The 1980 United States Senate election in Arkansas was held on November 4, 1980. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Dale Bumpers won re-election to a second term. This election was Bumpers's closest election in his senatorial career.
Elected in 1974, Dale Bumpers was a very popular Senator and was widely seen as the favorite in his 1980 re-election bid. During his time in the Senate, Bumpers was known for "bucking the conservative winds blowing across his state.". The "bucking" was most evident in 1978 when Senator Bumpers voted for the Panama Canal treaties. Bumpers had considered this issue to be the "hottest of his career" as many of his constituents opposed these treaties.[1] During this time, Bumpers had started getting a reputation of having a liberal voting record. Many observed that Bumpers's was much more liberal than his constituents. Despite this, Bumpers still had a high approval rating. The reason for this was that many Arkansans liked his personality and didn't mind his political positions. Bumpers was viewed as a potential presidential candidate in 1976 but decided against running. Many people believed that Bumpers's key vote in killing labor law reform in 1978, a vote that angered organized labor and had not been forgotten by labor leaders, discouraged him from running.[2] Between 1974 and 1980, Bumpers was not a member of any Senate committees and opposed all constitutional amendments proposed during this time. Bumpers's first term helped establish his identity as a fiscally responsible, socially liberal constitutionalist.
Major candidatesedit
Democraticedit
Dale Bumpers, incumbent U.S. Senator and former Governor
Republicanedit
Only one Republican filed to run, William P. "Bill" Clark. Clark filed for the Senate race only one hour prior to the deadline.
William Clark, real estate broker
General electionedit
Bumpers's opponent, William P. "Bill" Clark, had previously ran for office but was unsuccessful. Clark ran for the Democratic nomination for Arkansas's 2nd congressional district but lost to Jim Guy Tucker. In the start of the campaign, Clark accused Bumpers of being "fuzzy on the issues" and challenged Bumpers's support for gasoline rationing during the energy crisis.[3] Clark criticized Bumpers for having voted against defense appropriations twenty-three times between 1975 and 1978 and noted, "Only this year [when seeking reelection] he has voted for a couple of defense items."[4] Clark questioned Bumpers's opposition to school prayer and support for the Panama Canal Treaties of 1978. Clark further claimed that Bumpers had derided citizens of Newton County, a frequent Republican stronghold in Arkansas, as "stupid hill people".[5] During the campaign, Clark constantly asked voters, "If Dale Bumpers doesn't vote for you, why should you vote for him?"[6]
Resultsedit
Despite Ronald Reagan winning the state in the concurring presidential election and incumbent Governor Bill Clinton losing his re-election bid, Dale Bumpers was re-elected to a second term. Bumpers lost his home county of Franklin. This is the only time Bumpers lost his home county.
^Michael H. Brown (January 2, 2016). "Dale Bumpers, Arkansas politician and barbed wit of the Senate, dies at 90". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. ISSN 0190-8286. OCLC 1330888409.
^Barone, Michael, and Ujifusa, Grant (1985), The Almanac of American Politics 1986, National Journal Inc., pp 66
^Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report, October 11, 1980, p. 2990
^Arkansas Outlook, Republican Party newsletter, August 1980
^"Our Campaigns - AR US Senate Race - Nov 04, 1980".
April 10, 2024
1980, united, states, senate, election, arkansas, held, november, 1980, incumbent, democratic, senator, dale, bumpers, election, second, term, this, election, bumpers, closest, election, senatorial, career, 1974, november, 1980, 1986, nominee, dale, bumpers, w. The 1980 United States Senate election in Arkansas was held on November 4 1980 Incumbent Democratic U S Senator Dale Bumpers won re election to a second term This election was Bumpers s closest election in his senatorial career 1980 United States Senate election in Arkansas 1974 November 4 1980 1986 Nominee Dale Bumpers William ClarkParty Democratic RepublicanPopular vote 477 905 330 576Percentage 59 09 40 87 County results Bumpers 50 60 60 70 70 80 Clark 50 60 60 70 70 80 U S senator before electionDale BumpersDemocratic Elected U S Senator Dale BumpersDemocratic Contents 1 Background 2 Major candidates 2 1 Democratic 2 2 Republican 3 General election 4 Results 5 See also 6 ReferencesBackground editElected in 1974 Dale Bumpers was a very popular Senator and was widely seen as the favorite in his 1980 re election bid During his time in the Senate Bumpers was known for bucking the conservative winds blowing across his state The bucking was most evident in 1978 when Senator Bumpers voted for the Panama Canal treaties Bumpers had considered this issue to be the hottest of his career as many of his constituents opposed these treaties 1 During this time Bumpers had started getting a reputation of having a liberal voting record Many observed that Bumpers s was much more liberal than his constituents Despite this Bumpers still had a high approval rating The reason for this was that many Arkansans liked his personality and didn t mind his political positions Bumpers was viewed as a potential presidential candidate in 1976 but decided against running Many people believed that Bumpers s key vote in killing labor law reform in 1978 a vote that angered organized labor and had not been forgotten by labor leaders discouraged him from running 2 Between 1974 and 1980 Bumpers was not a member of any Senate committees and opposed all constitutional amendments proposed during this time Bumpers s first term helped establish his identity as a fiscally responsible socially liberal constitutionalist Major candidates editDemocratic edit Dale Bumpers incumbent U S Senator and former GovernorRepublican edit Only one Republican filed to run William P Bill Clark Clark filed for the Senate race only one hour prior to the deadline William Clark real estate brokerGeneral election editBumpers s opponent William P Bill Clark had previously ran for office but was unsuccessful Clark ran for the Democratic nomination for Arkansas s 2nd congressional district but lost to Jim Guy Tucker In the start of the campaign Clark accused Bumpers of being fuzzy on the issues and challenged Bumpers s support for gasoline rationing during the energy crisis 3 Clark criticized Bumpers for having voted against defense appropriations twenty three times between 1975 and 1978 and noted Only this year when seeking reelection he has voted for a couple of defense items 4 Clark questioned Bumpers s opposition to school prayer and support for the Panama Canal Treaties of 1978 Clark further claimed that Bumpers had derided citizens of Newton County a frequent Republican stronghold in Arkansas as stupid hill people 5 During the campaign Clark constantly asked voters If Dale Bumpers doesn t vote for you why should you vote for him 6 Results editDespite Ronald Reagan winning the state in the concurring presidential election and incumbent Governor Bill Clinton losing his re election bid Dale Bumpers was re elected to a second term Bumpers lost his home county of Franklin This is the only time Bumpers lost his home county Arkansas Senate election 1980 7 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Dale Bumpers Incumbent 477 905 59 09 Republican Bill Clark 360 576 40 87 Independent Walter McCarty 331 0 04 Democratic holdSee also edit1980 United States Senate electionsReferences edit Michael H Brown January 2 2016 Dale Bumpers Arkansas politician and barbed wit of the Senate dies at 90 The Washington Post Washington D C ISSN 0190 8286 OCLC 1330888409 Barone Michael and Ujifusa Grant 1985 The Almanac of American Politics 1986 National Journal Inc pp 66 Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report October 11 1980 p 2990 Arkansas Gazette November 1 1980 Arkansas Gazette November 2 1980 Arkansas Outlook Republican Party newsletter August 1980 Our Campaigns AR US Senate Race Nov 04 1980 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1980 United States Senate election in Arkansas amp oldid 1181054623, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
