# 1998 United States Senate election in Arkansas

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vte :
The 1998 United States Senate election in Arkansas was held on November 3, 1998. Incumbent Democratic Senator Dale Bumpers chose to retire instead of running for reelection to a fifth term. Making this was the first open seat with no incumbent held in this seat since the 1884 election. Democratic former U.S. Representative Blanche Lincoln won the open seat against Republican State Senator Fay Boozman. Lincoln did not seek re-election to Congress in 1996 because she wanted prioritize her family having welcomed twin boys in mid 1996, thus, she took 2 years off before re-entering the political arena as a Senate candidate. At 38, Lincoln was the youngest woman ever elected to the United States Senate. In 2010, Lincoln would lose re-election to a third term by Fay Boozman's brother, John Boozman.

## Controversy about pregnancy from rape

During the campaign, Boozman caused controversy for his comments about rape, claiming that women rarely became pregnant after being raped due to a hormone he described as "God's little protective shield".

## Democratic primary
### Candidates

* Winston Bryant, Attorney General of Arkansas, former lieutenant governor, former Secretary of State of Arkansas and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 1996
* Nate Coulter, Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 1993
* Blanche Lincoln, former U.S. Representative
* Scott Ferguson, radiologist and State Representative

#### Withdrew

* Pat Hays, Mayor of North Little Rock

### Results

Democratic Primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Blanche Lincoln | 145,009 | 45.5% |
| | Democratic | Winston Bryant | 87,183 | 27.4% |
| | Democratic | Scott Ferguson | 44,761 | 14.0% |
| | Democratic | Nate Coulter | 41,848 | 13.1% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 318,801 | 100.00% |

## Republican primary
### Candidates

* Fay Boozman, State Senator
* Tom Prince, Mayor of Little Rock

### Results

Republican Primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Fay Boozman | 128,929 | 78.0% |
| | Republican | Tom Prince | 44,006 | 22.0% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 172,035 | 100.00% |

## General election
### Candidates

* Blanche Lincoln (D), former U.S. Representative
* Fay Boozman (R), State Senator
* Charley Heffley (Reform)

### Results

Arkansas Senate election 1998 :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic | Blanche Lincoln | 385,878 | 55.07% |
| Republican | Fay Boozman | 295,870 | 42.23% |
| Reform | Charley E. Heffley | 18,896 | 2.70% |
| Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |