Lincoln-Halter Race Headed for a Runoff

Neither candidate in the Arkansas Democratic Senate primary will finish with a majority of the vote, while Rep. John Boozman (R) may be able to avoid a runoff and win his party’s nomination.

As of 1:56 p.m. Wednesday, Sen. Blanche Lincoln led Lt. Gov. Bill Halter 45-43 percent in the Democratic primary, with 99 percent of precincts reporting. The Associated Press reports that the candidates will face a runoff on June 8. Boozman had 53 percent of the vote in the Republican primary, while former state Sen. Jim Holt was in second place with 17 percent.

Halter told reporters Monday he would consider it a victory if he forced Lincoln into a runoff.

Update at 1:56 p.m. May 19.: Three House primaries will also have to go on to runoffs. Former state Sen. Tim Wooldridge and Chad Causey, retiring Rep. Marion Berry’s (D) chief of staff, must determine who will run to keep Berry’s seat Democratic, while state Sen. Joyce Elliott and state Rep. Robbie Wills will run for the Democratic nod in retiring Rep. Vic Snyder’s (D) district. Rogers Mayor Steve Womack and state Sen. Cecile Bledsoe face a runoff for the Republican nod in Boozman’s open seat.

The only other House news of national interest occurred in Snyder’s district, where former U.S. Attorney and Rove protege Tim Griffin easily won the Republican primary against restauranteur Scott Wallace 62-38 percent.

Gov. Mike Beebe (D) and former state Sen. Jim Keet (R) were uncontested in their gubernatorial primaries.