1998 United States Senate election in Arkansas

The 1998 United States Senate election in Arkansas was held on November 3, 1998. Incumbent Democratic Senator Dale Bumpers chose to retire instead of running for reelection to a fifth term. Making this was the first open seat with no incumbent held in this seat since the 1884 election. Democratic former U.S. Representative Blanche Lincoln won the open seat against Republican State Senator Fay Boozman. At 38, Lincoln was the youngest woman ever elected to the United States Senate.

1998 United States Senate election in Arkansas

← 1992 November 3, 1998 2004 →

Nominee Blanche Lincoln Fay Boozman Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 385,878 295,870 Percentage 55.07% 42.23%

County results Lincoln:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Boozman:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election Dale Bumpers Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln Democratic

During the campaign, Boozman caused controversy for his comments about rape, claiming that women rarely became pregnant after being raped due to a hormone he described as "God's little protective shield".^[1] In 2010, Lincoln would lose re-election to a third term by Fay Boozman's brother, John Boozman.