Rain, shine or threat of a virus, the business of democratically electing government representatives goes on today.
Most voters in our neck of the woods did their civic duty back on March 3, when the state held the primaries for the Republican and Democratic parties, and are done until the general election in the fall. But Republican voters in two districts for the Arkansas House of Representatives need to finish the job.
What’s the point?
Voters in two Benton County districts have final decisions to make for representation in the Arkansas House.
In Districts 90 and 91 — both in Benton County — no candidate earned enough votes to get beyond the 50 percent mark to earn the Republican nomination outright. So here they are four weeks later, the top two vote-getters competing in a today’s runoff to determine who will face Democratic challengers on Nov. 3.
In District 90, state Rep. Jana Della Rosa got more votes (1,645 to 1,347) than challenger Kendon Underwood, while a third candidate earned 793 votes.
In District 91, there is no incumbent in the election. Scott Richardson earned 1,535 votes to Delia Haak’s 1,154. A third candidate departed the race with 765 votes to her credit.
These candidates have faced extraordinary times. A week after the March 3 primary, the nation began to recognize how seriously lives would be disrupted by the coronavirus. On March 11, the president banned travel from Europe; the NBA suspended its season; and iconic motion picture actor Tom Hanks reported through social media he had been diagnosed with covid-19. Within a few hours, the normalcy of life in the United States had begun to unravel. It hasn’t stopped since.
Which means candidates campaigning for votes faced pretty serious limitations. No kissing babies, shaking hands and showing up anywhere more than a few voters might be gathered. Or knocking on doors? Forget about it. Absentee ballots will no doubt play a key role in these primaries, and who knows how many people will be willing to show up today at polling places?
Endorsements might mean a lot in this setting. Underwood got the backing of Chris Latimer, the third-place candidate, and Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin. Della Rosa has endorsements from Arkansas Right to Life, Springdale Mayor Doug Sprouse and Rogers Mayor Greg Hines.
Haak has gotten the backing of Jorge Becker, the third-place candidate in the race, and 3rd District U.S. Rep. Steve Womack.
This newspaper’s editorial page offered endorsements for Della Rosa and Haak.
The winners will go on to face Democratic challengers in November, but history suggests a likelihood that the Republican winner will have a strong shot at taking the office.
More than anything, the number of voters following through to vote in the runoff will likely decide the winners. If you voted on March 3, why not follow through?
Qualified voters in either district may legally vote in that district’s runoff unless they voted in the Democratic primary on March 3.
District 90 extends from New Hope Road in Rogers on the north to Bethel Heights in the south. It runs from Old Wire Road on the east through Springdale and Elm Springs to the west, reaching the city limit of Highfill.
District 91 stretches from the western tip of Rogers to the Oklahoma border. It includes Gentry along with almost all of Highfill and Centerton, plus much of Cave Springs and parts of Bentonville.
State House members serve two-year terms and have an annual salary of $41,393.