List of United States Senators from Arkansas
Encyclopedia
Arkansas
was admitted to the Union on June 15, 1836, and elects its senators to Class 2 and Class 3. Arkansas's Senate
seats were declared vacant in July 1861, due to its secession
from the Union
. They were again filled from June 1868. Its current senators are Democrat Mark Pryor
and Republican John Boozman
.
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
was admitted to the Union on June 15, 1836, and elects its senators to Class 2 and Class 3. Arkansas's Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
seats were declared vacant in July 1861, due to its secession
Secession
Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or especially a political entity. Threats of secession also can be a strategy for achieving more limited goals.-Secession theory:...
from the Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
. They were again filled from June 1868. Its current senators are Democrat Mark Pryor
Mark Pryor
Mark Lunsford Pryor is the senior United States Senator from Arkansas, serving since 2003. He is a member of the Democratic Party and former Attorney General of Arkansas....
and Republican John Boozman
John Boozman
John Nichols Boozman is the junior U.S. Senator for Arkansas . A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the U.S. Representative for .Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, he was the brother of state Senator Fay Boozman...
.
Class 2
# | Senator | Party | Years | Term | Electoral history |
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1 | William S. Fulton | Democratic | September 18, 1836 – August 15, 1844 |
1 | Elected in 1836 United States Senate elections, 1836 The United States Senate election of 1836 was an election which had the Jacksonian coalition emerge as the Democratic Party, with the Adams, or Anti-Jackson, coalition emerge as the Whig Party... |
2 | Re-elected in 1840 United States Senate elections, 1840 The United States Senate election of 1840 was an election which, corresponding with their Party's success in the 1840 Presidential election, had the Whig Party take control of the United States Senate.... Died |
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Vacant | August 15, 1844 – November 8, 1844 |
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2 | Chester Ashley Chester Ashley Chester Ashley was an American politician who represented Arkansas in the U.S. Senate from 1844 until his death.... |
Democratic | November 8, 1844 – April 29, 1848 |
Elected to finish Fulton's term | |
3 | Elected to a full term in 1846 United States Senate elections, 1846 The United States Senate election of 1846 was an election which had the Democratic Party gain four seats in the United States Senate.As this election was prior to ratification of the seventeenth amendment, Senators were chosen by State legislatures.-Results:... Died |
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Vacant | April 29, 1848 – May 12, 1848 |
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3 | William K. Sebastian | Democratic | May 12, 1848 – July 11, 1861 |
Appointed to continue Ashley's term Elected to finish Ashley's term |
|
4 | Elected to full term in 1852 United States Senate elections, 1852 The United States Senate election of 1852 was an election which had the Democratic Party gain two seats in the United States Senate, and which coincided with the 1852 Presidential election.... |
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5 | Re-elected in 1858 United States Senate elections, 1858 The United States Senate election of 1858 was an election which had the Republican Party gain six additional seats in the United States Senate.As this election was prior to ratification of the seventeenth amendment, Senators were chosen by State legislatures.... Expelled (Expulsion was reversed by the Senate in 1877) |
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Vacant | July 11, 1861 – June 22, 1868 |
Civil War American Civil War The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25... and Reconstruction |
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6 | |||||
4 | Alexander McDonald Alexander McDonald Alexander McDonald was a Republican politician who represented Arkansas in the U.S. Senate from 1868 to 1871.-Biography:... |
Republican | June 22, 1868 – March 4, 1871 |
Elected to finish term Lost re-election |
|
5 | Powell Clayton Powell Clayton Powell Clayton was an engineer, a Union Army general in the American Civil War, the first Reconstruction Governor of the State of Arkansas, and Ambassador to Mexico during the administrations of William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt.-Early life:Clayton was born in Bethel, Pennsylvania, to John... |
Republican | March 24, 1871 – March 4, 1877 |
7 | Elected in 1871 |
6 | Augustus Garland Augustus Hill Garland Augustus Hill Garland was an Arkansas lawyer and politician. He was a senator in both the United States and the Confederate States, served as 11th Governor of Arkansas and as Attorney General of the United States in the first administration of Grover Cleveland.-Early life and law career:Garland... |
Democratic | March 4, 1877 – March 6, 1885 |
8 | Elected in 1876 United States Senate elections, 1876 The United States Senate election of 1876 was an election which had the Democratic Party gain three seats in the United States Senate, and which coincided with Rutherford B... |
9 | Re-elected in 1883 Resigned to become U.S. Attorney General United States Attorney General The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. The attorney general is considered to be the chief lawyer of the U.S. government... |
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Vacant | March 6, 1885 – March 20, 1885 |
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7 | James H. Berry | Democratic | March 20, 1885 – March 4, 1907 |
Elected to finish Garland's term | |
10 | Re-elected in 1889 | ||||
11 | Re-elected in 1895 | ||||
12 | Re-elected in 1901 Lost re-election |
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8 | Jeff Davis | Democratic | March 4, 1907 – January 3, 1913 |
13 | Elected in 1906 United States Senate elections, 1906 The United States Senate election of 1906 was an election which had the Republican Party gain three seats in the United States Senate, expanding their majority to almost twice that of the opposing Democratic Party.... Re-elected in 1912, but died before new term began |
Vacant | January 3, 1913 – January 6, 1913 |
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9 | John N. Heiskell | Democratic | January 6, 1913 – January 29, 1913 |
Appointed to continue Davis's term Successor qualified |
|
10 | William M. Kavanaugh William M. Kavanaugh William Marmaduke Kavanaugh was a Democratic United States Senator from the State of Arkansas.-Biography:William Marmaduke Kavanaugh was born near Eutaw, Alabama on March 3, 1866... |
Democratic | January 29, 1913 – March 4, 1913 |
Elected to finish Davis's term |
|
11 | Joseph T. Robinson | Democratic | March 4, 1913 – July 14, 1937 |
14 | Elected in 1913 |
15 | Re-elected in 1918 | ||||
16 | Re-elected in 1924 | ||||
17 | Re-elected in 1930 | ||||
18 | Re-elected in 1936 Died |
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Vacant | July 14, 1937 – November 15, 1937 |
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12 | John E. Miller John E. Miller John Elvis Miller was a Democratic Party politician from Arkansas who represented the state in the United States House of Representatives from 1931 until 1937, and in the United States Senate from 1937 until 1941.... |
Democratic | November 15, 1937 – March 31, 1941 |
Elected to finish Robinson's term Resigned to become U.S. District Judge |
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Vacant | March 31, 1941 – April 1, 1941 |
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13 | George L. Spencer | Democratic | April 1, 1941 – January 3, 1943 |
Elected to finish Miller's term Retired |
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14 | John L. McClellan | Democratic | January 3, 1943 – November 28, 1977 |
19 | Elected in 1942 |
20 | Re-elected in 1948 | ||||
21 | Re-elected in 1954 | ||||
22 | Re-elected in 1960 | ||||
23 | Re-elected in 1966 | ||||
24 | Re-elected in 1972 Died |
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Vacant | November 28, 1977 – December 10, 1977 |
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15 | Kaneaster Hodges, Jr. Kaneaster Hodges, Jr. Kaneaster Hodges, Jr. served as a Democratic United States Senator from the U.S. State of Arkansas.Hodges was born in Newport, Arkansas and graduated from Princeton University... |
Democratic | December 10, 1977 – January 3, 1979 |
Appointed to finish McClellan's term Retired |
|
16 | David H. Pryor | Democratic | January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1997 |
25 | Elected in 1978 United States Senate elections, 1978 The United States Senate election of 1978 in the middle of Democratic President Jimmy Carter's term. The Democrats lost a net of three seats to the Republicans, leaving the balance of the chamber 58-41 in favor of the Democrats.... |
26 | Re-elected in 1984 United States Senate elections, 1984 The 1984 elections to the United States Senate coincided with the landslide re-election of President Ronald Reagan in the 1984 presidential election... |
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27 | Re-elected in 1990 United States Senate election in Arkansas, 1990 The 1990 United States Senate election in Arkansas was held on November 6, 1990. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator David Pryor won re-election uncontested.-Results:-References:... Retired |
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17 | Tim Hutchinson Tim Hutchinson Young Timothy Hutchinson, known as Tim Hutchinson is a Republican politician and former senator from the state of Arkansas.Hutchinson was born in Bentonville, Arkansas, and he graduated from Bob Jones University... |
Republican | January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2003 |
28 | Elected in 1996 United States Senate election in Arkansas, 1996 The 1996 United States Senate election in Arkansas was held on November 5, 1996. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator David Pryor decided to retire. Republican Tim Hutchinson won the open seat.-Results:-External links:... Lost re-election |
18 | Mark Pryor Mark Pryor Mark Lunsford Pryor is the senior United States Senator from Arkansas, serving since 2003. He is a member of the Democratic Party and former Attorney General of Arkansas.... |
Democratic | January 3, 2003 – Present |
29 | Elected in 2002 United States Senate election in Arkansas, 2002 The 2002 United States Senate election in Arkansas was held on November 5, 2002. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Tim Hutchinson ran for a second term, but lost re-election to Mark Pryor.-Results:-External links:... |
30 | Re-elected in 2008 United States Senate election in Arkansas, 2008 The 2008 United States Senate election in Arkansas was held on November 4, 2008. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Mark Pryor decided to run for a second term. No Republican filed to challenge him. His only opponent was Green party candidate Rebekah Kennedy... |
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# | Senator | Party | Years | Term | Electoral history |
Class 3
# | Senator | Party | Years | Term | Electoral history |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ambrose H. Sevier | Democratic | September 18, 1836 – March 15, 1848 |
1 | Elected in 1836 United States Senate elections, 1836 The United States Senate election of 1836 was an election which had the Jacksonian coalition emerge as the Democratic Party, with the Adams, or Anti-Jackson, coalition emerge as the Whig Party... |
2 | Re-elected in 1837 | ||||
3 | Re-elected in 1843 Resigned |
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Vacant | March 15, 1848 – March 30, 1848 |
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2 | Solon Borland Solon Borland Solon Borland was a newspaperman, soldier, diplomat, Democratic United States Senator from the State of Arkansas and a Confederate officer during the American Civil War.-Early life:... |
Democratic | March 30, 1848 – April 11, 1853 |
Elected to finish Sevier's term | |
4 | Elected to full term in 1848 United States Senate elections, 1848 The United States Senate election of 1848 was an election which had the Whig Party gain four seats in the United States Senate.As this election was prior to ratification of the seventeenth amendment, Senators were chosen by State legislatures.... Resigned |
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Vacant | April 11, 1853 – July 6, 1853 |
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3 | Robert W. Johnson Robert Ward Johnson Robert Ward Johnson was a Democratic United States Senator and Confederate States Senator from the State of Arkansas.... |
Democratic | July 6, 1853 – March 4, 1861 |
Appointed to continue Borland's term Elected to finish Borland's term |
|
6 | Re-elected in 1855 Retired |
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4 | Charles B. Mitchel Charles B. Mitchel Charles Burton Mitchel was a Democratic Party politician from Arkansas who represented the state in the U.S... |
Democratic | March 4, 1861 – July 11, 1861 |
7 | Elected in 1861 Expelled for supporting the Confederacy |
Vacant | July 11, 1861 – June 23, 1868 |
Civil War American Civil War The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25... and Reconstruction |
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8 | |||||
5 | Benjamin F. Rice Benjamin F. Rice Benjamin Franklin Rice was a Republican politician from Arkansas who represented the state in the U.S. Senate from 1868 to 1873.-Biography:Rice was born in East Otto, New York, on May 26, 1828; his schooling was private... |
Republican | June 23, 1868 – March 4, 1873 |
Elected to finish term | |
6 | Stephen W. Dorsey | Republican | March 4, 1873 – March 4, 1879 |
9 | Elected in 1873 Retired |
7 | James D. Walker James D. Walker James David Walker was a Democratic Party politician from Arkansas who represented the state in the U.S. Senate from 1879 to 1885... |
Democratic | March 4, 1879 – March 4, 1885 |
10 | Elected in 1879 Retired |
8 | James K. Jones James Kimbrough Jones James Kimbrough Jones was a United States Senator.-Biography:Born in Marshall County, Mississippi, Jones moved with his father to Dallas County, Arkansas in 1848... |
Democratic | March 4, 1885 – March 4, 1903 |
10 | Elected in 1885 |
11 | Re-elected in 1891 | ||||
12 | Re-elected in 1897 Lost re-election |
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9 | James P. Clarke | Democratic | March 4, 1903 – October 1, 1916 |
13 | Elected in 1903 |
14 | Re-elected in 1909 | ||||
15 | Re-elected in 1914 Died |
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Vacant | October 1, 1916 – November 8, 1916 |
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10 | William F. Kirby William F. Kirby William Fosgate Kirby was a Democratic Party politician from Arkansas who represented the state in the U.S. Senate from 1916 to 1921.... |
Democratic | November 8, 1916 – March 4, 1921 |
Elected to finish Clarke's term Lost renomination |
|
11 | Thaddeus H. Caraway Thaddeus H. Caraway Thaddeus Horatius Caraway was a Democratic Party politician from Arkansas who represented the state first in the U.S. House of Representatives and then in the U.S. Senate .... |
Democratic | March 4, 1921 – November 6, 1931 |
16 | Elected in 1920 |
17 | Re-elected in 1926 Died |
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Vacant | November 6, 1931 – November 13, 1931 |
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12 | Hattie W. Caraway | Democratic | November 13, 1931 – January 3, 1945 |
Appointed to finish her husband's term Widow's succession Widow's succession was a political practice prominent in some countries in the early part of the 20th century, by which a politician who died in office was succeeded by his widow, either through election or direct appointment to the seat... |
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18 | Elected to full term in 1932 | ||||
19 | Re-elected in 1938 Lost renomination |
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13 | J. William Fulbright J. William Fulbright James William Fulbright was a United States Senator representing Arkansas from 1945 to 1975.Fulbright was a Southern Democrat and a staunch multilateralist who supported the creation of the United Nations and the longest serving chairman in the history of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee... |
Democratic | January 3, 1945 – December 31, 1974 |
20 | Elected in 1944 |
21 | Re-elected in 1950 | ||||
22 | Re-elected in 1956 | ||||
23 | Re-elected in 1962 | ||||
24 | Re-elected in 1968 Lost re-nomination, then resigned |
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Vacant | December 31, 1974 – January 3, 1975 |
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14 | Dale Bumpers Dale Bumpers Dale Leon Bumpers is an American politician who served as the 38th Governor of Arkansas from 1971 to 1975; and then in the United States Senate from 1975 until his retirement in January 1999. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Senator Bumpers is currently counsel at the Washington, D.C... |
Democratic | January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1999 |
25 | Elected in 1974 |
26 | Re-elected in 1980 United States Senate election in Arkansas, 1980 The 1980 United States Senate election in Arkansas was held November 8, 1980. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Dale Bumpers won re-election to a second term.-Results:-References:... |
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27 | Re-elected in 1986 United States Senate election in Arkansas, 1986 The 1986 United States Senate election in Arkansas was held November 8, 1986. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Dale Bumpers won re-election to a third term.-Results:-References:... |
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28 | Re-elected in 1992 United States Senate election in Arkansas, 1992 The 1992 United States Senate election in Arkansas was held November 3, 1992. Incumbent Dale Bumpers won re-election to a fourth term.-Results:-See also:* United States Senate election in Arkansas, 2002... Retired |
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15 | Blanche Lincoln Blanche Lincoln Blanche Meyers Lambert Lincoln is a former U.S. Senator from Arkansas and a member of the Democratic Party. First elected to the Senate in 1998, she was the first woman elected to the Senate from Arkansas since Hattie Caraway in 1932 and, at age 38, was the youngest woman ever elected to the... |
Democratic | January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2011 |
29 | Elected in 1998 United States Senate election in Arkansas, 1998 The 1998 United States Senate election in Arkansas was held November 3, 1998. Incumbent Dale Bumpers did not run for re-election, as he was retiring. U.S. Representative Blanche Lincoln won the open seat.-Candidates:... |
30 | Re-elected in 2004 United States Senate election in Arkansas, 2004 The 2004 United States Senate election in Arkansas took place on November 2, 2004 alongside other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Democrat incumbent U.S. Senator Blanche... Lost re-election |
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16 | John Boozman John Boozman John Nichols Boozman is the junior U.S. Senator for Arkansas . A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the U.S. Representative for .Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, he was the brother of state Senator Fay Boozman... |
Republican | January 3, 2011 – Present |
31 | Elected in 2010 United States Senate election in Arkansas, 2010 The 2010 United States Senate election in Arkansas took place on November 2, 2010 alongside other elections to the United States Senate in other states, as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Democratic U.S... |
# | Senator | Party | Years | Term | Electoral history |
See also
- List of United States Representatives from Arkansas
- United States congressional delegations from ArkansasUnited States congressional delegations from ArkansasThe followings tables present the congressional delegations from Arkansas to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives.-United States Senate:-Delegates from Arkansas Territory:- Members of the House of Representatives :...