Senator Blanche Lincoln ran unsuccessfully for re-election against Republican John Boozman.
Arkansas had previously only elected one Republican senator since the Reconstruction, who was defeated after his first term in 2002 by Mark Pryor.
Lincoln faced Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter and narrowly won the primary contest.
This was an open seat, as Democratic incumbent Marion Berry chose to retire.
This district was represented by seven term Democrat Vic Snyder who was unchallenged in 2008 and received 70% of the vote.
Snyder announced that he would retire in 2010, reportedly after polls showed him trailing Republican Tim Griffin.
Lower the threshold for issuing state bonds to attract major industries Many elections for county offices were also held on November 2, 2010.