2001 Arkansas's 3rd congressional district special election

2001 Arkansas's 3rd congressional district election

November 20, 2001 (2001-11-20)
Arkansas's 3rd congressional district
Nominee John Boozman Michael Hathorn Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 52,894 40,137 Percentage 55.55% 42.15%
U.S. Representative before election Asa Hutchinson Republican Elected U.S. Representative John Boozman Republican

The United States House of Representatives special election in Arkansas's 3rd congressional district was held on November 20, 2001, to select the successor to Asa Hutchinson who resigned upon appointment as director of the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Election results

Following Hutchinson's resignation, Governor Mike Huckabee called a Special Election to be held on November 20, 2001. Both major party primaries were held on September 25 and both major parties required primary runoff elections, which were held on October 16.

The winner would serve the remaining unexpired term ending on January 3, 2003. They would be eligible to run for reelection in 2002.

Candidates included several State Legislators including incumbent State Senator Gunner DeLay of Fort Smith and incumbent State Representatives Jim Hendren of Gravette, Michael Hathorn of Huntsville, and Jo Carson of Fort Smith.

The last two members of Congress to hold this seat, Tim Hutchinson and Asa Hutchinson, are the uncles of State Representative Jim Hendren, who was eliminated in the Republican Primary.

Republican Primary

• John Boozman, optometrist and Rogers Public School Board Member
• Gunner DeLay, State Senator
• Jim Hendren, State Representative
• Brad Cates

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Boozman	16,330	43.24
	Republican	Gunner DeLay	10,431	27.62
	Republican	Jim Hendren	9,403	24.90
	Republican	Brad Cates	1,602	4.24
Total votes			37,766	100.00

Republican primary runoff results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Boozman	19,583	56.58
	Republican	Gunner DeLay	15,029	43.42
Total votes			34,612	100.00

Democratic Primary

Candidates

• Michael Hathorn, State Representative
• Jo Carson, State Representative
• Norman "Bill" Williams, Jr.

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Michael Hathorn	13,282	47.13
	Democratic	Jo Carson	13,087	46.44
	Democratic	Norman "Bill" Williams, Jr.	1,813	6.43
Total votes			28,182	100.00

Democratic primary runoff results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Michael Hathorn	15,356	52.61
	Democratic	Jo Carson	13,832	47.39
Total votes			29,188	100.00

Arkansas's 3rd congressional district special election, 2001

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Boozman	52,894	55.55
	Democratic	Michael Hathorn	40,137	42.15
	Green	Sarah Marsh	1,773	1.86
	Freedom Party	Ralph Forbes	419	.44
Total votes			95,223	100.00
	Republican hold