2022 Arkansas elections
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| Elections in Arkansas |
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A general election was held in the U.S. state of Arkansas on November 8, 2022. All of Arkansas' executive officers were up for election as well as all four of the state's seats in the United States House of Representatives and a U.S. senator. Primaries were held on May 24, 2022, with runoff primaries on June 21. Polls were open from 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM CST.[1]
Governor
Incumbent Republican governor Asa Hutchinson was term-limited and not eligible for re-election. Two Republicans and five Democrats were qualified to be major party candidates. Following the primary elections, Republican Sarah Sanders faced Democrat Chris Jones in the general election.
Lieutenant governor
The incumbent lieutenant governor was term-limited and instead ran for attorney general. Two Democrats, six Republicans, and a Libertarian ran for lieutenant governor.[2] In November 2021, retiring attorney general Leslie Rutledge withdrew from the governor's race and ran for lieutenant governor instead.[3] Rutledge won the Republican primary and easily defeated Democrat Kelly Krout in the general election.[4]
Secretary of state
Incumbent secretary John Thurston ran for re-election. Originally facing two other Republicans and two Democrats, Thurston won the Republican primary and defeated Democratic candidate Anna Beth Gorman in the general election.[5][6]
Attorney general
Incumbent attorney general Leslie Rutledge was term-limited and not eligible for re-election, and instead ran for lieutenant governor. Incumbent lieutenant governor Tim Griffin won the Republican primary on May 24 and defeated Democrat Jesse Gibson in the general election.[7]
State treasurer
Incumbent treasurer Dennis Milligan was term-limited and not eligible for re-election, and instead ran for state auditor. In February 2021, Republican Mathew Pitsch declared his candidacy for treasurer of Arkansas in the 2022 election,[8] though lost his party primary to Arkansas House representative Mark Lowery.[9] Lowery defeated Democratic candidate Pam Whitaker in the general election.[10]
State auditor
Incumbent auditor Andrea Lea was term-limited and unable to run for re-election.[11] Term-limited state treasurer Dennis Milligan entered the race as the Republican candidate and won against Democratic candidate Diamond Arnold-Johnson and Libertarian Simeon Snow.[12]
Commissioner of state lands
Incumbent land commissioner Tommy Land ran for re-election and defeated Democratic candidate Darlene Gaines in the general election.[13]
Federal offices
United States Senate
Incumbent senator John Boozman ran for a third term, easily defeating Democratic challenger Natalie James.
United States House of Representatives
Arkansas has four seats in the United States House of Representatives. All four incumbent Republicans comfortably won reelection.
Supreme Court
Three seats on the Arkansas Supreme Court were up for election in 2022, two of which were contested. Justice Rhonda Wood won reelection unopposed.[14]
Associate Justice (Position 2)
Incumbent Justice Robin Wynne won reelection to a second term.[15]
Candidates
- Robin Wynne, incumbent[16]
- Chris Carnahan, district court judge[17]
- David Sterling, attorney[18]
General election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Robin Wynne (incumbent) | 202,815 | 49.51% | |
| Nonpartisan | Chris Carnahan | 117,859 | 28.77% | |
| Nonpartisan | David Sterling | 88,938 | 21.71% | |
| Total votes | 409,612 | 100% | ||
Runoff
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Robin Wynne (incumbent) | 450,094 | 58.36% | |
| Nonpartisan | Chris Carnahan | 321,123 | 41.64% | |
| Total votes | 771,217 | 100% | ||
Associate Justice (Position 6)
Incumbent Justice Karen Baker won reelection to a third term.[21]
Candidates
- Karen Baker, incumbent[22]
- Gunner DeLay, circuit court judge[23]
General election
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Karen Baker (incumbent) | 262,043 | 63.99% | |
| Nonpartisan | Gunner DeLay | 147,481 | 36.01% | |
| Total votes | 409,524 | 100% | ||
General Assembly
State Senate
All 35 seats in the Arkansas Senate were up for election.
State House of Representatives
All 100 seats in the Arkansas House of Representatives were up for election.
Ballot measures
Four statewide measures appeared on the ballot in 2022, all of which failed.[25]
| Name | Description | Votes | Type | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | % | No | % | |||
| Issue 1 | Provides the legislature the authority to call itself into an extraordinary session, instead of the governor.[26] | 335,569 | 39.10 | 522,693 | 60.90 | Legislatively referred constitutional amendment |
| Issue 2 | Establish a 60% vote threshold to approve ballot initiatives instead of a simple majority.[27] | 353,815 | 40.88 | 511,580 | 59.12 | |
| Issue 3 | Provides that the state government "shall not burden a person's freedom of religion even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability".[28] | 433,475 | 49.59 | 440,687 | 50.41 | |
| Issue 4 | Legalizes recreational marijuana for people over 21 years old and enacts a tax on marijuana sales.[29] | 392,940 | 43.75 | 505,130 | 56.25 | Citizen initiated constitutional amendment |
| Source: Arkansas Secretary of State[30] | ||||||
- 50–60%
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
- 70–80%
- 50–60%
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
- 50–60%
- 50–60%
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
References
- ^ "2016 Arkansas Code: Title 7, Chapter 5, Subchapter 3; § 7-5-304 – Opening and closing polls – Time". Justia; US law. Archived from the original on March 9, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
- ^ "Who is running for lieutenant governor in Arkansas? Meet the candidates". Fort Smith Times Record. June 2, 2021. Retrieved October 25, 2021 – via MSN.
- ^ De Millo, Andrew (November 10, 2021). "Arkansas attorney general Rutledge drops bid for governor". Associated Press. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
- ^ "Arkansas Lieutenant Governor Election Results 2022". NBC News. December 13, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
- ^ "2022 Preferential Primary and Nonpartisan Judicial General Election Official Results". Clarity Elections. Arkansas State. May 24, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2022 – via Scytl.
- ^ "Arkansas Secretary of State Election Results 2022". NBC News. December 13, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
- ^ "Arkansas Attorney General Election Results 2022". NBC News. December 13, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
- ^ "Sen. Mathew Pitsch to run for Arkansas Treasurer". 5newsonline.com. February 1, 2021. Archived from the original on February 1, 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
- ^ "2022 Arkansas Treasurer Republican Primary Results: Treasurer". USA Today. May 25, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
- ^ Herzog, Rachel (May 8, 2022). "Pitsch touts integrity, Lowery talks fiscal conservatism in Republican primary for Arkansas treasurer". Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
- ^ "Arkansas Auditor election, 2022". Ballotpedia. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
- ^ "Arkansas Auditor Election Results". The New York Times. November 8, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
- ^ "Arkansas Land Commissioner Election Results]". The New York Times. November 8, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
- ^ "Arkansas Supreme Court elections, 2022". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 3, 2026.
- ^ Albarado, Sonny (November 9, 2022). "Robin Wynne secures second term on Arkansas Supreme Court". Arkansas Advocate. Retrieved May 3, 2026.
- ^ "Wynne Seeking Second Term on Arkansas Supreme Court". Arkansas Money & Politics. May 26, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2026.
- ^ Wickline, Michael R. (June 17, 2021). "Carnahan plans run for state's high court". Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Retrieved May 3, 2026.
- ^ "Sterling files to run for Arkansas Supreme Court seat". Associated Press. February 28, 2022. Retrieved May 3, 2026.
- ^ "Arkansas Election Night Reporting". Arkansas Secretary of State. Retrieved May 3, 2026.
- ^ "Arkansas Election Night Reporting". Arkansas Secretary of State. Retrieved May 3, 2026.
- ^ Nichanian, Daniel (May 25, 2022). "Conservative Loses Bid to Oust Arkansas Supreme Court Justice". Bolts Magazine. Retrieved May 3, 2026.
- ^ Brantley, Max (January 21, 2022). "Justice Karen Baker WILL seek re-election to the Arkansas Supreme Court". Arkansas Times. Retrieved May 3, 2026.
- ^ Fugo, Ashley (June 3, 2021). "Sebastian County Circuit Judge announces run for Arkansas Supreme Court". KARK-TV. Retrieved May 3, 2026.
- ^ "Arkansas Election Night Reporting". Arkansas Secretary of State. Retrieved May 3, 2026.
- ^ "Arkansas 2022 ballot measures". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 3, 2026.
- ^ "Arkansas Issue 1, Legislative Authority to Call a Special Session Amendment (2022)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 3, 2026.
- ^ "Arkansas Issue 2, 60% Supermajority Vote Requirement for Constitutional Amendments and Ballot Initiatives Measure (2022)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 3, 2026.
- ^ "Arkansas Issue 3, Government Burden of Free Exercise of Religion Amendment (2022)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 3, 2026.
- ^ "Arkansas Issue 4, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2022)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 3, 2026.
- ^ "2022 General Election and Nonpartisan Judicial Runoff Election". Arkansas Secretary of State. Retrieved May 3, 2026.