incumbent Democratic Senator Blanche Lincoln ran for re-election to a third term, facing a strong primary challenge from Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter and prevailing only in a runoff. However, the general election was won by U.S. Representative John Boozman, the younger brother of Fay Boozman whom Lincoln defeated in 1998. Boozman became the first Republican since Reconstruction in 1872 to win this seat. Lincoln's 21% margin of defeat was the largest for a sitting senator in 32 years.

Democratic primary
The Democratic primary was held on May 18, 2010, with early voting from May 3 to 17. Lincoln was challenged by Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter, who ran as a more liberal alternative. As no candidate received 50 percent of the vote, a runoff election was held on June 8, with early voting from June 1 to 7. Lincoln managed to narrowly defeat Halter in the runoff.

MoveOn.org supported Halter, criticizing Lincoln for her stance on issues such as health care and environmental regulations. Labor unions also backed Halter, and pledged to spend more than $3 million on his campaign.

Nominee

 * Blanche Lincoln, incumbent U.S. Senator

Eliminated in runoff

 * Bill Halter, incumbent Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas

Eliminated in primary

 * D.C. Morrison, businessman

Withdrew Before Primary

 * Drew Pritt, activist and 2006 candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas

Results
[[File:Arkansas Senate Democratic primary, 2010.svg|200px|thumb|Results by county: Lincoln

{{legend|#4389e3|Lincoln—60-70%}}

{{legend|#86b6f2|Lincoln—50-60%}}

{{legend|#b9d7ff|Lincoln—40-50%}} Halter

{{legend|#ffb380|Halter—40-50%}}

{{legend|#ff9955|Halter—50-60%}}

{{legend|#ff7f2a|Halter—60-70%}} ]]

Results
[[File:Arkansas Senate Democratic primary runoff, 2010.svg|thumb|200px|Runoff results by county: Lincoln

{{legend|#1666cb|Lincoln—70-80%}}

{{legend|#4389e3|Lincoln—60-70%}}

{{legend|#86b6f2|Lincoln—50-60%}} Halter

{{legend|#ff9955|Halter—50-60%}}

{{legend|#ff7f2a|Halter—60-70%}}

{{legend|#ff6600|Halter—70-80%}} ]]

Republican primary
The Republican primary was held on May 18, 2010, with early voting from May 3–17.

Nominee

 * John Boozman, optometrist and U.S. Representative for Arkansas's 3rd congressional district

Eliminated in primary

 * Randy Alexander, University of Arkansas Housing Director and vice chair of the Washington County Tea Party
 * Gilbert Baker, state senator
 * Curtis Coleman, businessman
 * Kim Hendren, minority leader of the Arkansas Senate
 * Jim Holt, former state senator, nominee for this U.S. Senate seat in 2004, and nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas in 2006
 * Fred Ramey, real estate investment company owner
 * Conrad Reynolds, retired U.S. Army colonel

Straw poll
In December 2009, a straw poll was held for the current Republican candidates for U.S. Senate. The results were as follows:


 * 1) Gilbert Baker – 35%
 * 2) Curtis Coleman – 33%
 * 3) Conrad Reynolds – 23%
 * 4) Tom Cox – 4%
 * 5) Kim Hendren – 2%
 * 6) Fred Ramey – 2%
 * 7) Buddy Rogers – 1%

Results
[[File:Arkansas Senate Republican primary, 2010.svg|thumb|200px|Results by county: Boozman

{{legend|#aa0000|Boozman—80-90%}}

{{legend|#d40000|Boozman—70-80%}}

{{legend|#cc2f4a|Boozman—60-70%}}

{{legend|#e27f90|Boozman—50-60%}}

{{legend|#f2b3be|Boozman—40-50%}}

{{legend|#ffccd0|Boozman—30-40%}} Holt

{{legend|#ffccaa|Holt—30-40%}}

{{legend|#ffb380|Holt—40-50%}} Boozman/Holt tie

{{legend|#d2b1d9|Boozman/Holt tie—20-30%}} Baker

{{legend|#afe9af|Baker—30-40%}}

{{legend|#5fd35f|Baker—50-60%}} ]]

Candidates

 * John Boozman, U.S. representative
 * Blanche Lincoln, incumbent senator
 * Trevor Drown (L), military veteran
 * John Gray (G), Mayor of Greenland

Campaign
Arkansas had previously only elected one Republican senator since the Reconstruction, Tim Hutchinson who was defeated after his first term in 2002 by Mark Pryor. Lincoln faced Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter and narrowly won the primary contest.

The political blog FiveThirtyEight ranked Lincoln the most vulnerable senator of this electoral cycle. RealClearPolitics claimed that in 2010 Lincoln had the potential for the lowest percentage of the vote for any incumbent since the nation first began directly electing senators. Boozman received 58% of the vote in the general election and defeated Lincoln (37%), Independent Trevor Drown (3%) and Green John Gray (2%).

Lincoln heavily criticized Boozman for supporting the FairTax and privatization of Social Security. She released an advertisement touting her support for earmarks.

Polling

 * with Bill Halter

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

 * Bradley (Largest city: Warren)
 * Calhoun (Largest city: Hampton)
 * Cleveland (Largest city: Rison)
 * Columbia (Largest city: Magnolia)
 * Conway (Largest city: Morrilton)
 * Faulkner (Largest city: Conway)
 * Franklin (Largest city: Ozark)
 * Fulton (Largest city: Salem)
 * Garland (Largest city: Hot Springs)
 * Grant (Largest city: Sheridan)
 * Howard (Largest city: Nashville)
 * Independence (Largest city: Batesville)
 * Johnson (Largest city: Clarksville)
 * Logan (Largest city: Booneville)
 * Miller (Largest city: Texarkana)
 * Perry (Largest city: Perryville)
 * Prairie (Largest city: Des Arc)
 * Sevier (Largest city: De Queen)
 * Sharp (Largest city: Cherokee Village)
 * Union (Largest city: El Dorado)
 * Van Buren (Largest city: Clinton)
 * Washington (Largest city: Fayetteville)
 * Yell (Largest city: Dardanelle)
 * Ashley (Largest city: Crossett)
 * Craighead (Largest city: Jonesboro)
 * Cross (Largest city: Wynne)
 * Dallas (Largest city: Fordyce)
 * Drew (Largest city: Monticello)
 * Greene (Largest city: Paragould)
 * Hot Spring (Largest city: Malvern)
 * Izard (Largest city: Horseshoe Bend)
 * Lafayette (Largest city: Stamps)
 * Nevada (Largest city: Prescott)
 * Ouachita (Largest city: Camden)
 * Bradley (largest city: Warren)
 * Clay (largest city: Piggott)
 * Hempstead (largest city: Hope)
 * Little River (largest city: Ashdown)
 * Poinsett (largest city: Harrisburg)