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Arkansas' 4th Congressional District elections, 2014

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Arkansas' 4th Congressional District
General Election Date
November 4, 2014
Primary Date
May 20, 2014
November 4 Election Winner:
Bruce Westerman Republican Party
Incumbent prior to election:
Tom Cotton Republican Party
Tom Cotton.jpg
Race Ratings
Cook Political Report: Likely R[1]

Sabato's Crystal Ball: Likely R[2]

Arkansas U.S. House Elections
District 1 • District 2 • District 3 • District 4
2014 U.S. Senate Elections
2014 U.S. House Elections
744px-Flag of Arkansas.svg.png

The 4th Congressional District of Arkansas held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014.

Bruce Westerman (R) won election to the seat in 2014. He defeated Tommy Moll in the Republican primary and beat James Lee Witt (D) in the general election.[3]

Incumbent Tom Cotton did not run for re-election in 2014. He instead won election to the U.S. Senate.

Candidate Filing Deadline Primary Election General Election
March 3, 2014
May 20, 2014
November 4, 2014

Primary: A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Arkansas utilizes an open primary system. Registered voters do not have to be members of a party to vote in that party's primary.[4][5]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

Voter registration: To vote in the primary, voters had to register to vote by April 20, 2014. For the general election, the voter registration deadline was October 5, 2014.[6]

See also: Arkansas elections, 2014

Incumbent: Heading into the election the incumbent was Tom Cotton (R), who was first elected in 2012. Cotton did not seek re-election in 2014. He instead ran for election to the U.S. Senate.

The 4th Congressional District is located in southwestern Arkansas. The district includes Ashley, Bradley, Calhoun, Clark, Cleveland, Columbia, Dallas, Drew, Franklin, Garland, Grant, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Howard, Johnson, Lafayette, Little River, Logan, Madison, Miller, Montgomery, Nevada, Ouachita, Pike, Polk, Scott, Sevier, Union, and Yell counties and portions of Crawford, Jefferson, Newton, and Sebastian counties.[7]

Candidates

General election candidates

Republican Party Bruce Westerman Green check mark transparent.png
Democratic Party James Lee Witt
Libertarian Party Ken Hamilton
Grey.png Janis Percefull (Write-in)


May 20, 2014, primary results

Republican Party Republican Primary

Democratic Party Democratic Primary

Libertarian Party Libertarian Convention

Did not run

Republican Party Mark Darr - Lieutenant Governor

Election results

General election

U.S. House, Arkansas District 4 General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngBruce Westerman 53.7% 110,789
     Democratic James Lee Witt 42.6% 87,742
     Libertarian Ken Hamilton 3.7% 7,598
     N/A Write-in 0% 2
Total Votes 206,131
Source: Arkansas Secretary of State

Primary election

U.S. House, Arkansas District 4 Republican Primary, 2014
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngBruce Westerman 54.5% 18,719
Tommy Moll 45.5% 15,659
Total Votes 34,378
Source: Arkansas Secretary of State

Race background

This election filled the vacant seat created by Tom Cotton's U.S. Senate bid. The seat was expected to stay Republican, but polling as of October 2014 showed that the race was closer than anticipated. A Talk Business & Hendrix College poll showed Republican Bruce Westerman leading James Lee Witt (D) by only two points.[9] As a result of this poll, American Crossroads spent $480,000 in the district to help ensure that it stayed red.[10]

Endorsements

James Lee Witt

Witt was endorsed by the Blue Dog Coalition in the race for the seat being vacated by Tom Cotton.[11]

Media

James Lee Witt

Witt released this video in May 2014. In the video, Bill Clinton praises Witt as a "problem solver who will get things done in Congress".[12]

James Lee Witt - Problem Solver

Polls

General election

General election
Poll Bruce Westerman James Lee WittKen HamiltonUndecidedMargin of ErrorSample Size
Diamond State Consulting - for AR GOP (October 21, 2014)
 46%39%2%12%+/-3.5792
Talk Business/Hendrix College (October 15-16, 2014)
 44%42%4%10%+/-4607
On Message (July 29-31, 2014)
 47%29%7%18%+/-4.9400
Talk Business/Hendrix College (July 22-25, 2014)
 48%34%3%15%+/-4.7439
Note: A "0%" finding means the candidate was not a part of the poll. The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org

Republican primary

Bruce Westerman vs. Tommy Moll
Poll Bruce Westerman Tommy MollDon't KnowMargin of ErrorSample Size
Talk Business-Hendrix College (April 29, 2014)
 47%10%43%+/-4.9392
Note: A "0%" finding means the candidate was not a part of the poll. The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org

Key votes

Below are important votes the former incumbent cast during the 113th Congress.

HR 676

See also: Boehner's lawsuit against the Obama administration

Yea3.png On July 30, 2014, the U.S. House approved a resolution 225 to 201 to sue President Barack Obama for exceeding his constitutional authority. Five Republicans—Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Paul Broun of Georgia, Scott Garrett of New Jersey, Walter Jones of North Carolina and Steve Stockman of Texas—voted with Democrats against the lawsuit.[13] Cotton joined the other 224 Republicans in favor of the lawsuit. All Democrats voted against the resolution.[14][15]

Government shutdown

See also: United States budget debate, 2013

Yea3.png On September 30, 2013, the House passed a final stopgap spending bill before the shutdown went into effect. The bill included a one-year delay of the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate and would have also stripped the bill of federal subsidies for congressional members and staff. It passed through the House with a vote of 228-201.[16] At 1 a.m. on October 1, 2013, one hour after the shutdown officially began, the House voted to move forward with going to a conference. In short order, Sen. Harry Reid rejected the call to conference.[17] Cotton voted to approve the stopgap spending bill that would have delayed the individual mandate.[18]

Yea3.png The shutdown ended on October 16, 2013, when the House took a vote on HR 2775 after it was approved by the Senate. The bill to reopen the government lifted the $16.7 trillion debt limit and funded the government through January 15, 2014. Federal employees also received retroactive pay for the shutdown period. The only concession made by Senate Democrats was to require income verification for Obamacare subsidies.[19] The House passed the legislation shortly after the Senate, by a vote of 285-144, with all 144 votes against the legislation coming from Republican members. Cotton voted for HR 2775.[20]

Campaign contributions

James Lee Witt

Bruce Westerman

Tommy Moll

Tommy Moll (2014) Campaign Finance Reports
ReportDate FiledBeginning BalanceTotal Contributions
for Reporting Period		ExpendituresCash on Hand
October Quarterly[32]October 15, 2013$0$281,180$(14,217)$266,962
Year-End[33]January 31, 2013$266,962$142,577$(51,247)$358,292
April Quarterly[34]April 15, 2014$358,292$116,004$(81,696)$392,599
Pre-Primary[35]May 8, 2014$392,599$25,458$(73,100)$344,957
Running totals
$565,219$(220,260)

District history

Candidate ballot access
Ballot Access Requirements Final.jpg
Find detailed information on ballot access requirements in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

2012

On November 6, 2012, Tom Cotton (R) won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Gene Jeffress, Joshua Drake and Bobby Tullis in the general election.

U.S. House, Arkansas District 4 General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Gene Jeffress 36.7% 95,013
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngTom Cotton 59.5% 154,149
     Green Joshua Drake 1.9% 4,807
     Libertarian Bobby Tullis 1.9% 4,984
Total Votes 258,953
Source: Arkansas Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election"

2010

On November 2, 2010, Mike Ross won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Beth Anne Rankin (R) and Josh Drake (G) in the general election.[36]

U.S. House, Arkansas District 4 General Election, 2010
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngMike Ross incumbent 57.5% 102,479
     Republican Beth Anne Rankin 40.2% 71,526
     Green Josh Drake 2.3% 4,129
Total Votes 178,134

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Cook Political Report, "2014 HOUSE RACE RATINGS FOR June 26, 2014," accessed July 28, 2014
  2. ↑ Sabato's Crystal Ball, "2014 House Races," accessed July 28, 2014
  3. ↑ The Arkansas CW, "Arkansas - Summary Vote Results," May 20, 2014
  4. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures Website, "State Primary Election Types," accessed April 3, 2023
  5. ↑ Ballotpedia research conducted December 26, 2013, through January 3, 2014, researching and analyzing various state websites and codes.
  6. ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State Website, "Voter Registration Information," accessed January 3, 2014
  7. ↑ United States Census Bureau, "Counties by Congressional Districts," accessed June 8, 2016
  8. ↑ The Republic, "Former FEMA Director James Lee Witt enters Democratic race for US House seat in Arkansas," November 5, 2013
  9. ↑ Talk Business & Politics, "Westerman-Witt Race Tightens Up In Fourth District," October 21, 2014
  10. ↑ Twitter, "Reid Wilson," October 21, 2014
  11. ↑ The Washington Post, "Centrist Dem ‘Blue Dogs’ endorse trio of House candidates," February 25, 2014
  12. ↑ YouTube, "Problem Solver," May 19, 2014
  13. ↑ U.S. House, "House Resolution 676," accessed July 30, 2014
  14. ↑ Associated Press, "Suing Obama: GOP-led House gives the go-ahead," July 31, 2014
  15. ↑ Washington Post, "House clears way for lawsuit against Obama," accessed July 30, 2014
  16. ↑ Clerk of the U.S. House, "Final vote results for Roll Call 504," accessed October 31, 2013
  17. ↑ Buzzfeed, "Government Shutdown: How We Got Here," accessed October 1, 2013
  18. ↑ Clerk of the U.S. House, "Final vote results for Roll Call 504," accessed October 31, 2013
  19. ↑ The Washington Post, "Reid, McConnell propose bipartisan Senate bill to end shutdown, extend borrowing," accessed October 16, 2013
  20. ↑ U.S. House, "Final vote results for Roll Call 550," accessed October 31, 2013
  21. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "James Lee Witt Year-End," accessed February 10, 2014
  22. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "James Lee Witt April Quarterly," accessed April 30, 2014
  23. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "James Lee Witt Pre-Primary," accessed May 12, 2014
  24. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "James Lee Witt July Quarterly," accessed July 24, 2014
  25. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "James Lee Witt October Quarterly," accessed October 22, 2014
  26. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Bruce Westerman October Quarterly," accessed February 10, 2014
  27. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Bruce Westerman Year-End," accessed February 10, 2014
  28. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Bruce Westerman April Quarterly," accessed April 30, 2014
  29. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Bruce Westerman Pre-Primary," accessed May 12, 2014
  30. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Bruce Westerman July Quarterly," accessed July 24, 2014
  31. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Bruce Westerman October Quarterly," accessed October 22, 2014
  32. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Tommy Moll October Quarterly," accessed October 18, 2013
  33. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Tommy Moll Year-End," accessed February 10, 2014
  34. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Tommy Moll April Quarterly," accessed April 30, 2014
  35. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Tommy Moll Pre-Primary," accessed May 12, 2014
  36. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010," accessed March 28, 2013
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Arkansas' current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators
John Boozman (R)
Tom Cotton (R)
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
Republican Party (6)

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