Filing Period Opens For Arkansas Races

Talk Politics

by Roby Brock ([email protected]) February 23, 2012 8:37 pm 88 views 

The first day of candidate filing opened in Arkansas and more than 197 candidates used the opening day to declare their candidacies. It has been a much slower week in terms of volume, but several high-profile names filed for office.

This election year all 135 House and Senate seats are on the ballot as are Congressional races and judicial posts. There was one surprise on Day 3 of filing in the Fourth Congressional District and it appears that the First and Second Districts now hold intrigue on the Democrats’ side.

Some highlights from the first three days of filing:

  • U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Jonesboro) filed for re-election in the First District, and Democratic challengers Rep. Clark Hall (D-Marvell) and Gary Latanich filed their paperwork. On Thursday, Prosecuting Attorney Scott Ellington (D-Jonesboro) is expected to file for Congress.
  • Congressmen Tim Griffin (R-Little Rock) and Steve Womack (R-Rogers) filed in the Second and Third Districts, respectively.
  • In the Second District, Democratic challenger former State Rep. Jay Martin (D-North Little Rock) said he would not run for the seat. On Wednesday, Little Rock lawyer and former State Rep. Herb Rule (D-Little Rock) filed for Congress.
  • Speculation still swirls that Democratic Party of Arkansas chairman Will Bond may be a Congressional candidate.
  • Ken Aden filed as a Democrat in the Third District.
  • State Sen. Gene Jeffress (D-Louann) filed for U.S. Congress in the Fourth District as a Democrat, and surprise candidate Q. Byrum Hurst filed as a Democrat for the post.
  • Republicans Tom Cotton, John Cowart and Beth Anne Rankin filed for U.S. Congress in the Fourth District.
  • 19 judicial candidates filed for office ranging from Circuit Judge to the Arkansas Supreme Court

There are already some interesting House and Senate match-ups. Click here to view House candidates who have filed and may still file. If a name is ITALICIZED, then they have filed.  Click here to view our Senate candidates list.

For a review of the sounds of the first day of filing, we direct you to our content partner’s report at KUAR-FM 89 News.