2014 Midterm Elections: Tom Cotton projected to defeat Sen. Mark Pryor in Arkansas
Republican Rep. Tom Cotton is projected to defeat Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor in Arkansas, according to the CBS News decision desk, giving Republicans their first major Senate pick-up of the night.
The Arkansas race reflected the GOP wave seen in the 2010 congressional races, setting the stage for a strong Republican win. Demographically, the electorate on Tuesday looked nearly identical - in terms of race, age and education - to the electorate that turned out for the last midterm election.
The big change in the composition of the electorate, however, was the nail in the coffin: Democrats made up 34 percent of the 2010 Senate electorate in Arkansas, but made up only 29 percent on Tuesday.
Not surprisingly, sentiments toward President Obama and the Democrats were much more negative among Arkansas voters than among voters nationally today, adding to Pryor's woes. As many as 55 percent of Arkansas voters strongly disapprove of Mr. Obama's performance, compared to 41 percent of voters nationwide. And while majorities expressed disappointment with Mr. Obama and with the congressional Republicans, just over six in 10 said that control of the Senate was very important in their vote. Among these voters, 61 percent voted for Cotton.
The GOP needs six more seats in the Senate to take control of the chamber for the first time since 2006. Control of the Senate will be determined by the outcome of nine competitive races. In addition to Arkansas, that includes Georgia, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Iowa, Kansas, Alaska, Louisiana and Colorado.