Republicans pick off House District 60 seat; maintain control in District 58; Wallace leads Burnett in Senate District 22 

The elephant stampede in 2014 that overwhelmed reliably Democratic Northeast Arkansas continued Tuesday night.

Fran Cavenaugh, R-Walnut Ridge, defeated incumbent James Ratliff, D-Imboden, in the state house district 60 race. Cavenaugh received 51% (4,914) of the 9,619 votes cast. Ratliff, a three-term incumbent, received 49% (4,705) of votes cast.

“I’m very happy. I’m very proud,” Cavenaugh told Talk Business & Politics.

Cavenaugh said she plans to enact a robust agenda once she reaches Little Rock. Improving the state’s education system and revamping the foster care system are among her goals.

Incumbent state house district 58 state representative Brandt Smith, R-Jonesboro, easily defeated challenger Nate Looney, D-Jonesboro. Smith received 56% (4,914) of the 8,491 votes cast. Looney garnered 44% (3,725).

Looney called and conceded the race, Smith told Talk Business & Politics. Smith said the campaign was long and aggressive, and in the end he has a lot of respect for his opponent.

“It feels good to be re-elected,” Smith said.

Once he returns to the state house, Smith said he will push for a victim notification bill for healthcare workers who are the victims of violence at the hands of their patients.

The state senate district 22 race had not been decided by publication time election night. However, State Rep. Dave Wallace, R-Leachville, led with 60% of the reported 23,781 votes tabulated over incumbent David Burnett, D-Osceola.