Arkansas 2012 legislative election results

The tabs below contain analysis of election results in the 2012 legislative elections for Arkansas.

• Senate
• House
• National Partisan Trends

2012 Legislative Election Results
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Other 2012 Election information
State legislative elections • State legislative election results • Statewide elections, 2012 • State Senate elections • State House elections

Arkansas State Senate Election Results

This page contains macro-level election results and analysis for the Arkansas State Senate 2012 elections. For results in individual contests see our Arkansas State Senate elections, 2012 page. The following is a breakdown of the state senate before and after the election:

Arkansas State Senate
Party		As of November 5, 2012	After the 2012 Election
	Democratic Party	20	14
	Republican Party	15	21
Total		35	35

What You'll See on This Page

This page will display the following lists of candidates

• Incumbents running on November 6
• Defeated incumbents
• Challengers who defeated an incumbent
• Newly elected senators
• List of all winners
• Unopposed candidates
• Third party candidates

State Senate Overview:

• A total of 35 of the state's Senate seats were up for election in 2012.

Incumbents

Incumbents running in November 6

The following is a list of all of the incumbents running on the November 6 general election ballot:

1. Bill Sample
2. Bruce Holland
3. Cecile Bledsoe
4. David Burnett
5. David Johnson (Arkansas legislator)
6. David Wyatt
7. Eddie Joe Williams
8. Jake Files
9. Jason Rapert
10. Jeremy Hutchinson
11. Johnny Key
12. Jonathan Dismang
13. Joyce Elliott
14. Larry Teague
15. Linda Chesterfield
16. Michael Lamoureux
17. Mike Fletcher
18. Missy Irvin
19. Paul Bookout
20. Robert Thompson, Arkansas Senator
21. Stephanie Flowers
22. Steve Harrelson

Incumbents defeated

The followings is a list of incumbents defeated in 2012:

General election

Candidate	Party	District
Mike Fletcher	Democratic	Arkansas State Senate District 27
Steve Harrelson	Democratic	Arkansas State Senate District 21

Primary election

Candidate	Party	District
Bill Pritchard	Republican	Arkansas State Senate District 35
Jack Crumbly	Democratic	Arkansas State Senate District 16

Challengers who beat an incumbent

The following is a list of challengers who defeated an incumbent in 2012:

General election

Candidate	Party	District
Alan Clark	Republican	Arkansas State Senate District 13
Jimmy Hickey	Republican	Arkansas State Senate District 11
Jon Woods	Republican	Arkansas State Senate District 7
Keith Ingram	Democratic	Arkansas State Senate District 24
Ronald Caldwell	Republican	Arkansas State Senate District 23

Primary election

Results will display after the election on November 6.

New State Senators and General Election Winners

Newly elected senators

The following list will display the newly-elected members of the Arkansas State Senate:

Democratic

1. Bobby Pierce
2. Bruce Maloch
3. Eddie Cheatham
4. Keith Ingram
5. Uvalde Lindsey

Republican

1. Alan Clark
2. Bart Hester
3. Bryan King
4. David J. Sanders
5. Gary Stubblefield
6. Jane English
7. Jim Hendren
8. Jimmy Hickey
9. Jon Woods
10. Ronald Caldwell

Open Seat Winners

The following will display a list of candidates who won election in seats where no incumbent was running:

Democratic

1. Bobby Pierce
2. Bruce Maloch
3. Eddie Cheatham
4. Uvalde Lindsey

Republican

1. Bart Hester
2. Bryan King
3. David J. Sanders
4. Gary Stubblefield
5. Jane English
6. Jim Hendren

Candidates who won election

The following will be a list of all candidates elected to the Arkansas State Senate:

Democratic

1. Bobby Pierce
2. Bruce Maloch
3. David Burnett
4. David Johnson (Arkansas legislator)
5. David Wyatt
6. Eddie Cheatham
7. Joyce Elliott
8. Keith Ingram
9. Larry Teague
10. Linda Chesterfield
11. Paul Bookout
12. Robert Thompson, Arkansas Senator
13. Stephanie Flowers
14. Uvalde Lindsey

Republican

1. Alan Clark
2. Bart Hester
3. Bill Sample
4. Bruce Holland
5. Bryan King
6. Cecile Bledsoe
7. David J. Sanders
8. Eddie Joe Williams
9. Gary Stubblefield
10. Jake Files
11. Jane English
12. Jason Rapert
13. Jeremy Hutchinson
14. Jim Hendren
15. Jimmy Hickey
16. Johnny Key
17. Jon Woods
18. Jonathan Dismang
19. Michael Lamoureux
20. Missy Irvin
21. Ronald Caldwell

Competitiveness

Unopposed candidates in general election

The following candidates will not face major party competition:

Democratic

1. Bruce Maloch
2. David Burnett
3. Joyce Elliott
4. Keith Ingram
5. Larry Teague
6. Linda Chesterfield
7. Paul Bookout
8. Stephanie Flowers
9. Uvalde Lindsey

Republican

1. Bart Hester
2. Bill Sample
3. Bryan King
4. Cecile Bledsoe
5. Eddie Joe Williams
6. Jake Files
7. Jeremy Hutchinson
8. Jim Hendren
9. Johnny Key
10. Michael Lamoureux

Ballot Access

Third party candidates

The following is a list of third party and independent candidates who are running in 2012:

1. David Dinwiddie
2. Frank Gilbert
3. Glen Schwarz
4. Paul White

2012 Legislative Election Results
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Other 2012 Election information
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Arkansas State House Election Results

This page contains macro-level election results and analysis for the Arkansas House of Representatives elections in 2012. For results in individual contests, see our Arkansas House of Representatives elections, 2012. The following is a breakdown of the state house before and after the election:

Arkansas House of Representatives
Party		As of November 5, 2012	After the 2012 Election
	Democratic Party	54	49
	Republican Party	46	51
Total		100	100

What You'll See on This Page

This page will display the following lists of candidates

• Incumbents running on November 6
• Defeated incumbents
• Challengers who defeated an incumbent
• Newly elected representatives
• List of all winners
• Unopposed candidates
• Third party candidates

State House Overview

• All 100 of the state's House seats were up for election in 2012.

Incumbency Analysis

Incumbents who ran on November 6

The following is a list of all of the incumbents who are running on the November 6 general election ballot:

1. Allen Kerr
2. Andrea Lea
3. Andy Mayberry
4. Ann Clemmer
5. Betty Overbey
6. Bruce Cozart
7. Bruce Westerman
8. Butch Wilkins
9. Charlie Collins
10. Darrin Williams
11. David Branscum
12. David Fielding
13. David Meeks
14. Davy Carter
15. Debra Hobbs
16. Denny Altes
17. Duncan Baird
18. Fredrick Love
19. Gary Deffenbaugh
20. Greg Leding
21. Hank Wilkins
22. Homer Lenderman
23. James McLean
24. James Ratliff
25. James Word
26. Jeff Wardlaw
27. Jeremy Gillam
28. Jim Nickels
29. Jody Dickinson
30. John Burris
31. John Catlett
32. John Edwards, Arkansas Representative
33. John T. Vines
34. John W. Walker
35. Jon Hubbard
36. Jon S. Eubanks
37. Jonathan Barnett
38. Justin Harris
39. Karen Hopper
40. Kelley Linck
41. Kim Hammer
42. Lane Jean
43. Les Carnine
44. Leslee Milam Post
45. Lori Benedict
46. Loy Mauch
47. Mark Biviano
48. Mark Perry
49. Marshall Wright
50. Mary P. Hickerson
51. Mary Slinkard
52. Matthew Shepherd
53. Nate Bell
54. Nate Steel
55. Reginald Murdock
56. Robert Dale
57. Sheilla Lampkin
58. Stephanie Malone
59. Stephen Meeks
60. Terry Rice
61. Tommy Thompson, Arkansas
62. Tommy Wren
63. Walls McCrary

Incumbents defeated

The followings will display a a list of incumbents defeated in 2012:

General election

Candidate	Party	District
Jon Hubbard	Republican	Arkansas House of Representatives District 75
Leslee Milam Post	Democratic	Arkansas House of Representatives District 83
Lori Benedict	Republican	Arkansas House of Representatives District 82
Loy Mauch	Republican	Arkansas House of Representatives District 26

Primary election

No candidates have been added to this category yet.

Challengers who beat an incumbent

The following will display a list of challengers who defeated an incumbent in 2012:

General election

Candidate	Party	District
Bill Gossage	Republican	Arkansas House of Representatives District 82
David Kizzia	Democratic	Arkansas House of Representatives District 26
Harold Copenhaver	Democratic	Arkansas House of Representatives District 58
Scott Baltz	Democratic	Arkansas House of Representatives District 61

Primary election

No candidates have been added to this category yet.

New Representatives and General Election Winners

Newly elected representatives

The following will list the newly-elected members of the Arkansas House of Representatives:

Democratic

1. Brent Talley
2. Charles Armstrong
3. Chris Richey
4. David Hillman
5. David Kizzia
6. David Whitaker
7. Deborah Ferguson
8. Eddie Armstrong, III
9. Fonda Hawthorne
10. George McGill
11. Harold Copenhaver
12. Joe Jett
13. John Baine
14. Mark McElroy
15. Mary Broadaway
16. Mike Holcomb
17. Monte Hodges
18. Patti Julian
19. Scott Baltz
20. Steve Magie
21. Warwick Sabin
22. Wes Wagner

Republican

1. Andy Davis
2. Bill Gossage
3. Bob Ballinger
4. Charlene Fite
5. Charlotte Vining Douglas
6. Dan Douglas
7. Douglas House
8. Jim Dotson
9. Joe Farrer
10. John Hutchison
11. John Payton
12. Josh Miller
13. Ken Bragg
14. Mark Lowery
15. Micah Neal
16. Randy Alexander
17. Richard Womack
18. Sue Scott

Green

1. Fred Smith

Open Seat Winners

The following will list candidates who won election in seats where no incumbent was running:

Democratic

1. Brent Talley
2. Charles Armstrong
3. Chris Richey
4. David Hillman
5. David Whitaker
6. Deborah Ferguson
7. Eddie Armstrong, III
8. Fonda Hawthorne
9. George McGill
10. Joe Jett
11. John Baine
12. Mark McElroy
13. Mary Broadaway
14. Mike Holcomb
15. Monte Hodges
16. Patti Julian
17. Steve Magie
18. Warwick Sabin
19. Wes Wagner

Republican

1. Andy Davis
2. Bob Ballinger
3. Charlene Fite
4. Charlotte Vining Douglas
5. Dan Douglas
6. Douglas House
7. Jim Dotson
8. Joe Farrer
9. John Hutchison
10. John Payton
11. Josh Miller
12. Ken Bragg
13. Mark Lowery
14. Micah Neal
15. Randy Alexander
16. Richard Womack
17. Sue Scott

Candidates who won election

The following will list all candidates elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives in 2012:

Democratic

1. Betty Overbey
2. Brent Talley
3. Butch Wilkins
4. Charles Armstrong
5. Chris Richey
6. Darrin Williams
7. David Fielding
8. David Hillman
9. David Kizzia
10. David Whitaker
11. Deborah Ferguson
12. Eddie Armstrong, III
13. Fonda Hawthorne
14. Fredrick Love
15. George McGill
16. Greg Leding
17. Hank Wilkins
18. Harold Copenhaver
19. Homer Lenderman
20. James McLean
21. James Ratliff
22. James Word
23. Jeff Wardlaw
24. Jim Nickels
25. Jody Dickinson
26. Joe Jett
27. John Baine
28. John Catlett
29. John Edwards, Arkansas Representative
30. John T. Vines
31. John W. Walker
32. Mark McElroy
33. Mark Perry
34. Marshall Wright
35. Mary Broadaway
36. Mike Holcomb
37. Monte Hodges
38. Nate Steel
39. Patti Julian
40. Reginald Murdock
41. Scott Baltz
42. Sheilla Lampkin
43. Steve Magie
44. Tommy Thompson, Arkansas
45. Tommy Wren
46. Walls McCrary
47. Warwick Sabin
48. Wes Wagner

Republican

1. Allen Kerr
2. Andrea Lea
3. Andy Davis
4. Andy Mayberry
5. Ann Clemmer
6. Bill Gossage
7. Bob Ballinger
8. Bruce Cozart
9. Bruce Westerman
10. Charlene Fite
11. Charlie Collins
12. Charlotte Vining Douglas
13. Dan Douglas
14. David Branscum
15. David Meeks
16. Davy Carter
17. Debra Hobbs
18. Denny Altes
19. Douglas House
20. Duncan Baird
21. Gary Deffenbaugh
22. Jeremy Gillam
23. Jim Dotson
24. Joe Farrer
25. John Burris
26. John Hutchison
27. John Payton
28. Jon S. Eubanks
29. Jonathan Barnett
30. Josh Miller
31. Justin Harris
32. Karen Hopper
33. Kelley Linck
34. Ken Bragg
35. Kim Hammer
36. Lane Jean
37. Les Carnine
38. Mark Biviano
39. Mark Lowery
40. Mary P. Hickerson
41. Mary Slinkard
42. Matthew Shepherd
43. Micah Neal
44. Nate Bell
45. Randy Alexander
46. Richard Womack
47. Robert Dale
48. Stephanie Malone
49. Stephen Meeks
50. Sue Scott
51. Terry Rice

Green

1. Fred Smith

Competitiveness

Unopposed candidates in general election

The following candidates will not face major party competition:

Democratic

1. Charles Armstrong
2. Chris Richey
3. Darrin Williams
4. David Fielding
5. Deborah Ferguson
6. Eddie Armstrong, III
7. Fredrick Love
8. George McGill
9. Hank Wilkins
10. Homer Lenderman
11. James Word
12. Jeff Wardlaw
13. Jody Dickinson
14. Joe Jett
15. John Baine
16. John W. Walker
17. Mark McElroy
18. Mark Perry
19. Marshall Wright
20. Monte Hodges
21. Nate Steel
22. Reginald Murdock
23. Walls McCrary
24. Warwick Sabin
25. Wes Wagner

Republican

1. Andrea Lea
2. Andy Mayberry
3. Ann Clemmer
4. Bruce Westerman
5. Dan Douglas
6. David Branscum
7. Davy Carter
8. Debra Hobbs
9. Denny Altes
10. Duncan Baird
11. Gary Deffenbaugh
12. Jeremy Gillam
13. Jim Dotson
14. John Burris
15. John Payton
16. Jonathan Barnett
17. Karen Hopper
18. Kelley Linck
19. Lane Jean
20. Les Carnine
21. Mary P. Hickerson
22. Mary Slinkard
23. Matthew Shepherd
24. Robert Dale
25. Sue Scott
26. Terry Rice

Ballot Access

Third party candidates

The following is a list of third party and independent candidates running in 2012:

1. Anton Such
2. Billy Laman
3. Debrah Standiford
4. Dennis Knapp
5. Fred Smith (Arkansas Representative)
6. Mark Moore
7. Peter Cyphers
8. Rodger Paxton
9. Ronnie Spence
10. Travis Mason

2012 Legislative Election Results
State-by-State Analysis
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Other 2012 Election information
State legislative elections • State legislative election results • Statewide elections, 2012 • State Senate elections • State House elections

National Partisan Trends

The following tables will detail the partisan breakdown of national election results.

Incumbents who were defeated in the general election

In the 44 states with elections, there were 4,534 incumbents who ran in the general election. The following is a breakdown of incumbent defeats in the 2012 general election:

Incumbents defeated in 2012 legislative general election
Party	Senate	House	Total
Democratic	21	49	70
Republican	37	182	219
Third Party	2	3	5
TOTALS	60	234	294

Total new legislators elected

In total, 1,707 (28.4%) new legislators were elected in 2012. Of these 1,707, 849 (50.0%) were Republicans and 854 (50.0%) were Democrats.

The following is the breakdown of new legislators.

New Legislators after the 2012 legislative elections
Party	Senate	House	Total
Democratic	165	684	849
Republican	202	652	854
Independent	0	4	4
TOTALS	367	1,340	1,707

Winners of Open Seats

Open seats contests made up 705 (11.7%) of the 6,015 seats in 2012. Of these 705 open seats, Republicans won 401 (56.9%) while Democrats won 304 (43.1%). Going into the election, the number of open seats formerly held by each party was quite similar. Estimates prior to the election suggested that approximately 52% of the open seats were previously held by Republicans and 48% were held by Democrats.

The following is the breakdown of open seat winners.

Open Seat Winners in 2012 legislative elections
Party	Senate	House	Total
Democratic	82	220	302
Republican	105	296	401
Third Party	0	0	0
TOTALS	187	516	703

Impact on legislative majorities

See also: Partisan balance of state legislatures

Partisan Balance of Chambers with 2012 Elections
	Pre-election				Post-election
Legislative chamber
State senates	17	24	1	1	18	24	0	1
State houses	15	27	1	0	19	24	0	0
Totals:	32	51	2	1	37	48	0	1

Partisan Balance of All 99 Chambers Before and After 2012 Elections
	Pre-election				Post-election
Legislative chamber
State senates	19	28	2	1	20	28	1	1
State houses	17	31	1	0	21	28	0	0
Totals:	35	60	3	1	41	56	1	1