Arkansas candidate filing period ends Monday, more Congressional filings expected

Voters will likely know by the end of Monday who will be on the ballot for the March 1 primary as well as the November 2016 general election.

However, the question will be who will file on the last day of the filing period. U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., and U.S. Reps. Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro and Bruce Westerman, R-Hot Springs, will file on Monday to seek another term in office.

In the Senate race, two other candidates – Democrat Conner Eldridge of Fayetteville and Libertarian Frank Gilbert of Tull – have filed so far.

As for the U.S. House races, Crawford and Westerman face Libertarian challengers in Mark West of Oil Trough (1st District) and Kerry Hicks of Mena (4th District). Also, Democrat Dianne Curry, former President of the Little Rock School Board, said she would officially file Monday, November 8, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. for U.S. Congress in the 2nd District.

There is also some question as to whether or not another person will enter the Senate race. Late last week, a telephone survey was conducted to find out if voters would support former Lt. Gov. Bill Halter in the U.S. Senate race. Halter, a Democrat, ran for the Senate in 2010, losing to then-U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark. in the Democratic primary. Boozman then defeated Lincoln in the general election by a 58-37% margin.

While the Saturday before the end of filing period is typically quiet, a first-term state Senator announced Saturday morning that he would not seek another term. Sen. Jon Woods, R-Springdale, took to Facebook to make his announcement.

“I have thought long and hard since the session ended in April on whether or not I would file for a second term in the Arkansas Senate. After serving ten years in the state legislature, I have decided that I am satisfied with my accomplishments and that it is time to start a new chapter in my life. After five sessions, 60+ bills that are now law, three constitutional amendments, dozens of new friends, and a better understanding of state government, I am at peace with this decision. I plan to serve out my term through 2016 and remain engaged with the community,” Woods said in his announcement. “My intention was to announce this decision earlier but constituent obligations, being under the weather, and tremendous pressure to remain in the race delayed my action.”

Rep. Lance Eads, R-Springdale, announced Saturday that he would run for the open seat. Republican Sharon Lloyd of Springdale filed last week for the seat. In the Facebook post, Woods said he is supporting Eads for the state Senate seat and Republican Clint Penzo for the District 88 seat held by Eads.

JUDICIAL RACES
As of Friday, three statewide judicial races have developed for the March 1 primary. Circuit Judge Dan Kemp of Mountain View filed Friday to run for Supreme Court Chief Justice. Kemp joins Associate Justice Courtney Goodson of Fayetteville, who filed last week.

Circuit Judge Mike Murphy and Prosecuting Attorney Cody Hiland, both of Conway, have filed for the District 2, Position 2 seat on the Arkansas Court of Appeals. Also, a three person race has developed for the District 5 seat on the Court of Appeals. Attorneys Mark Klappenbach of Fordyce, Job Serebrov of Sheridan and James McMenis of Smackover have filed so far.

OTHER CONTESTED RACES
As of Friday, the following races have developed for either the March 1 primary or the November 8, 2016 general election. Following are those races.

March 1 primary election
Federal
President of the United States (R) – Sen. Ted Cruz, Sen. Marco Rubio, Gov. John Kasich, former Gov. Jeb Bush, Ben Carson, former Gov. Mike Huckabee, Gov. Chris Christie, Donald J. Trump, Carly Fiorina, Sen. Lindsey Graham

President of the United States (D) – Sen. Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton, former Gov. Martin O’Malley, James Valentine, Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente

Arkansas Legislature – House of Representatives
District 1 (Open) – Carol Dalby, R-Texarkana, Rusty Latham, R-Texarkana

District 7 (Open) – Former Rep. Garry Smith, D-Camden, Floyd M. Thomas Jr., D-El Dorado. Republican Sonia Eubanks Barker of Smackover has also filed

District 11 – Rep. Mark McElroy, D-Tillar, Bob G. Ware, D-McGehee

District 25 (Open) – Les Warren, R-Hot Springs, Richard Alvin Midkiff, R-Hot Springs

District 27 (Open) – Former Rep. Mike Creekmore, R-Bauxite, Former Rep. Andy Mayberry, R-Hensley. Democrat Melissa Fults of Hensley has also filed.

District 30 – Rep. Charles L. Armstrong, D-Little Rock, Former Rep. Fred Allen, D-Little Rock

District 38 (Open) – Victoria Leigh, D-North Little Rock, Kent Walker, D-North Little Rock. Republican Carlton Wing of North Little Rock has also filed.

District 54 (Open) – Poinsett County Assessor Johnny Rye, R-Trumann, Former Rep. Wes Wagner, R-Manila. Democrat Hunter Williams of Blytheville has also filed.

District 57 (Open) – Shawn D. Strouss, R-Paragould, Jimmy Gazaway, R-Paragould. Democrat Frankie Gillam of Paragould has also filed.

District 66 – Rep. Josh Miller, R-Heber Springs, Chris L. Steplock, R-Greenbrier

District 81 (Open) – Derek Goodlin, R-Rudy, Bruce Coleman, R-Mountainburg.

Democrat Susan K. McGaughey of West Fork has also filed.

District 89 (Open) – Jeff Williams, R-Springdale, Charles Gaines, R-Springdale

District 90 – Rep. Jana Della Rosa, R-Rogers, Former Rep. Randy Alexander, R-Rogers, Jana K. Starr, R-Springdale

District 99 (Open) – Bruce Emerson, R-Yellville, Jack Fortner, R-Yellville

Arkansas Legislature – Senate
District 29 – Lonoke County JP R.D. Hopper, R-Cabot, Sen. Eddie Joe Williams, R-Cabot

District 34 – Sen. Jane English, R-North Little Rock, Rep. Donnie Copeland, R-North Little Rock. Democrat Joe Woodson of North Little Rock has also filed.

Based on lists so far, after the March 1 primary, there will also be contested races during the November 2016 election in House Districts 7, 27, 38, 54, 57 and 81; and in Senate District 34.

November 8 general election
Federal
United States House, District 2 – Rep. French Hill, R-Little Rock, Chris Hayes, L-Mabelvale

United States House, District 3 – Rep. Steve Womack, R-Rogers, Nathan LaFrance, L-Bella Vista

Arkansas Legislature – House of Representatives
District 3 – Hempstead County JP Danny Watson, R-Hope, Rep. Brent Talley, D-McCaskill, Cecil Anderson, L-Ozan

District 4 – Rep. DeAnn Vaught, R-Horatio, Former Rep. Fonda Hawthorne, D-Ashdown

District 9 – Rep. Sheilla E. Lampkin, D-Monticello, Jim A. Hall, R-Monticello

District 10 – Rep. Mike Holcomb, R-Pine Bluff, Dorothy Hall, D-Pine Bluff

District 14 – Lonoke County JP Roger D. Lynch, R-Lonoke, Rep. Camille Bennett, D-Lonoke

District 15 – Rep. Ken Bragg, R-Sheridan, Wayne Willems, L-Traskwood

District 18 – Rep. Richard Womack, R-Arkadelphia, Clark County JP Richard Bright, D-Arkadelphia

District 29 – Rep. Fred Love, D-Little Rock, Glen Schwarz, L-Little Rock

District 32 – Rep. Jim Sorvillo, R-Little Rock, Susan Inman, D-Little Rock

District 33 – Rep. Warwick Sabin, D-Little Rock, Michael Williams, L-Little Rock

District 39 – Rep. Mark Lowery, R-North Little Rock, Bill Rahn, D-North Little Rock

District 44 – Rep. Joe Farrer, R-Austin, Garry Baker, L-Searcy

District 49 – Steve Hollowell, R-Forrest City, Rep. Marshall Wright, D-Forrest City

District 60 – Frances “Fran” Cavenaugh, R-Walnut Ridge, Rep. James Ratliff, D-Imboden

District 61 – Marsh Davis, R-Cherokee Village, Rep. Scott Baltz, D-Pocahontas, Christopher Olson, L-Viola

District 69 (Open) – Aaron Pilkington, R-Clarksville, Former Rep. George Overbey, D-Lamar

District 72 – Rep. Steve Magie, D-Conway, Shannon L. Taylor, R-Conway

District 73 – Rep. Mary Bentley, R-Perryville, Lesa Wolfe Cromwell, D-Dardanelle

District 77 – Rep. Justin Boyd, R-Fort Smith, Stephen Edwards, L-Fort Smith

District 83 – Rep. David L. Branscum, R-Marshall, Kyle Adams, L-Deer

District 85 – Dwight Gonzales, R-Fayetteville, Rep. David Whitaker, D-Fayetteville

District 94 – Rep. Rebecca Petty, R-Rogers, Grimsley Graham, D-Rogers

District 95 – Rep. Sue Scott, R-Rogers, Grant Brand, L-Pea Ridge

District 96 – Rep. Grant Hodges, R-Rogers, Michael J. Kalagias, L-Garfield

Arkansas Legislature – Senate
District 22 – Rep. Dave Wallace, R-Leachville, Sen. David Burnett, D-Osceola

District 26 – Sen. Eddie L. Cheatham, D-Crossett, Elvis Presley, L-Star City

District 27 – Trent Garner, R-El Dorado, Sen. Bobby J. Pierce, D-Sheridan

The filing period ends at noon Monday (Nov. 9) for federal, state and county races and at 3 p.m. Monday (Nov. 9) for judicial races.