Arkansas elections, 2014

A general election was held in the U.S. state of Arkansas on November 4, 2014. All of Arkansas' executive officers were up for election as well as a United States Senate seat, and all of Arkansas' four seats in the United States House of Representatives. Primary elections were held on May 20, 2014 for offices that need to nominate candidates. Primary runoffs, necessary if no candidate wins a majority of the vote, were held on June 10, 2014.

Governor

Incumbent Democratic Governor Mike Beebe was term-limited and could not run for re-election to a third term as Governor.

Democratic nominee former U.S. Representative Mike Ross, Republican nominee former U.S Representative Asa Hutchinson, Green nominee Josh Drake[1] and Libertarian nominee Frank Gilbert[1] contested in the general election.

Results

Arkansas gubernatorial election, 2014[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Asa Hutchinson 470,429 55.44
Democratic Mike Ross 352,115 41.49
Libertarian Frank Gilbert 16,319 1.92
Green Josh Drake 9,729 1.15
Majority 118,314 13.94%
Total votes 848,592 100
Republican gain from Democratic

Lieutenant Governor

The office of Lieutenant Governor has been vacant since Republican Mark Darr resigned on February 1, 2014, under investigation for ethics violations involving illegal use of campaign funds. In Arkansas, the Governor and Lieutenant Governor are elected separately.

Republican primary

U.S. Representative Tim Griffin,[3] State Representative Debra Hobbs[4] and State Representative Andy Mayberry ran for the Republican nomination.[5] State Representative Charlie Collins had been in the race, but he withdrew after Griffin's entry.[6]

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Tim
Griffin
Debra
Hobbs
Andy
Mayberry
Undecided
Talk Business/Hendrix College April 29, 2014 1,516 ± 2.5% 53.5% 6% 14.5% 26%
Public Policy Polling April 25–27, 2014 342 ± 5.3% 39% 8% 19% 34%
Republican primary results[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tim Griffin 109,851 63.37
Republican Andy Mayberry 35,703 20.6
Republican Debra Hobbs 27,803 16.04
Total votes 173,357 100

Former State Highway Commissioner John Burkhalter ran for the Democrats.[8] Little Rock School Board President Dianne Curry had been running, but she withdrew from the race.[9]

Libertarian Chris Olson also ran.[1]

General election
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Tim
Griffin (R)
John
Burkhalter (D)
Christopher
Olson (L)
Undecided
Public Policy Polling October 30–November 1, 2014 1,092 ± 3% 46% 38% 6% 11%
Suffolk September 20–23, 2014 500 ± 4.4% 35.4% 41.6% 4.8% 18.2%
Public Policy Polling September 18–21, 2014 1,453 ± 2.6% 42% 36% 4% 18%
Public Policy Polling August 1–3, 2014 1,066 ± 3% 41% 32% 6% 21%
Public Policy Polling April 25–27, 2014 840 ± 3.4% 39% 30% 31%
Arkansas lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2014[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tim Griffin 479,673 57.16
Democratic John Burkhalter 324,260 38.64
Libertarian Christopher Olson 35,257 4.2
Majority 155,413 18.52%
Total votes 839,190 100
Republican hold

Attorney General

Incumbent Democratic Attorney General Dustin McDaniel was term-limited and could not run for re-election to a third term in office.

State Representative Nate Steel ran for the Democrats. Attorney Zac White, who had considered running, endorsed Steel and instead ran for the State Senate.[11]

Republican primary

Three attorneys sought the Republican nomination: Patricia Nation,[12] Leslie Rutledge[13] and David Sterling.[14] State Representative Matthew Shepherd, Faulkner County prosecuter Cody Hiland and Marvin Childers, a former State Representative and President of the lobbying group The Poultry Federation, had considered running, but decided against it.[15][16]

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Patricia
Nation
Leslie
Rutledge
David
Sterling
Undecided
Talk Business/Hendrix College April 29, 2014 1,516 ± 2.5% 10% 9% 21% 60%
Republican primary results[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Leslie Rutledge 79,347 47.21
Republican David Sterling 65,733 39.11
Republican Patricia Nation 22,986 13.68
Total votes 168,066 100

Since no candidate won a majority, Rutledge and Sterling contested a runoff,[17] which was characterised as a "full-fledged street brawl." Outside groups spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on attack ads and both candidates "question[ed] each others' conservative credentials and political experience." Nation endorsed Rutledge, who handily defeated Sterling.[18]

Republican primary runoff results[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Leslie Rutledge 43,898 58.89
Republican David Sterling 30,643 41.11
Total votes 74,541 100

Libertarian Aaron Cash is also running.[1]

General election

In September 2014, Pulaski County Clerk Larry Crane cancelled Rutledge's voter registration after it was revealed that she was registered to vote in several other states. Rutledge, who has an Arkansas voter registration card, had cancelled her Pulaski County voter registration in July 2008 and registered to vote in Washington, D.C. instead. However, she did not vote in any elections in D.C., instead voting via absentee ballot in the 2008 general election in Pulaski County. She then registered to vote in Virginia in September 2010. If she remains unregistered, she would be ineligible to serve as Attorney General as the Arkansas Constitution states "No persons shall be elected to, or appointed to fill a vacancy in, any office who does not possess the qualifications of an elector." Rutledge denounced Crane for using "partisan politics to disenfranchise a voter in an attempt to hijack an election." Crane responded that he "did what the law requires" and invited Rutledge to re-register.[20][21][22]

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Nate
Steel (D)
Leslie
Rutledge (R)
Aaron
Cash (L)
Undecided
Public Policy Polling October 30–November 1, 2014 1,092 ± 3% 40% 44% 7% 8%
Suffolk September 20–23, 2014 500 ± 4.4% 36.2% 35.8% 4.6% 23.4%
Public Policy Polling September 18–21, 2014 1,453 ± 2.6% 35% 41% 7% 17%
Gravis Marketing September 8–11, 2014 902 ± 4% 33% 42% 3% 22%
Answers Unlimited September 7–9, 2014 600 ± 3.5% 37% 34% 5% 24%
Public Policy Polling August 1–3, 2014 1,066 ± 3% 32% 38% 10% 20%
Gravis Marketing July 7–8, 2014 987 ± 3% 41% 51% 8%
Arkansas Attorney General election, 2014[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Leslie Rutledge 430,799 51.61
Democratic Nate Steel 360,680 43.21
Libertarian Aaron Cash 43,245 5.18
Majority 70,119 8.4%
Total votes 834,724 100
Republican gain from Democratic

Secretary of State

Incumbent Republican Secretary of State Mark Martin ran for re-election to a second term in office.[23]

Arkansas Board of Election Commissioner and Pulaski County Election Commissioner Susan Inman ran for the Democrats.[24]

Libertarian Jacob Holloway also ran.[1]

General election
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Mark
Martin (R)
Susan
Inman (D)
Jacob
Holloway (L)
Undecided
Public Policy Polling October 30–November 1, 2014 1,092 ± 3% 47% 35% 6% 11%
Suffolk September 20–23, 2014 500 ± 4.4% 34.6% 33.8% 6.2% 25.4%
Public Policy Polling September 18–21, 2014 1,453 ± 2.6% 43% 32% 5% 20%
Public Policy Polling August 1–3, 2014 1,066 ± 3% 39% 33% 6% 21%
Arkansas Secretary of State election, 2014[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark Martin (Incumbent) 506,384 60.61
Democratic Susan Inman 292,878 35.06
Libertarian Jacob Holloway 36,159 4.33
Majority 213,506 25.56%
Total votes 835,421 100
Republican hold

State Treasurer

Incumbent Democratic State Treasurer Charles Robinson, who served in the office from May 29, 2013, did not run for re-election, per the terms of his appointment. He was appointed to the office following the resignation of Martha Shoffner.

Accountant Karen Sealy Garcia ran for the Democrats.[25]

Republican primary

The Republican primary was held between State Representative Duncan Baird and Saline County Circuit Clerk and former Chairman of the Republican Party of Arkansas Dennis Milligan.[26][27]

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Duncan
Baird
Dennis
Milligan
Undecided
Talk Business/Hendrix College April 29, 2014 1,516 ± 2.5% 10% 15.5% 75.5%
Republican primary results[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dennis Milligan 86,994 53.48
Republican Duncan Baird 75,673 46.52
Total votes 162,667 100

Libertarian Chris Hayes also ran.[1]

General election
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Karen
Garcia (D)
Dennis
Milligan (R)
Chris
Hayes (L)
Undecided
Public Policy Polling October 30–November 1, 2014 1,092 ± 3% 37% 45% 10% 9%
Public Policy Polling September 18–21, 2014 1,453 ± 2.6% 31% 39% 7% 23%
Public Policy Polling August 1–3, 2014 1,066 ± 3% 31% 36% 10% 23%
Arkansas State Treasurer election, 2014[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dennis Milligan 466,959 56.38
Democratic Karen Sealy Garcia 308,663 37.27
Libertarian Chris Hayes 52,640 6.36
Majority 158,296 19.11%
Total votes 828,262 100
Republican gain from Democratic

State Auditor

Incumbent Democratic State Auditor Charlie Daniels chose to retire rather than run for re-election to a second term.[28]

Regina Stewart Hampton, an employee in the Unclaimed Property Division of the State Auditor's Office, ran for the Democrats.[29]

Republican primary

State Representative Andrea Lea and former campaign manager for Mark Martin Ken Yang sought the Republican nomination.[30][31]

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Andrea
Lea
Ken
Yang
Undecided
Talk Business/Hendrix College April 29, 2014 1,516 ± 2.5% 32% 12.5% 55.5%
Republican primary results[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Andrea Lea 111,998 68.17
Republican Ken Yang 52,293 31.83
Total votes 164,291 100

Libertarian Brian Leach also ran.[1]

General election
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Regina Stewart
Hampton (D)
Andrea
Lea (R)
Brian
Leach (L)
Undecided
Public Policy Polling October 30–November 1, 2014 1,092 ± 3% 36% 44% 8% 12%
Public Policy Polling September 18–21, 2014 1,453 ± 2.6% 33% 37% 7% 24%
Public Policy Polling August 1–3, 2014 1,066 ± 3% 31% 35% 10% 24%
Arkansas State Auditor election, 2014[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Andrea Lea 471,211 57.17
Democratic Regina Stewart Hampton 308,285 37.4
Libertarian Brian Leach 44,702 5.42
Majority 162,926 19.77%
Total votes 824,198 100
Republican gain from Democratic

Commissioner of State Lands

Incumbent Republican Commissioner of State Lands John Thurston ran for re-election to a second term in office.[32]

Landscape architect Mark Robertson ran for the Democrats.[33]

Libertarian Elvis D. Presley, an Elvis Presley impersonator and auto-mechanic, also ran.[32]

General election
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
John
Thurston (R)
Mark
Robertson (D)
Elvis D.
Presley (L)
Undecided
Public Policy Polling October 30–November 1, 2014 1,092 ± 3% 45% 36% 9% 10%
Public Policy Polling September 18–21, 2014 1,453 ± 2.6% 38% 33% 7% 22%
Public Policy Polling August 1–3, 2014 1,066 ± 3% 40% 29% 10% 22%
Public Policy Polling April 25–27, 2014 840 ± 3.4% 28% 27% 17% 29%
Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands election, 2014[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John Thurston (Incumbent) 471,848 57.17
Democratic Mark Robertson 302,048 36.59
Libertarian Elvis D. Presley 51,518 6.24
Majority 169,800 20.57%
Total votes 825,414 100
Republican hold

United States Senate

Incumbent Democratic Senator Mark Pryor ran for re-election to a third term.[34] Republican Tom Cotton,[35] Green Mark Swaney[1] and Libertarian Nathan LaFrance[1] also ran.

United States House of Representatives

All of Arkansas' four seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election in 2014.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Candidates who filed for office in Arkansas". sfgate.com. March 3, 2014. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  2. "November 4, 2014 General election and nonpartisan runoff election Official results". Arkansas Secretary of State. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  3. "Rep. Tim Griffin to run for Ark. lieutenant governor". The Washington Post. February 13, 2014. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  4. "Governor Candidate Debra Hobbs To Run For Lt. Gov. Instead". 5News Online. February 11, 2014. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  5. "Cook: Andy Mayberry's Poorly Planned Lt. Governor Announcement". Talk Business Arkansas. August 26, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  6. "State Rep. Charlie Collins confirms he's dropping out of race for Lt. Governor". ABC7 KATV. February 13, 2014. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "2014 Arkansas Preferential Primary Elections and Nonpartisan Election May 20, 2014". Arkansas Secretary of State. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  8. "John Burkhalter resigns from Highway Commission to focus on lieutenant governor race". Arkansas Times. October 4, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  9. "Democrat Dianne Curry Drops Out of Lieutenant Governor's Race". Arkansas Business. July 31, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "November 4, 2014 General election and nonpartisan runoff election Official results". Arkansas Secretary of State. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  11. "UPDATE: Nate Steel announces for attorney general". Arkansas Times. July 10, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  12. "Tolbert: Nation Set To Announce For Attorney General". Talk Business Arkansas. January 30, 2014. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  13. "Leslie Rutledge to make Republican run for attorney general". Arkansas Times. June 28, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  14. "David Sterling Makes Attorney General Race Official". Talk Business Arkansas. May 7, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  15. "Poultry Federation leader won't run for Arkansas attorney general". WATTAgNet. September 13, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  16. "Hiland won't run for attorney general". Arkansas Online. October 13, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  17. "David Sterling, Leslie Rutledge Go to Runoff in Attorney General Race". Arkansas Business. May 21, 2014. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  18. "Runoff race gets nasty between GOP Attorney General candidates". The City Wire. June 2, 2014. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  19. "2014 Arkansas General Primary Runoff Election June 10, 2014". Arkansas Secretary of State. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  20. "Rutledge Says Clerk's Office Denied Her 2013 Attempt To Register". Arkansas Matters. October 1, 2014. Retrieved October 2, 2014.
  21. "County Clerk Cancels Leslie Rutledge's Voter Registration". Arkansas Business. October 1, 2014. Retrieved October 2, 2014.
  22. "AG hopeful Rutledge not registered to vote in state, clerk says". Arkansas Online. September 30, 2014. Retrieved October 2, 2014.
  23. "UPDATE Martin files for re-election, Inman files to run against him". Arkansas News. February 25, 2014. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
  24. "Susan Inman to run for Arkansas Secretary of State". The City Wire. September 5, 2013. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
  25. "Candidates file bids for Arkansas treasurer". KATV.com. February 26, 2014. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  26. "Rep. Duncan Baird announces for state treasurer". Arkansas Times. July 31, 2014. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  27. "Former GOP chief to run for state treasurer". Arkansas News. October 11, 2012. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  28. "Arkansas Auditor Charlie Daniels Won't Seek Re-Election". Times Record. May 6, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  29. "Regina Hampton To Seek State Auditor's Post". Talk Business Arkansas. July 7, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  30. "Rep. Andrea Lea Joins Auditor's Race". Talk Business Arkansas. July 2, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  31. "A "Bold" auditor candidate". Arkansas News. June 26, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  32. 1 2 "Elvis is back, and running for office in Arkansas". Miami Herald. February 27, 2014. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  33. "Democrat Mark Robertson files today for Land Commissioner". Arkansas Times. March 3, 2014. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  34. "Sen. Mark Pryor is running for re-election in 2014". Arkansas Times. April 19, 2012.
  35. Glueck, Katie (31 July 2013). "Arkansas's Tom Cotton to run for U.S. Senate". Politico.

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