Cotton Defeats Pryor In Epic Senate Race

Rep. Tom Cotton, unknown three years ago, continued his political ascent Tuesday with a convincing victory in the Arkansas Senate race over Sen. Mark Pryor.

“The people of Arkansas tonight have made their choice,” Cotton said in his victory speech. “We have again chosen constitutional government which allows each of us to flourish according to his abilities and industry, to live with the blessings of civil and religious liberty, to live as free men and women under law and to control our government rather than be controlled by it.”

At 11:10 p.m., Cotton was leading with nearly 55% of the vote compared to about 40% for Pryor. Libertarian Nathan LaFrance and Green Mark Swaney each had less than 2% of the vote.

Cotton was winning big in Benton County (37,118-15,459), Saline County (25,754-12,153), Faulkner County (20,582-11,877), and Sebastian County (14,284-7,413). Pryor was winning Pulaski County, 71,822-52,101, as well as the eastern Arkansas counties along the Mississippi River.

Cotton was projected the winner by CNN almost immediately after the polls were closed. In his speech, he portrayed the race as a choice between two ways of government – “a relentlessly centralizing bureaucratic administration of supposed elites” and “a free government, one that is limited in scope yet strong and confident in its rightful duties.”

“We have chosen a government that aids our fellow citizens who are struggling without overwhelming them or taking away their freedom or everyone else’s freedom in the process,” he said. “Arkansans have chosen a government that protects all the things that we hold dear and in common: our natural rights, the national defense, a system of free enterprise built on private property rights, not special privileges, and the right, the right to think our thoughts and speak our mind and pray our prayers and raise our kids according to our faith and conscience.”

Cotton, whose campaign was marked by relentless discipline, became emotional near the end of his speech as he spoke about military servicemen still serving overseas (“my old battle buddies”) and his family. His voice cracked as he thanked his wife, Anna, “whose love sustains me and completes me.”

Pryor took the stage at his campaign watch party a few minutes before 9 p.m. to concede.

“I’ve just called Tom Cotton to congratulate him on his victory,” he said. “I wish him the very best as he takes this seat on the Senate floor, and I want you to know that he will be in my prayers. That’s part of taking off the red jersey and taking off the blue jersey.”

In his speech, Pryor said, “The biggest and most serious problem we’re facing in our nation today is the dysfunction of our political system in Washington. We have incredible potential, but we won’t reach it unless Washington starts to work again for all of us.”

The race became a focal point nationally because of its potential to impact which party controlled the Senate. The two major parties and their allies poured their resources into the race. More than 65,000 television ads were run at a cost of $29 million, according to the Center for Public Integrity.

The Republican Party of Arkansas, which normally has a staff of four, was increased by an additional 50 paid employees, and the party has been operating 14 offices around the state in addition to county offices and the state headquarters. According to Robert McLarty, the Democrats’ coordinated campaign director, more than 1,000 Democratic Party volunteers knocked on 75,000 doors over the weekend.

With Cotton’s victory and other state outcomes on Tuesday night, the GOP holds a 52-45 margin of control. Alaska, Louisiana and Virginia had not been called as of late Tuesday night.