Republican state Rep. Bruce Westerman has won the 4th Congressional District race, beating opponents Democrat James Lee Witt and Libertarian Ken Hamilton.
The Associated Press called the race at 10 p.m. with 292 of 1036, or 28 percent, precincts reporting and Westerman leading Witt 81,378 to 71,824, according to unofficial results. Hamilton, an El Dorado resident, trailed with 5,007 votes. Vote counts for Percefull, a Hot Springs native and Independent write-in candidate, weren't immediately available.
Westerman, of Hot Springs, who works as an engineer and forester with the Mid-South Engineering Co., has represented House District 22 since 2010, is currently the House majority leader, and has served on the Revenue and Taxation and the State Agencies and Governmental Affairs committees.
He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas and a master’s degree in forestry from Yale University. He and his wife, Sharon, have four children.
Witt served as Yell County judge from 1978 to 1988, became the director of the Arkansas Office of Emergency Services from 1988 to 1993 and served under President Bill Clinton as director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Read Wednesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
