- Main
Page « 2020
Senate Races «
Arkansas
Senate
ARKANSAS |
Nov. 3,
2020 U.S. Senate |
|
Plurality: 394,481 votes (33.06 percentage points) AR
Secretary of State
Notes: Sen. Tom Cotton (R) had little trouble winning a second term. He did not face a major party nominee and comfortably defeated Libertarian Ricky Dale Harrington, Jr., a chaplain from Pine Bluff. Democrat Joshua Mahony of Fayetteville, who launched a challenge to Cotton in May 2019, pulled out hours after the Nov. 12, 2019 filing deadline. Mahoney, who was the Democratic nominee against U.S. Rep. Steve Womack (R) in 2018, cited "family health concerns," but questions had been raised about his experience. Under state law, the Democrats were unable to replace him. Independent Dan Whitfield from Bella Vista made a protracted effort to qualify for the ballot (+) before suspending his campaign on Sept. 30, 2020. Cotton, widely seen as likely to run for president in 2024, was thus able to focus more on national politics. He attracted occasional national headlines as with his June 3, 2020 New York Times op-ed "Send in the Military" and his bill to prohibit use of federal funds to teach Project 1619 curriculum, introduced on July 23, 2020. Cotton's leadership PAC, Republican Majority Fund, raised $1.2 million in 2019-20; in June 2020 it released a video and digital ad charging that Biden was "Weak on China - Too Confused to Lead (>)." Cotton kept up a busy travel schedule that took him to places such as Iowa (+) and New Hampshire (1, 2). Arkansas PBS hosted a U.S. Senate debate on Oct. 14. Cotton declined to participate, but Arkansas PBS proceeded with the event. In the studio, Harrington standing alone at a podium, fielded questions from four reporters seated at a distance in front of him for the better part of an hour. In his opening statement, he thanked Cotton for "giving me a great and wonderful birthday present, that I can speak directly to the people of Arkansas and make my case to be their representative in the United State Senate." (>) Harrington delivered an impressive and thoughtful performance. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the Cotton campaign raised $12.8 million, spent $6.7 million and finished with cash on hand of $6.4 million—which can be applied to the anticipated presidential run in 2024. The Harrington campaign reported raising $79,564 and spending $64,037. Although Cotton won by a wide margin, the Libertarian Party of Arkansas reported that Harrington's showing marked "the highest percentage ever garnered by a Libertarian in any statewide race, nationwide." Campaign Managers: Tom Cotton: Brian Colas served as campaign manager to Nov. 2019, then as political director. Ricky Dale Henderson Jr.: Matthew Mears See also: Andrew DeMillo. "Tom Cotton is campaigning hard, just not for reelection." AP, Oct. 26, 2020. Carl Kozlowski. "Ricky Dale Harrington Jr. takes a leap of faith with U.S. Senate Run." Arkansas Money & Politics, Oct. 23, 2020. Frank E. Lockwood. "Less than 2 1/2 hours after filing deadline, U.S. Senate challenger Joshua Mahoney exits race." Democrat-Gazette, Nov. 13, 2019. |
ADVERTISEMENT