The two ex-congressmen easily dispatched lesser-known, underfunded rivals. With most of the drama in that race reserved for the general election in November, Tuesday’s primary was highlighted by dozens of heated Republican contests for congressional, statewide and legislative offices.
Ross defeated substitute teacher Lynette Bryant in the Democratic primary, while Hutchinson defeated Little Rock businessman Curtis Coleman.
The governor’s race and the fight for one of the state’s U.S. Senate seats are among the most expensive campaigns in the nation, but both played a back seat to other matchups Tuesday. Neither Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor nor his Republican rival, U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton, faced primary opposition Tuesday.
The election also marked the first statewide enforcement of Arkansas’ new voter ID law, which Republicans pushed through during the 2013 legislative session after claiming a majority for the first time since Reconstruction.
With Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe unable to run for re-election because of term limits, the governor’s race is expected to be one of the most closely watched in the nation as Republicans try to complete a takeover of the state’s top offices. Republicans control both chambers of the Legislature.
