Arkansas is set to hold runoff elections on Tuesday for three state House districts where no candidate received a majority of the vote in the primaries on March 5. In District 88, Republican candidates Arnetta Bradford and Dolly Henley are competing for a spot on the November ballot. Bradford, who is being supported by Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, has a fundraising disadvantage compared to Henley, who has received support from former Gov. Mike Huckabee. In Democratic-leaning Districts 35 and 63, candidates are vying for their party’s nominations to replace retiring Democratic members.
In District 35, Jessie McGruder and Raymond Whiteside are the final candidates for the Democratic nomination, while in District 63, Hughes Mayor Lincoln Barnett is facing off against insurance executive Fred Leonard. The runoff elections are crucial as the state government in Arkansas is fully controlled by Republicans, with an 82-18 advantage over Democrats in the state House. The runoff elections are expected to have lower turnout compared to the initial primaries, which could impact the race-calling process in smaller jurisdictions where the margins between candidates are relatively small.
Voters who participated in the March 5 primaries for a specific state House district can only vote in the same party’s runoff for that seat. Those who did not participate in any party’s primary on March 5 are eligible to vote in the runoff. The Arkansas state House runoff races have attracted significant attention, with candidates receiving support from prominent figures such as Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and former Gov. Mike Huckabee. The outcome of the runoff elections will determine the final candidates on the November ballot.
In the March 5 primaries, overall turnout in Arkansas was 21% of approximately 1.7 million registered voters. More than half of the voters in the three state House districts holding runoff elections cast their ballots before the primary day. As of Thursday, 2,731 votes had already been cast for Tuesday’s runoff elections. The vote-counting process is expected to be efficient, with results being reported shortly after polls close. The AP will monitor the elections closely and will only declare a winner when it is certain that no scenario could allow trailing candidates to close the gap.
Arkansas voters are gearing up for the state House primary runoff elections on Tuesday, with contests in Districts 35, 63, and 88. The races have garnered significant attention due to the high stakes involved in determining the final candidates for the November general election. With endorsements from prominent political figures and close margins between the candidates in the primaries, the runoff elections are shaping up to be a decisive moment in Arkansas politics. Overall voter turnout and the efficiency of the vote-counting process will play a key role in determining the outcomes of these closely watched races.
