General elections were held November 2, 2010 in Arkansas. Primaries were held on May 18, 2010 and runoffs, if necessary, were held on November 23, 2010. Arkansas elected seven constitutional officers, 17 of 35 state senate seats, all 100 house seats and 28 district prosecuting attorneys, and voted on one constitutional amendment and one referred question. Non-partisan judicial elections were held the same day as the party primaries for four Supreme Court justices, four appeals circuit court judges, and eight district court judges.
Federal United States Senate
Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln ran unsuccessfully for re-election against Republican John Boozman. Arkansas had previously only elected one Republican senator since the Reconstruction, who was defeated after his first term in 2002 by Mark Pryor. Lincoln faced Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter and narrowly won the primary contest.
United States House
All four of Arkansas's seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election in 2010. Only one of the four incumbents sought re-election, Democrat Mike Ross of District 4.
Results U.S. Congress District 01
This was an open seat, as Democratic incumbent Marion Berry chose to retire. Berry was always reelected in this district by a wide margin since his first reelection campaign in 1998, and was unopposed in 2008. The district is very Republican (giving only 38% to Obama) on a national level despite a long history of electing Democrats to local and state level offices.
Results U.S. Congress District 02
This district was represented by seven term Democrat Vic Snyder who was unchallenged in 2008 and received 70% of the vote. Snyder announced that he would retire in 2010, reportedly after polls showed him trailing Republican Tim Griffin.
Results U.S. Congress District 03
This district was represented by Republican John Boozman. Boozman ran for the U.S. Senate, against Blanche Lincoln. The district (comprising the northwest part of the state) has been held by the GOP since 1966.
Results U.S. Congress District 04
This district was represented by five term Democrat Mike Ross, who won reelection in 2008 with 86.2% of the vote against a Green Party challenger. Ross won reelection, albeit in his narrowest margin since first being elected in 2000. This is the last time a Democrat won a house (or any congressional) election in Arkansas.
Governor
Incumbent governor Mike Beebe easily won re-election and swept every single county.
Lieutenant governor
Incumbent Democratic Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter ran for Senate and did not seek re-election.
Secretary of State
Democratic incumbent Charlie Daniels was term-limited and instead ran successfully for state auditor. Democratic primary Candidates Pat O'Brien, Pulaski County clerk Doris Tate, Sebastian County clerk Mark Wilcox, outgoing Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands Primary results
Runoff results
Republican nominee Mark Martin, state legislator General election
Attorney general
Incumbent Dustin McDaniel won re-election in a landslide as no Republican filed to run for his seat.Arkansas Secretary of State: Democratic nominee Dustin McDaniel, incumbent Green Party nominee Rebekah Kennedy, attorney Write-in candidate Marc Rosson, farmer General election
Treasurer
Incumbent Martha Shoffner comfortably won re-election, sweeping every county as no Republican filed to run. Democratic nominee Martha Shoffner, incumbent Green Party nominee Bobby Tullis, former state representative General election
Auditor
Incumbent Democrat Jim Wood was term-limited. Former Commissioner of State Lands and outgoing Secretary of State Charlie Daniels won in a landslide as no Republican filed to run. Democratic nominee Charlie Daniels, former Secretary of State (2003-2011) and Commissioner of State Lands (1985-2003) Green Party nominee Mary Hughes-Willis General election
Commissioner of State Lands
Incumbent Democrat Mark Wilcox was term-limited. Republican John Thurston narrowly won the election, becoming the first Republican land commissioner since Reconstruction. Democratic primary Candidates L.J. Bryant, tax-service owner Monty Davenport, cattle rancher and former state representative Mike Berg, church employee Primary results
Runoff results
Republican nominee John Thurston, church employee General election
General Assembly State Senate
17 of the 35 seats in the Arkansas Senate were up for election in 2010. The Democratic majority got significantly reduced due to the red wave. +2010 Arkansas Senate election Party Before After Change Democratic 27 20 7 Republican 8 15 7 Total 35
State House of Representatives All 100 seats in the Arkansas House of Representatives were up for election in 2010. The Democratic majority got significantly reduced due to the red wave. +2010 Arkansas House of Representatives election election Party Before After Change Democratic 71 55 16 Republican 28 45 17vacant 1 0 1 Total 100
State Supreme Court Two seats on the Arkansas Supreme Court were up for election. Associate Justice, Position 3 Deputy Attorney General Elana Wills was appointed by Governor Mike Beebe following the retirement of Justice Tom Glaze. She served the remainder of his term and was ineligible for re-election. Candidates Courtney Henry, Arkansas Court of Appeals judge John Fogleman, circuit court judge General election
Associate Justice, Position 6 Attorney Ronald Lee Sheffield was appointed by Governor Mike Beebe to serve the remaining term of retiring Justice Annabelle Clinton Imber after Bill Bowen, the original appointee, resigned after only a week citing illness. Candidates Karen Baker, Arkansas Court of Appeals judge Tim Fox, circuit court judge Evelyn Moorehead, attorney General election
Runoff results
Ballot measures Three statewide measures were on the ballot in 2010, all of which were approved by the voters. +2010 Arkansas ballot measuresNameDescriptionVotesTypeYes%No%Amendment 1Ensures the right to hunt, fish and trap wildlife in the state. 612,495 82.78127,44417.22 Legislatively referred constitutional amendmentAmendment 2Eliminates interest rate restrictions on loans, contracts and bonds. 448,711 64.20250,16735.80Amendment 3Removes fixed criteria for issuing economic development bonds. 431,724 62.35260,73537.65Source: Arkansas Secretary of State
References
External links Elections from the Arkansas Secretary of State Candidates for Arkansas State Offices at Project Vote Smart Arkansas Polls at Pollster.com
Arkansas Congressional Races in 2010 campaign finance data from OpenSecrets Arkansas 2010 campaign finance data from Follow the Money 2010 Election at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette