1998 United States Senate election in Arkansas

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.

1998 United States Senate election in Arkansas

← 1992 November 3, 1998 2004 →

Nominee Blanche Lincoln Fay Boozman Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 385,878 295,870 Percentage 55.07% 42.23%

County results Lincoln:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Boozman:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Dale Bumpers Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln Democratic

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

Primary results by county:

  Lincoln

•   30–40%
•   40–50%
•   50–60%
•   60–70%
•   70–80%

  Bryant

•   20–30%
•   30–40%
•   40–50%
•   50–60%

  Ferguson

•   30–40%
•   50–60%

Democratic Primary results^[4]

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

Republican Primary 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

Arkansas Senate election 1998

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

1. 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