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.
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 and Libertarian nominee Frank Gilbert contested in the general election.
With Hutchinson's victory, Republicans gained a trifecta for the first time since 1874.
Results
Lieutenant governor
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. Republican primary Confirmed candidates Tim Griffin, U.S. representative Debra Hobbs, state representative Andy Mayberry, state representative ran for the Republican nomination. Withdrawn candidates Charlie Collins, state representative Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror TimGriffin DebraHobbs AndyMayberry UndecidedTalk Business/Hendrix CollegeTalk Business/Hendrix College April 29, 2014 1,516 ± 2.5% 54% 6% 15% 26%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling April 25–27, 2014 342 ± 5.3% 39% 8% 19% 34% Primary results
Democratic nominee John Burkhalter, former state Highway Commissioner Withdrawn Dianne Curry, president of the Little Rock School Board Libertarian nominee Chris Olson General election Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror TimGriffin (R) JohnBurkhalter (D) ChristopherOlson (L) UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling October 30–November 1, 2014 1,092 ± 3% 46% 38% 6% 11%Suffolk September 20–23, 2014 500 ± 4.4% 35% 42% 5% 18%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling September 18–21, 2014 1,453 ± 2.6% 42% 36% 4% 18%Public Policy PollingPublic 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% Results
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.
Leslie Rutledge was the Republican nominee and emerged victorious.
Secretary of State
Incumbent Republican secretary of state Mark Martin won re-election to a second term in office.
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. Democratic nominee Karen Sealy Garcia, accountant Republican primary Candidates Duncan Baird, state representative Dennis Milligan, Saline County Circuit Clerk and former chairman of the Republican Party of Arkansas Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror DuncanBaird DennisMilligan UndecidedTalk Business/Hendrix College April 29, 2014 1,516 ± 2.5% 10% 16% 75% Primary results
Libertarian nominee Chris Hayes General election Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror KarenGarcia (D) DennisMilligan (R) ChrisHayes (L) UndecidedPublic 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% Results
State Auditor
Incumbent Democratic State Auditor Charlie Daniels chose to retire rather than run for re-election to a second term. Democratic nominee Regina Stewart Hampton, employee in the Unclaimed Property Division of the State Auditor's Office Republican primary Candidates Andrea Lea, state representative Ken Yang, former campaign manager for Mark Martin Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror AndreaLea KenYang UndecidedTalk Business/Hendrix College April 29, 2014 1,516 ± 2.5% 32% 12% 56% Primary results
Libertarian nominee Brian Leach General election Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror Regina StewartHampton (D) AndreaLea (R) BrianLeach (L) UndecidedPublic 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% Results
Commissioner of State Lands
Incumbent Republican Commissioner of State Lands John Thurston ran for re-election to a second term in office.
United States Senate
Incumbent Democratic senator Mark Pryor ran for re-election to a third term. Republican Tom Cotton, Green Mark Swaney and Libertarian Nathan LaFrance 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. Republicans held all four districts. General Assembly State Senate 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. +2014 Arkansas Senate election Party Before After Change Republican 21 24 3 Democratic 13 11 2vacant 1 0 1 Total 35 State House of Reresentatives 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 Party Before After Change Republican 51 64 13 Democratic 48 36 12 Green 1 0 1 Total 100
State Supreme Court Three seats on the Arkansas Supreme Court were up for election, only one of which was contested. Associate Justice, Position 2 Incumbent Justice Donald Corbin retired at the end of his term. Robin Wynne, a judge on the Arkansas Court of Appeals, narrowly defeated lawyer Tim Cullen.
Ballot measures Five statewide measures were on the ballot in 2014, four of which were approved by the voters. +2014 Arkansas ballot measuresNameDescriptionVotesTypeYes%No%Issue 1Requires legislative review and approval of changes to state agencies' administrative rules. 469,431 59.06325,39640.94 Legislatively referred constitutional amendmentIssue 2Sets threshold of 75 percent of required petition signatures to obtain additional time for signature collection. 425,709 53.31372,78446.69Issue 3Extends length of time state legislators can stay in office to 16 years; limits lobbying and creates independent elected officials salary commission. 428,206 52.43388,45947.57Issue 4Legalizes manufacture, transportation and sale of alcohol statewide.354,44642.59 477,877 57.41 Citizen-initiated constitutional amendmentIssue 5Increases the state’s minimum wage from $6.25 to $8.50 per hour by 2017. 548,789 65.94283,52434.06 Citizen-initiated state statute
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