Gov. Hutchinson re-elected governor; all constitutional offices won by GOP (Updated)

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson was re-elected to a second term Tuesday. The Associated Press called the governor’s race shortly after the polls closed at 7:30 p.m. Hutchinson was leading his Democratic opponent, Jared Henderson, 63-35%. Libertarian Mark West was third with 2.3%.

Supreme Court Justice Courtney Goodson was heading to a re-election win late Tuesday.

If West wins 3% of the vote, the Libertarians will not be considered a “new party” in the 2020 elections and will not have to collect signatures to qualify for the ballot.

“With the returns in thus far, it is clear the voters in Arkansas have spoken, and we have won re-election to another four years,” Hutchinson said in his victory speech to Republican Party faithful at the Embassy Suites in Little Rock.

Flanked by his wife, Arkansas first lady Susan Hutchinson, the governor said he had received a congratulatory call from Henderson. He noted that he had raised $5 million in his campaign and mentioned he is the second Republican governor to win a second four-year term. The first was Gov. Mike Huckabee.

He said his re-election was a mandate for lowering taxes, improving education and increasing teacher salaries, transforming state government, and investing in the state’s highways and infrastructure.

“The vote tonight is also a reminder that we as Arkansans accomplish more together than when we are tearing ourselves apart,” he said.

Earlier Tuesday, the Associated Press reported that its VoteCast survey had found that 57% of Arkansas voters said the country is on the right track. Sixty-eight percent said the nation’s economy is good, and 58% of voters said President Trump was a factor in their vote.

In other statewide races, Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin gave a victory speech of sorts at 8:33 p.m. At the time, Griffin was leading his Democratic opponent, Anthony Bland, 63-35%. Libertarian Frank Gilbert had 2.6%. State Auditor Andrea Lea spoke as the returns showed she was leading her Libertarian candidate, David Dinwiddie, 73-27%. State Treasurer Dennis Milligan spoke while leading Libertarian Ashley Ewald, 71-29%.

Republican Tommy Land was leading Democrat Larry Williams in the land commissioner’s race, 60-37%, with Libertarian T.J. Campbell polling at 3%.

At about 10:15 p.m. with 45% of areas reporting, Justice Courtney Goodson was leading David Sterling, 54-46%. Goodson was leading, 269,008-230,401.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson was leading his Democratic opponent, Jared Henderson, 65-32%, with Libertarian Mark West trailing with 2.8%. Hutchinson was leading Henderson, 359,303-178,938.

Attorney General Leslie Rutledge was leading Democrat Mike Lee, 61-36%, with Libertarian Kerry Hicks trailing with 2.7%. Rutledge was leading Lee, 338,466-199,167. Lt. Governor Tim Griffin was leading Democrat Anthony Bland, 64-33%, with Libertarian Frank Gilbert at under 3%. Griffin was leading Bland, 352,331-184,790.

In the secretary of state’s race, Land Commissioner John Thurston was leading Democrat Susan Inman, 59-38%, with Libertarian Christopher Olson trailing with 2.88%. Thurston was leading Inman, 313,735-204,798.