Talk Politics

Covering Arkansas Politics

Democratic newcomers Garner, Godfrey knock off incumbents in Northwest Arkansas House races

Republican incumbents in the Arkansas House of Representatives held off a so-called Blue Wave from Democratic challengers in Northwest Arkansas, but not without a few exceptions. In her first race…

Snapp re-elected in Walnut Ridge; Randolph County goes wet

Walnut Ridge Mayor Charles Snapp fended off a challenge by J.R. Rogers during Tuesday’s general election. Snapp received more than 70% (1,124) of votes cast in the race. The vote…

GOP incumbents sweep Arkansas congressional races; now face Democratic-led Congress

Republican incumbents swept all four of Arkansas’ congressional races, but will be headed back to the U.S. House in January in the minority and facing concerns from some American voters…

Arkansas voters say ‘yes’ to all three ballot issues

Arkansans strongly backed all three of the constitutional amendments that made this year’s ballot, which were measures requiring voters to show ID at the polls, raise the state minimum wage…

Pitsch wins state Senate seat, Boyd wins re-election for House seat

Republican State Rep. Mat Pitsch, R-Fort Smith, will take over the Arkansas District 8 State Senate position in January. Unofficial results showed Pitsch had received 17,913 votes or 76.08% as…

Judge Hudson holds county judge job, Dawson elected Fort Smith city director; Hurst elected Van Buren mayor

Unofficial numbers show both incumbents in Sebastian County races will keep their seats. Democrat Candidate for Sebastian County Judge Mosie Boyd congratulated her opponent Republican incumbent Judge David Hudson on…

Bentonville mayor’s race headed for Dec. 4 runoff between Jim Webb and Stephanie Orman

The Bentonville mayor’s race was not decided Tuesday (Nov. 6) and is headed for a runoff election after none of the five candidates received 50% of the vote. Jim Webb…

Gov. Hutchinson re-elected governor; all constitutional offices won by GOP (Updated)

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson was re-elected to a second term Tuesday. The Associated Press called the governor’s race shortly after the polls closed at 7:30 p.m. Hutchinson was leading his Democratic…

Talk Business & Politics Election Night coverage 2018

Talk Business & Politics will offer complete and wide-ranging coverage of election returns on Tuesday (Nov. 6). Roby Brock will co-anchor coverage beginning at 7 p.m. on TalkBusiness.net, KATV.com, and…

Early vote totals in Northeast Arkansas outpace 2014, but don’t top 2016

Heavy rains Monday (Nov. 5) didn’t stop determined voters in many parts of Northeast Arkansas from casting ballots during early voting. An estimated 14,564 residents voted during early voting, Craighead…

Sebastian County early voting numbers up 36.2%

The final tally of Sebastian County voters in the 18-34 age demographic in the 2018 early voting cycle was 10.2% of total voters, up from 7.78% on Nov. 1. Early…

West Memphis could get $200 million hotel and convention center if casino measure passes

If the casino ballot initiative passes in Arkansas on Tuesday (Nov. 6), Delaware North, the parent company of Southland Gaming and Racing, will attempt to build a hotel and convention…

Youth turnout not evident in Sebastian County early voting

Expectations of a larger turnout in the 2018 mid-term election among younger voters are not proving true in Sebastian County. Not only that, but the number of registered county voters…

State budget coffers holding $57.5 million surplus

Arkansas revenue collections in October continued a steady upward path in October as rising payrolls and strong sales tax collections boosted state budget coffers ahead of the all-important holiday shopping…

Candidates talk tariffs, immigration before Delta group

Republican and Democratic candidates for Congress and Governor offered differing views on President Trump’s tariffs, immigration and other issues during appearances Thursday (Nov. 1) before the Mississippi Delta Grassroots Caucus….

ASU’s DO school, Crawford’s office partner to create healthcare policy program

Shane Speights, D.O., dean, at the NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State (NYITCOM at A-State), announced Thursday (Nov. 1) the formation of a new fellowship program in coordination…

Arkansas Poll: Health care, drugs replace economy as top concern for Arkansans

Health care and drugs have replaced the economy as a top concern for Arkansas voters, according to a new survey from the state’s flagship university. The Arkansas Poll, conducted by…

ATRS hires veteran staffer, IT chief to lead state’s largest retirement fund

Arkansas Teacher Retirement System (ATRS) trustees on Wednesday (Oct. 31) hired veteran staffer Clint Rhoden as its new executive director, replacing longtime ATRS chief George Hopkins who will retire at…

Notes from the Campaign Trail: New groups emerge on casinos, voter ID

According to the Arkansas Ethics Commission web site, there have been a couple of late entrants in the ballot question committee category. On Oct. 22 and 23, a ballot question…

Sebastian County early voting up 40% in first week

Voter turnout during the first week of early voting was up 40% in Sebastian County compared with the same period in the 2014 mid-term elections, with one politico unsure what…