GOP primaries set for state House seats in Northwest Arkansas

FILE — The state Capitol is shown in this undated file photo.
FILE — The state Capitol is shown in this undated file photo.

Three Northwest Arkansas House members bowed out of re-election bids in 2020.

A fourth representative, who barely won her 2018 primary, faces two primary challengers this election cycle.

All four of those House seats will be contested in the GOP primary, according to filings with the Arkansas Secretary of Sate's Office.

Filing for primaries, judicial positions and some school board seats closed at noon today.

In all, Benton and Washington counties have 16 House districts in which some portion is in one of the two counties. All House seats come up for election every two years.

No competing primary contestants announced in the three state Senate seats in Benton and Washington counties up for election in 2020.

Two of the three incumbent senators running for reelection will face a Democratic opponent. Sen. Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs, faces Democrat Ronetta Francis of Bentonville in Senate District 1. Sen. Jim Hendren, R-Sulphur Springs, will face Democrat Ryan Craig of Prairie Grove. Meanwhile, Sen. Lance Eads, R-Springdale, has no major-party opposition for the general election or primary.

Four members of the 16-member Northwest Arkansas House delegation are Democrats. One of the region's five senators is. The rest of the legislative delegation is Republican.

As it did four years ago, Arkansas is holding its candidate filing several months early so the primaries can be held March 3, along with 13 other states participating in the "Super Tuesday" presidential primaries. The general election is Nov. 3, 2020.

In nonpresidential election years, Arkansas holds its primaries in May, with a filing period in late February.

Primary election day is March 3. A runoff for party primaries, if needed, will take place March 31.

On the Democratic side, the party hopes to build on gains from 2018 when two Democratic challengers in the region toppled their incumbent Republican opponents.

Republicans, meanwhile, hope to gain back lost ground there.

Rep. Rebecca Petty, R-Rogers, didn't seek reelection and said she supports John P. Carr, a long-time supporter of Petty. Carr faces GOP primary opposition from Adrienne Woods. Neither candidate announced for the office before Petty disclosed her decision not to run again. The winner of the GOP primary will face Democrat Jene Huffman-Gilreath in November.

The House District 96 seat being left by Rep. Grant Hodges, R-Rogers, has no primary opposition for Benton County Justice of the Peace Joshua Bryant. Bryant will face former Benton County Circuit Judge John Comstock, a Democrat, in the fall.

Rep. Dan Douglas, R-Bentonville, also decided against running for reelection in District 91. Douglas survived a 2018 GOP primary challenge by first-time candidate Scott Richardson by 12 votes. Richardson is running again, but faces Republican primary opposition.

Delia Haak and Jorge Becker have both announced. The winner of that GOP primary will face Democrat Nick Jones.

Incumbent Rep. Jana Della Rosa, R-Rogers, is running for reelection in District 90. First-time candidate Kendon Underwood came within three votes of her in 2018's GOP contest. Underwood is running again and Chris Latimer filed for his first race.

The winner of the primary will face Democrat Kelly Ross Kraut in the general election.

Incumbent Rep. David Whitaker, D-Fayetteville of District 85, drew Republican opponent Brian Hester on the last day of filing.

Rep. Nicole Clowney, D-Fayetteville of District 86 also drew a Republican opponent on Tuesday, John S. LaTour. Republican incumbent Rep. Robin Lundstrum, R-Elm Springs of District 87, also drew a Democratic opponent on the last day. She will face Democrat Michael Bennett-Spears of Siloam Springs.

Incumbent Rep. Charlene Fite, R-Van Buren, will face Democrat Lou Reed Sharp of Tontitown in the District 80 race.

The following members of Northwest Arkansas' House delegation have no major party opposition in either the primary nor the general election: Reps. Gayla McKenzie, R-Gravette of District 92; Austin McCollum, R-Bentonville, of District 95; Bruce Coleman, R-Mountainburg of District 81 and Denise Garner, D-Fayetteville of District 84.

NW News on 11/13/2019

Upcoming Events