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. "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. "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. "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. "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.

External links