NWA Democratic legislators endorse Lisa Parks in special Senate primary

Lisa Parks, a Democrat vying for the open State Senate seat in District 7, received the endorsement of all five incumbent Democratic officeholders in the region on Monday (Dec. 6).

Democratic State Representatives Megan Godfrey of Springdale and Denise Garner, David Whitaker, and Nicole Clowney of Fayetteville and State Senator Greg Leding of Fayetteville are all throwing their support behind Parks, they said in a press release from the Parks campaign.

“I have known Lisa for as long as I have been involved in politics and know that she will work harder than anyone else to represent the people of District 7. I’m proud to offer her my support in this special election,” Leding said.

The vacancy in the Senate seat is due to the resignation of Sen. Lance Eads, Republican of Springdale. Eads resigned his Senate seat in late October to join Capitol Consulting Firm as a senior consultant.

Parks is being challenged in the Democratic primary by Derek Van Voast.

Republican challengers include Jim Bob Duggar, Colby Fulfer, Edge Nowlin, and Steven Unger.

The special primary election is set for Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021. The special run-off election, which could only affect the Republican primary, is on Jan. 11, 2022. The special general election is Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022.

Senate District 7 includes Springdale, Johnson, Goshen and Elkins in eastern Washington County.