Local races for the state House and state Senate seats contested in this year's General Election have spawned 14 races which affect voters in Benton and Washington counties on Nov. 6.
There is one State Senate race in Benton County on the General Election ballot and two state Senate races on the ballots in Washington County.
State Senate races are usually for four-year terms, while all state House races are for two-year terms.
State Senate District 3
In Benton County, incumbent state Senator Cecile Bledsoe, a Republican, is seeking re-election. She faces Democratic nominee, Jon Comstock, as a challenger for the District 3 State Senate seat.
State Senate District 4
While in Washington County, sitting state Senator Uvalde Lindsey has decided to retire from state politics, creating an "open" seat. Two candidates are running for the Senate, District 4 seat: state Rep. Greg Leding, a Democrat, and Republican nominee, Dawn Clemence.
State Senate District 5
A three-way race for the state Senate seat in District 5 -- a largely rural area composed of a small part of eastern Washington County, all of Madison County and parts of Franklin, Carroll, Johnson, Crawford and Sebastian counties -- has developed. State Rep. Bob Ballinger is the GOP nominee; Jim Wallace is the Democratic nominee, and Lee Evans is the Libertarian nominee. The most votes wins with no run off in this race.
BENTON COUNTY HOUSE RACES
State House District 87
State Rep. Robin Lundstrum, a Republican, is seeking re-election to represent District 87 in the Senate. She will face Democratic nominee, Kelly Scott Unger.
State House District 90
State Rep. Jana Della Rose, a Republican, who is seeking re-election, is being challenged by Democratic nominee Kati McFarland.
State House District 92
This is an open seat with no incumbent seeking re-election. The two candidates are Democratic Party nominee, Chris Birch and Republican Party nominee, Gayla Hendren McKenzie.
State House District 93
Republican State Rep. Jim Dotson will face Democratic nominee challenger, Gayatri Jane Agnew, for this State House seat.
State House District 94
State Rep. Rebecca Petty, a Republican, is facing Democrat Party Nominee, Jene Huffman-Gilreath, for the state House 94 seat.
State House District 95
State Rep. Austin McCollum, a Republican, will face Democratic Party nominee, Celeste Williams, for the state House 95 seat.
State House District 96
State Rep. Grant Hodges will face Democratic Party nominee, Christie Craig, for the state House 96 seat.
WASHINGTON COUNTY HOUSE RACES
State House District 80
State Rep. Charlene Fite, a Republican, is seeking re-election. She will face a Democratic Party nominee, Lou Reed Sharp, as well as a Libertarian candidate, Casey Copeland, for the District 80 seat. There will be no run-off in this race. The candidate with the most votes wins.
State House District 81
State Rep. Bruce Coleman, a Republican, is seeking re-election. He faces Democrat Party nominee, Donald R. McKinney, for the District 81 seat.
State House District 84
Rep. Charlie Collins, a Republican, is seeking re-election. He faces, Democratic nominee, Denise Garner for the District 84 seat.
State House District 87
Rep. Robin Lundstrum, a Republican, is seeking re-election. She faces Democratic nominee, Kelly Scott Unger, for the District 87 seat.
State House District 89
State Rep. Jeff Williams, a Republican, is seeking re-election. He faces Megan Godfrey, the Democratic nominee for the District 89 seat.
State House District 97
This is an open seat as State Rep. Bob Ballenger is seeking a state senate seat. The candidates are: Gary L. Morris, the Democratic nominee, and Republican nominee Harlan Breaux for the District 97 seat.
In addition to these state races, there will be local municipal and county races in the area.
More next week on what voters can expect on the Nov. 6 General Election ballots.
CORRECTION
Information about candidates running for Secretary of State in the 2018 general election was unclear due to editing in Maylon Rice's column in the Sept. 26 paper. Here's the correct information:
Secretary of State
Incumbent Secretary of State Mark Martin is term-limited and cannot run for re-election. Those seeking the office are:
Democratic Candidate Susan Inman, a former Director of Elections, is running for this position.
Republican Land Commissioner John Thurston also is running for Secretary of State. Thurston was term-limited after two terms as Land Commissioner and could not seek re-election.
MAYLON RICE IS A FORMER JOURNALIST WHO WORKED FOR SEVERAL NORTHWEST ARKANSAS PUBLICATIONS. HE CAN BE REACHED VIA EMAIL AT [email protected]. THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHOR.
Editorial on 10/03/2018