2014 Arkansas elections
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. In Arkansas, the governor and lieutenant governor are elected separately.Republican primary
U.S. representative Tim Griffin, State Representative Debra Hobbs and State Representative Andy Mayberry ran for the Republican nomination. State Representative Charlie Collins had been in the race, but he withdrew after Griffin's entry.
Former State Highway Commissioner John Burkhalter ran for the Democrats. Little Rock School Board President Dianne Curry had been running, but she withdrew from the race.
Libertarian Chris Olson also ran.
General election
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Tim Griffin | John Burkhalter | Christopher Olson | Undecided |
| Public 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 Polling | September 18–21, 2014 | 1,453 | ± 2.6% | 42% | 36% | 4% | 18% |
| Public 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% |
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.Arkansas Board of Election Commissioner and Pulaski County Election Commissioner Susan Inman ran for the Democrats.
Libertarian Jacob Holloway also ran.
General election
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Mark Martin | Susan Inman | Jacob Holloway | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | October 30–November 1, 2014 | 1,092 | ± 3% | 47% | 35% | 6% | 11% |
| Suffolk | September 20–23, 2014 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 35% | 34% | 6% | 25% |
| Public Policy Polling | September 18–21, 2014 | 1,453 | ± 2.6% | 43% | 32% | 5% | 20% |
| Public Policy Polling | August 1–3, 2014 | 1,066 | ± 3% | 39% | 33% | 6% | 21% |
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.Accountant Karen Sealy Garcia ran for the Democrats.
Republican primary
The Republican primary was held between State Representative Duncan Baird and Saline County Circuit Clerk and former chairman of the Republican Party of Arkansas Dennis Milligan.
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Duncan Baird | Dennis Milligan | Undecided |
| Talk Business/Hendrix College | April 29, 2014 | 1,516 | ± 2.5% | 10% | 16% | 75% |
Libertarian Chris Hayes also ran.
General election
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Karen Garcia | Dennis Milligan | Chris Hayes | Undecided |
| Public 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% |
State Auditor
Incumbent Democratic State Auditor Charlie Daniels chose to retire rather than run for re-election to a second term.Regina Stewart Hampton, an employee in the Unclaimed Property Division of the State Auditor's Office, ran for the Democrats.
Republican primary
State Representative Andrea Lea and former campaign manager for Mark Martin Ken Yang sought the Republican nomination.
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Andrea Lea | Ken Yang | Undecided |
| Talk Business/Hendrix College | April 29, 2014 | 1,516 | ± 2.5% | 32% | 12% | 56% |
Libertarian Brian Leach also ran.
General election
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Regina Stewart Hampton | Andrea Lea | Brian Leach | Undecided |
| Public 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% |
Commissioner of State Lands
Incumbent Republican commissioner of state lands John Thurston ran for re-election to a second term in office.Landscape architect Mark Robertson ran for the Democrats.
Libertarian Elvis D. Presley, an Elvis Presley impersonator and auto-mechanic, also ran.
General election
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | John Thurston | Mark Robertson | Elvis D. Presley | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | October 30–November 1, 2014 | 1,092 | ± 3% | 45% | 36% | 9% | 10% |
| Public Policy Polling | September 18–21, 2014 | 1,453 | ± 2.6% | 38% | 33% | 7% | 22% |
| Public Policy Polling | August 1–3, 2014 | 1,066 | ± 3% | 40% | 29% | 10% | 22% |
| Public Policy Polling | April 25–27, 2014 | 840 | ± 3.4% | 28% | 27% | 17% | 29% |