Voters in Arkansas elected one member to the U.S. Senate in the general election on November 8, 2022. The primary was scheduled for May 24, 2022, and a primary runoff was scheduled for June 21, 2022. The filing deadline was March 1, 2022.

The election filled the Class III Senate seat held by John Boozman (R), who first took office in 2011.

For more information about the Democratic primary, click here.
For more information about the Republican primary, click here.

The outcome of this race affected the partisan balance of the U.S. Senate in 2022. Democrats retained their majority and gained one net seat, with the Senate's post-election partisan balance at 51 Democrats and 49 Republicans.

Thirty-five of 100 seats were up for election, including one special election.^[1] At the time of the election, Democrats had an effective majority, with the chamber split 50-50 and Vice President Kamala Harris (D) having the tie-breaking vote.^[2] Of the seats up for election in 2022, Democrats held 14 and Republicans held 21.

For more information about the primaries in this election, click on the links below:

Candidates and election results

General election

General election for U.S. Senate Arkansas

Incumbent John Boozman defeated Natalie James, Kenneth Cates, Richard Gant, and James Garner in the general election for U.S. Senate Arkansas on November 8, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	John Boozman (R)	65.7	592,437
	Natalie James (D)	31.1	280,187
	Kenneth Cates (L)	3.2	28,682
	Richard Gant (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	0
	James Garner (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	0

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 901,306
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Stuart Shirrell (Independent)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Arkansas

Natalie James defeated Dan Whitfield and Jack Foster in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Arkansas on May 24, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Natalie James	54.1	49,722
	Dan Whitfield	30.8	28,319
	Jack Foster	15.1	13,891

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 91,932
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. Senate Arkansas

Incumbent John Boozman defeated Jake Bequette, Jan Morgan, and Heath Loftis in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Arkansas on May 24, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	John Boozman	58.0	201,677
	Jake Bequette	20.7	71,809
	Jan Morgan	19.0	65,958
	Heath Loftis	2.3	8,112

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 347,556
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Michael Deel (R)

Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for U.S. Senate Arkansas

Kenneth Cates advanced from the Libertarian convention for U.S. Senate Arkansas on February 20, 2022.

		Candidate
✔		Kenneth Cates (L)

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Results analysis

Echelon Insights, a polling and data analysis firm, published an analysis deck called Split Ticket Atlas: Comparative Republican Presidential, Gubernatorial, and Senate Candidate Performance, 2020-2022 in March 2023. The report compared the performance of Republican candidates in 2022 statewide elections. Click here to view the full analysis.

This analysis found that, compared to 2022 gubernatorial candidate Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R), Boozman received 61,897 more votes. The largest differences were in Pulaski (13,442) and Benton (7,770) counties. Huckabee Sanders came closest to Boozman's vote total in Little River County (24 votes).

Know of additional analysis related to this election? Please email us.

Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Natalie-James.PNG

Natalie James (D)

James repeatedly defended attacks on women's healthcare, voting rights, LGBTQ Arkansans, Small Business owners, criminal justice reform. As a champion for criminal justice reform, she led unsuccessful efforts during the Arkansas 93rd General Assembly to hold law enforcement officers accountable and to end qualified immunity in the wake of tragic police killings across the country.

During the social unrest of the summer of 2020, She took an active role in bridging the gap of communication between communities of color, local police department, and local elected leaders. These events let her know that it was her time to serve & help others make sense of it all.

Natalie started her career as a Realtor and used her new occupation to drive her passion for helping families obtain stable and affordable homes. Using her space of influence to teach the importance financial stability in communities often left behind. She made it her mission to help Arkansans accomplish its first step in the American Dream.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Natalie James (D)

Natalie James is running for the United States Senate to expand access to Voting Rights for all, Criminal Justice reform, affordable health care, advocate for a living wage, end big money in politics, move our nation forward on the climate crisis, invest in our public education system, and restore hope and trust in our government. I come out of a civil rights politically minded background, in terms of my family. My Father was extremely active in maintaining civil rights for people in Arkansas as well as played in active role in support to numerous campaigns and friends.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Natalie James (D)

I follow in the footsteps of the late great Shirley Chisholm, the First African American woman elected to Congress, a woman who was bold enough to put her hat in the ring for an office - it would take another 49 years for a black woman to see her name on the winning ticket of;

In the footsteps of Hiram Revels, the First African American elected to the United States Senate;

And As a woman, I find myself walking in the shoes of Carol Moseley Braun, the first African American woman elected to the United States Senate.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Natalie James (D)

Our core responsibility is to listen & be a voice for the people, and fight for what will make all communities thrive. We must represent the people. We must show up every day ready to listen, learn and serve the community with honesty & a growth mindset.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Natalie James (D)

To leave a deep and profoundly legacy of leaving everyone better than I found them. To evoke a feeling in others of being the best person possible and strive to be better than the previous day.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Natalie James (D)

The first defining historical event I witnessed in my lifetime was 9/11. We listened on the radio as I dropped my little sister off at school, and watched & cried in horror that day in High school East lab as the Towers imploded on themselves shattering thousands of lives and scarring millions of minds. I was 17 that day.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Natalie James (D)

My very first. Job was at Joann's Fabric store while in High school. I would gather material and crafts for my School spirit outfits & Projects I would sew & make. I Worked there until graduation.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Natalie James (D)

I perceive the United States greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade is maintaining democracy and maintaining everyone's right to vote.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

Natalie James (D)

Term limits are needed so that we can have and allow our younger generations to be more involved in the decisions that directly affect them & their future. We have current sitting senators with over a few decades in office and over the age of 70. The constitution ask for that you be the age of 30, yet the average age of the United States Senators is around 62 years old. In order to grow and thrive we must have fresh, young perspectives and minds mixed with experienced and wise minds. Term limits allow for both.

What qualities does the U.S. Senate possess that makes it unique as an institution?

Natalie James (D)

We have Faced turbulent times and we’ve overcome them ,not by drowning out our neighbors or closing off our hearts, ears, & mind. But by realizing that having our differences in opinion doesn’t mean we can’t find common ground to get things done and make progress for all. What is so Unquie about The Senate is the ability to be a fence and protect all its citizens from its "perceived rulers" & “the transient impressions into which they themselves might be led.”, while determine how bills and resolutions are moved towards passage for the betterment of the People.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for senators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Natalie James (D)

No, I don't think it's beneficial for senators to have previous governmental or Political experience, one reason the Senate has a unique role of being the guardian of minority rights. We are the world's greatest deliberative body and that means that we need to have all types of minds available to yield the greatest outcome for the majority of citizens. The goal is to make sure we are meeting the needs of a growing and increasingly diverse nation. To do this you must include the normal every day working class along with diverse populous for true expression to evolve.

What do you think of the filibuster?

Natalie James (D)

The current filibuster is not a filibuster. And should be obsolete. The filibuster is a means in which to extend debate. Currently the filibuster is used as a tool to push corporate agendas and silence the will and voice of the people including the minority party in the United States. Which goes directly against what the Senate and who the Senate is to protect. The filibuster is a tool that has broken open the floodgates in our fence and allow for corporations to override the narrative. The expression of the people and desire of the people has been removed because of the current changes & use of the filibuster. The legislative filibuster hinders the way that the Senate operates. It has been a pirate to the American peoples will and aided to the stolen legacy of the US, while perpetuating & permitting obstructionist to delay legislation that's critically needed for the people.

If you are not a current senator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Natalie James (D)

Yes, they're 24 current committees, of those that interest me would be; joint economic committee, small business & entrepreneurship, banking-housing -&urban affairs, as well as agriculture-nutrition-& forestry

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Natalie James (D)

Yes, I believe compromise is a necessity in policymaking. We want to have both sides come to a mutual point of agreement to continue to grow our nation forward.

Voting information

See also: Voting in Arkansas

Election information in Arkansas: Nov. 8, 2022, election.

What was the voter registration deadline?

In-person: Oct. 10, 2022
By mail: Postmarked by Oct. 10, 2022
Online: N/A

Was absentee/mail-in voting available to all voters?

No

What was the absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline?

In-person: Nov. 4, 2022
By mail: Received by Nov. 1, 2022
Online: N/A

What was the absentee/mail-in ballot return deadline?

In-person: Nov. 4, 2022
By mail: Received by Nov. 8, 2022

Was early voting available to all voters?

Yes

What were the early voting start and end dates?

Oct. 24, 2022 to Nov. 7, 2022

Were all voters required to present ID at the polls? If so, was a photo or non-photo ID required?

N/A

When were polls open on Election Day?

7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Campaign finance

This section contains campaign finance figures from the Federal Election Commission covering all candidate fundraising and spending in this election.^[3] It does not include information on fundraising before the current campaign cycle or on spending by satellite groups. The numbers in this section are updated as candidates file new campaign finance reports. Candidates for Congress are required to file financial reports on a quarterly basis, as well as two weeks before any primary, runoff, or general election in which they will be on the ballot and upon the termination of any campaign committees.^[4] Click here to view the reporting schedule for candidates for U.S. Congress in 2022.

U.S. Congress campaign reporting schedule, 2022
Report	Close of books	Filing deadline
Year-end 2021	12/31/2021	1/31/2022
April quarterly	3/31/2022	4/15/2022
July quarterly	6/30/2022	7/15/2022
October quarterly	9/30/2022	10/15/2022
Pre-general	10/19/2022	10/27/2022
Post-general	11/28/2022	12/08/2022
Year-end 2022	12/31/2022	1/31/2023

Name	Party	Receipts*	Disbursements**	Cash on hand	Date
John Boozman	Republican Party	$7,768,918	$7,335,379	$892,220	As of December 31, 2022
Jack Foster	Democratic Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Natalie James	Democratic Party	$81,481	$81,266	$215	As of December 31, 2022
Dan Whitfield	Democratic Party	$33,702	$54,002	$9	As of December 31, 2022
Jake Bequette	Republican Party	$1,395,154	$1,390,351	$4,803	As of December 31, 2022
Heath Loftis	Republican Party	$39,678	$40,178	$0	As of May 25, 2022
Jan Morgan	Republican Party	$622,789	$622,789	$0	As of July 27, 2022
Kenneth Cates	Libertarian Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Richard Gant	Independent	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
James Garner	Independent	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2022. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC). * According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election. * Candidate either did not report any receipts or disbursements to the FEC, or Ballotpedia did not find an FEC candidate ID.

General election race ratings

See also: Race rating definitions and methods

Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:

Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.^[5]
Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.

Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.^[6]^[7]^[8]

Race ratings: U.S. Senate election in Arkansas, 2022
Race tracker	Race ratings
	November 8, 2022	November 1, 2022	October 25, 2022	October 18, 2022
The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball	Safe Republican	Safe Republican	Safe Republican	Safe Republican
Note: Ballotpedia reviews external race ratings every week throughout the election season and posts weekly updates even if the media outlets have not revised their ratings during that week.

Ballot access

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in Arkansas in the 2022 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Arkansas, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2022
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
Arkansas	U.S. Senate	Ballot-qualified party	N/A	Fixed by party	3/1/2022	Source
Arkansas	U.S. Senate	Unaffiliated	3% of total votes cast for governor in 2018 or 10,000, whichever is less	N/A	5/1/2022	Source

Election history