Senatorial Futures: Arkansas

[Adlai Stevenson]

SENIOR SENATOR
Blanche Lincoln (D) -
Born 1960; First elected 1998; Re-elected 2004, 56%-44%.

Lincoln was a trailblazer for women; the youngest ever elected a Senator. Like her colleague Mark Pryor, she won despite a tough electoral enviroment for her party in 2004.  Admittedly, her future may be less secure than Pryor's; one can imagine the 2010 elections being tough midterms for Democrats.  Still, they are both representative of the good shape the Democratic party remains in in Arkansas.     


JUNIOR SENATOR
Mark Pryor (D) -
Born 1963; First elected 2002, 54%-46%. 

Mark Pryor is a solid moderate and has the air of a long-term fixture in Arkansas.  He demonstrated his strength by handily defeating a Republican incumbent in an anti-Democratic year, particularly in the South.  In 2008, he is unlikely to face a major opponent in a state that elects Democratic majorities at home and to Congress.

[Adlai Stevenson]

I agree with both.

Jim Holt had a suprising showing in 2004 against Lincoln, but he was bombed in the Lt Governor race this year by Bill Halter

I guess 2004 was just a different year; there is also the old adage on here about Senate and Gubernatorial posts being different elections.

[Virginian87]

Arkansas is the last Southern state that is still very much a Democratic fortress.  Even though Huckabee was a popular governor, that still doesn't change the fact that the Dems have supermajorities in both houses of the state legislature, a new governor, and a majority of the House seats. 

Both these Senate seats will stay Democratic for a long time.

[memphis]

Pryor is also an old Arkansas political family. These seats are safe as long as the incumants want them. They should be competitive if/when they retire.

[jokerman]

Pryor is also an old Arkansas political family. These seats are safe as long as the incumants want them. They should be competitive if/when they retire.

The latter statement is not really correct.  Rep. Mike Ross or Lt. Gov Bill Halter, among many others, would be strong candidates with a solid advantage over virtually any GOP opponent should one of the seats become open.

[jokerman]

By the way, great to see you posting again, Virginian.