2010 Arkansas gubernatorial election

For related races, see 2010 United States gubernatorial elections.

The 2010 Arkansas gubernatorial election took place on Tuesday, November 2, 2010. Incumbent Democratic governor Mike Beebe ran for re-election, and faced former state senator Jim Keet, whom he defeated in a landslide to win a second and final term as governor, despite the year being a Republican midterm wave year and Democratic senator Blanche Lincoln being unseated by a 21-point margin on the same ballot. Beebe's vote percentage and margin of victory was the highest of any Democratic gubernatorial candidate in the country that year. Beebe was also the first governor to carry all 75 counties since David Pryor did so in 1976.

2010 Arkansas gubernatorial election

← 2006 November 2, 2010 2014 →

Nominee Mike Beebe Jim Keet Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 503,336 262,784 Percentage 64.42% 33.63%

County results Congressional district results Beebe:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Governor before election Mike Beebe Democratic Elected Governor Mike Beebe Democratic

As of 2025, this alongside the concurrent Treasurer, State Auditor and Attorney General elections is the last time Democrats won any statewide election in Arkansas. This election also marked the last time in which a gubernatorial nominee and a lieutenant gubernatorial nominee of different political parties were elected in Arkansas.

Candidates

Democratic Party

• Mike Beebe, incumbent governor

Republican Party

• Jim Keet, former state senator

Green Party

• Jim Lendall, former state representative and 2006 gubernatorial nominee

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
Cook Political Report[1]	Safe D	October 14, 2010
Rothenberg[2]	Safe D	October 28, 2010
RealClearPolitics[3]	Likely D	November 1, 2010
Sabato's Crystal Ball[4]	Likely D	October 28, 2010
CQ Politics[5]	Safe D	October 28, 2010

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Mike Beebe (D)	Jim Keet (R)
Rasmussen Reports[6]	October 28, 2010	60%	38%
CNN/Time Magazine[7]	October 15–19, 2010	62%	35%
Rasmussen Reports[8]	September 30, 2010	51%	41%
Mason-Dixon[9]	September 12–14, 2010	54%	33%
Rasmussen Reports[10]	August 18, 2010	53%	33%
Rasmussen Reports[11]	July 20, 2010	50%	40%
Ipsos/Reuters[12]	July 16–18, 2010	57%	35%
Talk Business[13]	July 17, 2010	50%	41%
Rasmussen Reports[14]	June 15, 2010	57%	33%
Rasmussen Reports[15]	May 19, 2010	53%	38%

Results

Arkansas gubernatorial election, 2010^[16]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Mike Beebe (incumbent)	503,336	64.42%	+8.81%
	Republican	Jim Keet	262,784	33.63%	−7.03%
	Green	Jim Lendall	14,513	1.86%	+0.21%
	Write-in		700	0.09%	N/A
Total votes			781,333	100.00%	N/A
	Democratic hold

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

• Benton (Largest city: Rogers)
• Boone (Largest city: Harrison)
• Carroll (Largest city: Berryville)
• Newton (Largest city: Jasper)
• Madison (Largest city: Huntsville)
• Marion (Largest city: Bull Shoals)
• Baxter (Largest city: Mountain Home)
• Searcy (Largest city: Marshall)
• Saline (Largest city: Benton)
• Lonoke (Largest city: Cabot)
• Polk (Largest city: Mena)
• Sebastian (Largest city: Fort Smith)
• Crawford (Largest city: Van Buren)
• Pope (Largest city: Russellville)