Arkansas Election Results

Posted November 7, 2018 By Leah Nelson In Elections

Arkansas election results concluded Tuesday with a continued red majority as all seven of Arkansas’ Constitutional offices were maintained by Republicans and all four incumbent Republican congressmen won re-election. Republicans also will maintain a supermajority in the Arkansas House of Representatives and the Arkansas State Senate.

Republican Governor Asa Hutchinson defeated Democratic opponent, Jared Henderson, and Attorney General Leslie Rutledge and Lt. Governor Tim Griffin fended off Democratic challengers in their respective bids.

Congressman French Hill narrowly won a third term in Arkansas’ 2nd Congressional District against Democratic Representative Clarke Tucker. Congressman Rick Crawford (1st), Congressman Steve Womack (3rd), and Congressman Bruce Westerman (4th) easily won re-election in their respective districts.

In the Arkansas Legislature, four Republican incumbents won their re-election bids as well as one Democratic incumbent. Going into Election Day, Republicans occupied 25 of the state senate’s 35 seats and Democrats held nine, leaving one seat vacant. All five open seats were won by sitting state representatives, four Republicans and one Democrat.

There were multiple hotly contested races in the Arkansas House of Representatives.

Fayetteville Democrat Denise Garner won election defeating three-term State Representative Charlie Collins, the Chair of the House Insurance & Commerce Committee.

Republican Craig Christiansen defeated State Representative Michael John Gray, who also serves as chairman of the Arkansas Democratic Party and the House minority leader.

Going into Tuesday’s election, Republicans held 75 and Democrats held 23 of the state House’s 100 seats. An independent held one seat, while one seat was vacant. It appears the Republican’s will keep 75 seats. While not all races have been called, the makeup of the Arkansas House of Representatives and the Arkansas Senate will likely not change.

In addition, there were also three constitutional amendments on the ballot: raising the state’s minimum wage to $11; allowing the state to issue licenses for four casinos; and requiring voters to show photo identification before voting. All three were approved by the voters.