Elections to the Arkansas Senate were held on November 4, 2008, to elect 18 candidates to the chamber. Members of the Arkansas Senate serve staggered four-year terms, with these seat's last elections taking place in 2004. Despite a twenty-point loss in the concurrent presidential election for Democratic nominee Barack Obama in the state, Democrats maintained their control of the state government, retaining their supermajority status in the Senate. Of the 18 seats up for election, Democrats won twelve and the Republicans six.
The vast majority of state senate seats were uncompetitive: only three had primary elections, and only the 30th district had a general election.
This election took place alongside races for U.S. President, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, state house, and numerous other state and local elections.
Overview District Incumbent Results Senator Party Outcome 1st Johnny Key Republican Incumbent re-elected. Johnny Key (Republican) Unopposed 2nd Randy Laverty Democratic Incumbent re-elected. Randy Laverty (Democratic) Unopposed 3rd Ruth Whitaker Republican Incumbent re-elected. Ruth Whitaker (Republican) Unopposed 4th Sharon Trusty Republican Incumbent re-elected. Sharon Trusty (Republican) Unopposed 7th Sue Madison Democratic Incumbent re-elected. Sue Madison (Democratic) Unopposed 8th Dave Bisbee Republican Incumbent retired.Republican hold. Cecile Bledsoe (Republican) Unopposed 9th Kim Hendren Republican Incumbent re-elected. Kim Hendren (Republican) Unopposed 12th Jack Critcher Democratic Incumbent retired.Democratic hold. David Wyatt (Democratic) Unopposed 17th James Luker Democratic Incumbent re-elected.Democratic primary: James Luker: 7,075 votes, 62.95% Denny Sumpter: 4,164 votes, 37.05% 20th Jim Hill Democratic Incumbent retired.Democratic hold.Democratic primary: Larry Teague: 5,496 votes, 56.75% Scott Sullivan: 4,189 votes, 43.25% 23rd Jerry Taylor Democratic Incumbent re-elected. Jerry Taylor (Democratic) Unopposed 24th Jimmy Jeffress Democratic Incumbent re-elected. Jimmy Jeffress (Democratic) Unopposed 25th Gene Jeffress Democratic Incumbent re-elected. Gene Jeffress (Democratic) Unopposed 26th Percy Malone Democratic Incumbent re-elected. Percy Malone (Democratic) Unopposed 30th Gilbert Baker Republican Incumbent re-elected. Gilbert Baker (Republican) 20,253 votes, 55.01% Joe White (Democratic) 16,561 votes, 44.99% 31st Mary Anne Salmon Democratic Incumbent re-elected. Mary Anne Salmon (Democratic) Unopposed 32nd Jim Argue Democratic Incumbent retired.Democratic hold. David Johnson (Democratic) Unopposed 33rd Irma Hunter Brown Democratic Incumbent lost renomination.Democratic hold.Democratic primary: Joyce Elliott: 3,084 votes, 58.51% Irma Hunter Brown: 2,187 votes, 41.49%
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