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Elizabeth Stuart, Queen of Bohemia
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 County results Lincoln: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Boozman: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Arkansas |
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The 1998 United States Senate election in Arkansas was held on November 3, 1998. Incumbent Democratic Senator Dale Bumpers chose to retire instead of running for reelection to a fifth term. Making this was the first open seat with no incumbent held in this seat since the 1884 election. Democratic former U.S. Representative Blanche Lincoln won the open seat against Republican State Senator Fay Boozman. Lincoln did not seek re-election to Congress in 1996 because she wanted prioritize her family having welcomed twin boys in mid 1996, thus, she took 2 years off before re-entering the political arena as a Senate candidate. At 38, Lincoln was the youngest woman ever elected to the United States Senate. In 2010, Lincoln would lose re-election to a third term by Fay Boozman's brother, John Boozman.
Controversy about pregnancy from rape
During the campaign, Boozman caused controversy for his comments about rape, claiming that women rarely became pregnant after being raped due to a hormone he described as "God's little protective shield".[1]
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Winston Bryant, Attorney General of Arkansas, former lieutenant governor, former Secretary of State of Arkansas and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 1996[2]
- Nate Coulter, Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 1993[2]
- Blanche Lincoln, former U.S. Representative[2]
- Scott Ferguson, radiologist and State Representative[2]
Withdrew
- Pat Hays, Mayor of North Little Rock[3]
Results
- 30–40%
- 40–50%
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
- 70–80%
- 20–30%
- 30–40%
- 40–50%
- 50–60%
- 30–40%
- 50–60%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Blanche Lincoln | 145,009 | 45.5% | |
| Democratic | Winston Bryant | 87,183 | 27.4% | |
| Democratic | Scott Ferguson | 44,761 | 14.0% | |
| Democratic | Nate Coulter | 41,848 | 13.1% | |
| Total votes | 318,801 | 100.00% | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
- Fay Boozman, State Senator
- Tom Prince, Mayor of Little Rock[5]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Fay Boozman | 128,929 | 78.0% | |
| Republican | Tom Prince | 44,006 | 22.0% | |
| Total votes | 172,035 | 100.00% | ||
General election
Candidates
- Blanche Lincoln (D), former U.S. Representative
- Fay Boozman (R), State Senator
- Charley Heffley (Reform)
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Blance Lincoln (D) |
Fay Boozman (R) |
Charley Heffley (Rf) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mason Dixon[6] | October 23–25, 1998 | 810 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 56% | 36% | – | 8% |
| Mason Dixon[6] | October 5–7, 1998 | 838 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 52% | 39% | – | 9% |
| Mason Dixon[6] | September 8–9, 1998 | 811 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 52% | 36% | 1% | 11% |
| Mason Dixon[6] | June 1–3, 1998 | 805 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 51% | 33% | 1% | 15% |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Blanche Lincoln | 385,878 | 55.07% | ||
| Republican | Fay Boozman | 295,870 | 42.23% | ||
| Reform | Charley E. Heffley | 18,896 | 2.70% | ||
| Democratic hold | |||||
Notes
- ^ Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear
See also
- 1998 United States Senate elections
- 2002 United States Senate election in Arkansas
- 2008 United States Senate election in Arkansas
References
- ^ Pruden, William (February 25, 2021). "Fay Boozman (1946–2005)". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Politics - Arkansas Senate, Candidates". Washingtonpost.com. September 16, 1998. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
- ^ "Pat Hays political future a source of speculation". Talk Business & Politics. August 23, 2011. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
- ^ "Arkansas". 1998 Senatorial Democratic Primary Election Results. February 15, 2007. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
- ^ "G.O.P. Incumbents Hold Off Challengers in Pennsylvania - The New York Times". The New York Times. May 20, 1998. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
- ^ a b c d "CNN AllPolitics Election '98 - Arkansas 1998 Polls". CNN. Archived from the original on June 14, 2025. Retrieved June 14, 2025.