2022 United States Senate election in Arkansas

For related races, see 2022 United States Senate elections.

Not to be confused with 2022 Arkansas Senate election.

2022 United States Senate election in Arkansas

November 8, 2022 (2022-11-08)
Turnout	50.81%
Nominee John Boozman Natalie James Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 592,437 280,187 Percentage 65.73% 31.09%
County results Congressional district results Boozman:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% James:      50–60%
U.S. senator before election John Boozman Republican Elected U.S. senator John Boozman Republican

The 2022 United States Senate election in Arkansas was held on November 8, 2022, to elect a member to the United States Senate to represent the state of Arkansas. Incumbent Republican Senator John Boozman ran for a third term.^[1] He won the May 24, 2022 Republican primary with 58.03% of the vote and the general election with 65.73% of the vote.^[2]

This was the best performance for a Republican senator in the state's history, and was the first time for either U.S. Senate seat in Arkansas that Republicans won three consecutive elections.

Republican primary

Incumbent senator John Boozman ran with the endorsement of former President Donald Trump. However, he attracted multiple opponents from the right who questioned his loyalty to Trump, attacking him for refusing to object to the results of the 2020 United States presidential election.^[3] Despite it being his first time running for office, former NFL football player Jake Bequette and his supporting groups raised over $2.6 million.^[4] Boozman ultimately won with 58% of the vote, easily avoiding a runoff.

Candidates

Nominee

• John Boozman, incumbent U.S. Senator^[1]

Eliminated in primary

• Jake Bequette, former NFL player and U.S. Army veteran^[5]
• Heath Loftis, pastor^[6]
• Jan Morgan, gun range owner and candidate for governor of Arkansas in 2018^[7]

Withdrew

• Michael Deel, corporate analyst^[8]

Endorsements

John Boozman

U.S. Executive Branch officials

• Sarah Huckabee Sanders, 31st White House press secretary (2017–2019) and candidate in the 2022 Arkansas gubernatorial election^[9]
• Donald Trump, 45th president of the United States (2017–2021)^[10]

U.S. Senators

• Tom Cotton, U.S. Senator from Arkansas (2015–present) and U.S. Representative for Arkansas's 4th congressional district (2013–2015)^[9]
• Mitch McConnell, U.S. Senate Minority Leader from Kentucky (1985–present)^[11]

Organizations

• Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions^[12]
• National Right to Life^[13]
• Pro-Israel America^[14]

Jake Bequette

U.S. Representatives

• Madison Cawthorn, Congressman from North Carolina's 11th congressional district (2021–2023)^[15]
• Burgess Owens, Congressman from Utah's 4th congressional district (2021–present)^[15]

Individuals

• Stuart Scheller, former lt. colonel^[16]

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of May 4, 2022
Candidate	Raised	Spent	Cash on hand
John Boozman (R)	$5,515,449	$4,930,354	$1,580,776
Jake Bequette (R)	$1,262,746	$875,103	$375,720
Source: Federal Election Commission[17]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[a]	Margin of error	Jake Bequette	John Boozman	Heath Loftis	Jan Morgan	Undecided
Hendrix College[18]	May 2, 2022	802 (LV)	± 4.3%	19%	45%	2%	17%	18%

Results

Results by county:

  Boozman

•   40-50%
•   50-60%
•   60-70%
•   70-80%

Republican primary results^[19]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Boozman (incumbent)	201,677	58.03%
	Republican	Jake Bequette	71,809	20.66%
	Republican	Jan Morgan	65,958	18.98%
	Republican	Heath Loftis	8,112	2.33%
Total votes			347,556	100.0%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Natalie James, realtor^[20]

Eliminated in primary

• Jack Foster, former Pine Bluff city alderman^[21]
• Dan Whitfield, blue collar worker and independent candidate for U.S. Senate in 2020^[22]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[a]	Margin of error	Jack Foster	Natalie James	Dan Whitfield	Undecided
Hendrix College[18]	May 2, 2022	597 (LV)	± 5.0%	5%	17%	15%	63%

Results

Results by county:

  James

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

  James/Whitfield tie

•   40–50%

  Whitfield

•   30–40%
•   40–50%
•   50–60%

  Foster

•   30–40%
•   50–60%

Democratic primary results^[19]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Natalie James	49,722	54.09%
	Democratic	Dan Whitfield	28,319	30.80%
	Democratic	Jack Foster	13,891	15.11%
Total votes			91,932	100.0%

Libertarian convention

Candidates

Nominated at convention

• Kenneth Cates, firefighter^[23]

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report[24]	Solid R	March 4, 2022
Inside Elections[25]	Solid R	April 1, 2022
Sabato's Crystal Ball[26]	Safe R	March 1, 2022
Politico[27]	Solid R	April 1, 2022
RCP[28]	Safe R	February 24, 2022
Fox News[29]	Solid R	May 12, 2022
DDHQ[30]	Solid R	July 20, 2022
538[31]	Solid R	June 30, 2022
The Economist[32]	Safe R	September 7, 2022

Endorsements

John Boozman (R)

U.S. Executive Branch officials

• Sarah Huckabee Sanders, 31st White House press secretary (2017–2019) and candidate in the 2022 Arkansas gubernatorial election^[9]
• Donald Trump, 45th president of the United States (2017–2021)^[10]

U.S. Senators

• Tom Cotton, U.S. Senator from Arkansas (2015–present) and U.S. Representative for Arkansas's 4th congressional district (2013–2015)^[9]
• Mitch McConnell, U.S. Senate Minority Leader from Kentucky (1985–present)^[11]

Organizations

• National Right to Life^[13]
• Pro-Israel America^[14]

Natalie James (D)

Organizations

• League of Conservation Voters^[33]
• National Women's Political Caucus ^[34]
• Vote Common Good^[35]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[a]	Margin of error	John Boozman (R)	Natalie James (D)	Other	Undecided
Hendrix College[36]	September 12, 2022	835 (LV)	± 3.8%	44%	31%	5% [b]	21%
Echelon Insights[37]	August 31 – September 7, 2022	382 (RV)	± 7.7%	56%	32%	–	12%

Results

2022 United States Senate election in Arkansas^[38]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	John Boozman (incumbent)	592,437	65.73%	+5.96%
	Democratic	Natalie James	280,187	31.09%	−5.08%
	Libertarian	Kenneth Cates	28,682	3.18%	−0.78%
Total votes			901,306	100.0%	N/A
	Republican hold

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

• Chicot (largest city: Dermott)
• Clark (largest city: Arkadelphia)
• Crittenden (largest city: West Memphis)
• Desha (largest city: Dumas)
• Lee (largest city: Marianna)
• St. Francis (largest city: Forrest City)
• Woodruff (largest city: Augusta)

By congressional district

Boozman won all 4 congressional districts.^[39]

District	Boozman	James	Representative
1st	72%	25%	Rick Crawford
2nd	59%	38%	French Hill
3rd	63%	33%	Steve Womack
4th	70%	27%	Bruce Westerman

See also

• 2022 United States Senate elections
• 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Arkansas
• 2022 Arkansas gubernatorial election
• 2022 Arkansas elections

Notes

1. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear
2. Cates with 5%

References

1. "Senator Boozman seeks re-election in 2022". Southwest Times Record. March 15, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
2. "AP PROJECTS: Republican John Boozman wins reelection to U.S. Senate from Arkansas". ky3. November 9, 2022. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
3. "Boozman blasted for private remarks about Trump". April 5, 2022.
4. "Senate Candidate Jake Bequette and Supporting Groups Raise over $2.6 Million to Date".
5. "Former NFL player, Iraq war veteran Jake Bequette challenges Arkansas Sen. Boozman". Fox News. July 12, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
6. "Another challenger to John Boozman from the right". Arkansas Times. March 24, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
7. "Former gubernatorial candidate Jan Morgan launches U.S. Senate bid". Arkansas Democrat Gazette. March 17, 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
8. Staff Reports. "Young Republican Michael Deel makes bid for U.S. Senate". Southwest Times Record. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
9. Frank E. Lockwood (March 18, 2021). "Gun-rights activist Jan Morgan kicks off Senate run". Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette.
10. "Donald Trump endorses Sen. John Boozman for reelection". FoxNews. March 8, 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
11. Raju, Manu; Rogers, Alex (March 12, 2021). "McConnell quietly courts Senate primary candidates 'who can win' regardless of Trump ties". CNN. Archived from the original on August 24, 2021.
12. "Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions Announces Second Round of Congressional Endorsements for the 2022 Election Cycle". cresenergy.com. Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions. May 4, 2022. Archived from the original on August 21, 2022. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
13. "John Boozman Endorsements".
14. "Endorsed Candidates". proisraelamerica.org. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
15. "Republican congressmen endorse Sen. Boozman's primary opponent". January 18, 2022.
16. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=915738115796020 ^{[user-generated source]}
17. "2022 Election United States Senate - Arkansas". Federal Election Commission.
18. Hendrix College
19. "2022 Preferential Primary and Nonpartisan Judicial General Election".
20. Staff, A. M. P. (June 14, 2021). "Democrat Natalie James Announces for U.S. Senate". AMP. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
21. "Foster to run for US senate". Arkansas Democratic Gazette. April 10, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
22. "Dan Whitfield to run against Boozman for US Senate seat in 2022". KFSM. January 13, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
23. "Libertarians nominate more than 50, including Harrington for governor". Talk Business & Politics. February 21, 2022.
24. "2022 Senate Race ratings". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
25. "Senate ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
26. "2022 Senate". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
27. "Arkansas Senate Race 2022". Politico. April 1, 2022.
28. "Battle for the Senate 2022". RCP. January 10, 2022.
29. "2022 Election Forecast". Fox News. May 12, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
30. "2022 Election Forecast". DDHQ. July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
31. "2022 Election Forecast". FiveThirtyEight. June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
32. "Economist's 2022 Senate forecast". The Economist. September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
33. "Natalie James Earns LCV Action Fund Endorsement to Fight for Arkansas Communities in the Senate". October 19, 2022.
34. "Endorsed Candidates". National Women's Political Caucus. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
35. "2022 Candidates for Common Good". Vote Common Good. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
36. Hendrix College
37. Echelon Insights
38. "2022 General Election and Nonpartisan Judicial Runoff Election".
39. Results. docs.google.com (Report).

External links

Official campaign websites

• John Boozman (R) for Senate
• Kenneth Cates (L) for Senate
• Natalie James (D) for Senate