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.
In the 2014 general election in Arkansas, Republican candidates won all statewide executive offices, the U.S. Senate seat up for election, majorities in both state legislative chambers, and all four U.S. House seats, decisively ending over 130 years of Democratic dominance in the state.
Incumbent DemocraticgovernorMike 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.
With Hutchinson's victory, Republicans gained a trifecta for the first time since 1874.
The office of lieutenant governor had been vacant since Republican Mark Darr resigned on February 1, 2014, while under investigation for ethics violations involving illegal use of campaign funds.[3]
Incumbent Democratic Attorney GeneralDustin 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.[18]
Leslie Rutledge was the Republican nominee and emerged victorious.
Incumbent Democratic State TreasurerCharles 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.[19]
Incumbent Democratic senator Mark Pryor ran for re-election to a third term.[27] Republican Tom Cotton,[28] Green Mark Swaney[1] and Libertarian Nathan LaFrance[1] also ran.
18 out of 35 seats in the Arkansas Senate were up for election. Republicans won 13 while Democrats won five. The resulting composition was 24 Republicans and 11 Democrats, with Republicans making a gain of three seats.
All 100 seats in the Arkansas House of Representatives were up for election. Republicans won 64 while Democrats won 36, with Republicans gaining 13 seats.
2014 Arkansas House of Representatives election[31]
Five statewide measures were on the ballot in 2014, four of which were approved by the voters.[35]
2014 Arkansas ballot measures
Name
Description
Votes
Type
Yes
%
No
%
Issue 1
Requires legislative review and approval of changes to state agencies' administrative rules.[36]
469,431
59.06
325,396
40.94
Legislatively referred constitutional amendment
Issue 2
Sets threshold of 75 percent of required petition signatures to obtain additional time for signature collection.[37]
425,709
53.31
372,784
46.69
Issue 3
Extends length of time state legislators can stay in office to 16 years; limits lobbying and creates independent elected officials salary commission.[38]
428,206
52.43
388,459
47.57
Issue 4
Legalizes manufacture, transportation and sale of alcohol statewide.[39]
354,446
42.59
477,877
57.41
Citizen-initiated constitutional amendment
Issue 5
Increases the state’s minimum wage from $6.25 to $8.50 per hour by 2017.[40]
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