2016 Political Calendar Taking Shape In Arkansas

There are 264 days until the March 1 presidential and party primaries in Arkansas and 519 days until the Nov. 8, 2016 general election.

While it has been said that a day can be an eternity in politics, candidates and parties are already making their plans for next year’s campaign season.

The Arkansas Democratic Party announced Wednesday that Democratic Presidential frontrunner and former First Lady Hillary Clinton will headline the party’s Jefferson-Jackson dinner July 18 in Little Rock.

The GOP have also been planning events.

State Republicans are hosting their annual Reagan-Rockefeller dinner the night before (July 17) at the Hot Springs Convention Center. Names are floating that the event could include high-profile national candidates wanting to make in-roads in former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee’s back yard.

Also, Craighead County Republicans have tentatively set their Lincoln Day dinner for Feb. 20 at the Arkansas State University Convocation Center in Jonesboro. It is the same day that the South Carolina primary is scheduled, as well as a week or so before the so-called “SEC primary,” which means the dinner’s importance may be a crucial stop for GOP Presidential candidates.

According to the website, The Green Papers, at least a dozen states have set March 1 as their primary date including neighboring states Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.

State legislators recently approved a change to the primary date setting the March 1 primary and a March 22 runoff date, during a special session last month in Little Rock.

According to the bill that was approved, lawmakers also set a noon Nov. 2 until noon Nov. 9 filing period for federal, state, judicial and county races.

FEDERAL RACES
As of Wednesday, 10 Republicans and four Democrats have announced bids for the White House.

The Republicans so far include former Gov. Mike Huckabee, Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Lindsey Graham, R-SC; former Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., former Govs. George Pataki, R-NY and Rick Perry, R-Texas; as well as former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina and Dr. Ben Carson.

The Republican list is expected to grow.

Former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida will announce his plans June 15, while Donald Trump will make his announcement June 16. Also, Gov. Bobby Jindal, R-La., will announce his plans June 24 while Govs. Scott Walker, R-Wisc., and John Kasich, R-Ohio are expected to announce sometime in July.

So far, the Democrats include Clinton and Sen. Bernard Sanders, I-Vt.; and former Govs. Martin O’Malley, D-Md., and Lincoln Chafee, D-RI.

Clinton is expected to make her formal announcement Saturday, June 13.

Also on the ballot next year will be five members of the state’s congressional delegation.

Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., who defeated then-Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark. in 2010, is on the ballot as well as Reps. Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro, French Hill, R-Little Rock, Steve Womack, R-Rogers and Bruce Westerman, R-Hot Springs. So far, no challengers have stepped forward in any of those races.

STATE RACES
Voters will also decide 100 state House and 17 state Senate races during the March primary and November general election.

Republicans hold a 63-36-1 majority in the House.

As of Wednesday, three House members – Reps. Prissy Hickerson, R-Texarkana, Nate Bell, I-Mena and Micah Neal, R-Springdale – have announced they are not running in 2016.

Neal announced last month that he will run for Washington County Judge in 2016.

The state Senate races in 2016 include Republican Sens. Bart Hester of Cave Springs, Jim Hendren of Sulphur Springs, Jon Woods of Springdale, Jimmy Hickey of Texarkana, Alan Clark of Lonsdale, Greg Standridge of Russellville, John Cooper of Jonesboro, Ronald Caldwell of Wynne, Jonathan Dismang of Beebe, Eddie Joe Williams of Cabot and Jane English of North Little Rock.

The Democrats up for re-election in 2016 are Sens. Bruce Maloch of Magnolia, David Burnett of Osceola, Stephanie Flowers of Pine Bluff, Eddie Cheatham of Crossett, Bobby Pierce of Sheridan and David Johnson of Little Rock.

Johnson has announced that he will not be running for re-election next fall but will be seeking a judgeship in Pulaski County. He’s expected to make a formal announcement next week.

Republicans hold a 24-11 margin over Democrats in the state Senate.

There are also six statewide judicial races on the ballot next year.

Two of the races are for state Supreme Court posts.

Chief Justice Jim Hannah is up for re-election in March for position 1, but he has not declared his intentions yet.

Justice Paul Danielson announced last month that he would not seek another eight-year term for Position 5. Circuit Judge Shawn Womack of Mountain Home has announced he will run for the position.

Four of the races are for positions on the Arkansas Court of Appeals.

The races include District 2, Position 2 Judge Cliff Hoofman and District 5 Judge Mike Kinard, who were appointed and cannot run for the seats in 2016.

Also up for re-election are Judge Rita W. Gruber, who serves in District 6, Position 1 and Judge Waymond M. Brown, who serves in District 7.

The judicial general election is set for March 1, while the judicial runoff will be Nov. 8, 2016.