Arkansas State Senate elections, 2012
 Arkansas's 2012 elections: • U.S. House • State Senate • State House • Ballot measures |
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The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was March 1, 2012. The primary election day was May 22, 2012.
Although Arkansas senators typically serve four-year terms, they are elected to a two-year term during the first election of the decade. Thus, rather than only half of all senators being up for election, all sitting members will be on the ballot in November.
Races have begun forming earlier than usual this year as Democrats attempt to reassert themselves after losing seats in both chambers in 2010. Republicans are also campaigning early in hopes of gaining control of the legislature.[1] Republicans may be hoping to capitalize on U.S. President Barack Obama's low approval ratings in Arkansas, while Democrats are likely planning to use their historical advantage in the state and focus on local issues. Control of the legislature will not decide which party is legally the "majority" party in the state, however; that status can only be claimed through winning a majority of the seven constitutional offices in the state, which will be decided again in 2014.[2]
Majority control
- See also: Partisan composition of state senates
Heading into the November 6 election, the Democratic Party holds the majority in the Arkansas State Senate:
| Arkansas State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 5, 2012 | After the 2012 Election | |
| Democratic Party | 20 | 14 | |
| Republican Party | 15 | 21 | |
| Total | 35 | 35 | |
Incumbents retiring
A total of 11 incumbents are not running for re-election in 2012. Those incumbents are:
| Name: | Party: | Current office: |
|---|---|---|
| Gene Jeffress |  Democratic
| Arkansas State Senate District 25 |
| Gilbert Baker |  Republican
| Arkansas State Senate District 30 |
| James Luker | Democratic
| Arkansas State Senate District 17 |
| Jerry Taylor | Democratic
| Arkansas State Senate District 23 |
| Jimmy Jeffress | Democratic
| Arkansas State Senate District 24 |
| Kim Hendren | Republican
| Arkansas State Senate District 9 |
| Mary Salmon | Democratic
| Arkansas State Senate District 31 |
| Percy Malone | Democratic
| Arkansas State Senate District 26 |
| Randy Laverty | Democratic
| Arkansas State Senate District 2 |
| Ruth Whitaker | Republican
| Arkansas State Senate District 3 |
| Sue Madison | Democratic
| Arkansas State Senate District 7 |
Term limits
The Arkansas State Senate has been a term-limited state senate since Arkansas voters approved the Arkansas Term Limits Initiative in 1992 as an initiated constitutional amendment.
There are 35 Arkansas State Senators, all of whom will be up for re-election in November. In 2012, 10 of them who are current members, or 28.6% of the total senate seats, (7 Democratic state senators and 3 Republican state senators) will be ineligible to run for the senate again in November.
In addition to the 10 state senators who are leaving office because of Arkansas's term limits, 23 state representatives are also termed-out.
Democrats (7):
Republicans (3):
Impact of redistricting
Governor Mike Beebe's redistricting maps were approved 2-1 in August 2011. Democrats Beebe and Attorney General Dustin McDaniel voted yes, while Republican Secretary of State Mark Martin did not approve. Martin and others have criticized the maps' impacts on the representative districts of the Arkansas House of Representatives. Beebe's map reduces the number of districts with an African American majority from 13 to 11 and pits four pairs of incumbents against each other in 2012. Martin's map would have increased the number of districts with an African American majority to 15 and would have only paired 3 sets of incumbents in 2012. Senator Hank Wilkins defended the current maps, claiming "In order for us to keep three districts (in southeastern Arkansas), in essence the percentage of African-Americans would be so low that in my mind we would not really have majority-minority districts. "We'd have districts that, conceivably we could lose all three African-Americans (in the House), and I was not willing to take that chance."[1]
Redistricting has lesser impacts in the Arkansas State Senate, maintaining the current number of African American dominated districts at four. It also pairs no incumbents against each other in 2012.[1]
Campaign contributions
This chart shows how many candidates ran for state senate in Arkansas in past years and the cumulative amount of campaign contributions in state senate races, including contributions in both primary and general election contests. All figures come from Follow The Money.[2]
| Year | Number of candidates | Total contributions |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 38 | $3,771,126 |
| 2008 | 23 | $2,251,735 |
| 2006 | 27 | $1,546,556 |
| 2004 | 26 | $1,250,204 |
| 2002 | 64 | $2,693,862 |
In 2010, candidates running for senate raised a total of $3,771,126 in campaign funds. Their top 10 contributors were: [3]
| Donor | Amount |
|---|---|
| Greenberg, Daniel | $185,638 |
| Cowling, Ken | $133,512 |
| Arkansas Health Care Association | $113,000 |
| Medley, Jim | $55,800 |
| Stephens Group | $51,250 |
| Arkansas State Farm Insurance | $39,500 |
| Arkansas Realtors Association | $38,500 |
| Harrison, Barrett E | $34,500 |
| Morton, Michael S | $29,000 |
| Harrelson, Steve | $28,500 |
Qualifications
Article 5, Section 4 of the Arkansas Constitution states: No person shall be a Senator or Representative who, at the time of his election, is not a citizen of the United States, nor any one who has not been for two years next preceding his election, a resident of this State, and for one year next preceding his election, a resident of the county or district whence he may be chosen. Senators shall be at least twenty-five years of age, and Representatives at least twenty-one years of age.
List of candidates
District 1
Incumbent Republican Johnny Key is running for re-election in District 17.
May 22 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
May 22 GOP primary:
- Bart Hester
- Tim Summers - Summers was first elected to House District 99 in 2008.
- Bart Hester
November 6 General election candidates:
District 2
Incumbent Democrat Randy Laverty was ineligible to run for re-election due to term limits.
- May 22 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- May 22 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 3
Incumbent Republican Ruth Whitaker was ineligible to run for re-election due to term limits.
- May 22 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- May 22 GOP primary:
- Cecile Bledsoe - Incumbent Bledsoe was first elected to Senate District 8 in 2008.
- Cecile Bledsoe
November 6 General election candidates:
District 4
Incumbent Republican Michael Lamoureux is running for re-election in District 16.
- May 22 Democratic primary:
- Uvalde Lindsey - Lindsey was first elected to House District 88 in 2008.
- Uvalde Lindsey
- May 22 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 5
Incumbent Democrat Stephanie Flowers is running for re-election in District 25.
- May 22 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- May 22 GOP primary:
- Bill Coleman
- Bryan King - King was first elected to House District 91 in 2006.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 6
Incumbent Republican Bruce Holland is running for re-election in District 9.
- May 22 Democratic primary:
- May 22 GOP primary:
- Gary Stubblefield - Stubblefield was first elected to House District 67 in 2010.
- Gary Stubblefield
November 6 General election candidates:
District 7
Incumbent Democrat Sue Madison was ineligible to run for re-election due to term limits.
- May 22 Democratic primary:
- May 22 GOP primary:
- Bill Pritchard - Incumbent Pritchard was first elected to Senate District 35 in 2006.
- Jon Woods - Woods was first elected to House District 93 in 2006.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 8
Incumbent Republican Cecile Bledsoe is running for re-election in District 3.
- May 22 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- May 22 GOP primary:
- Jake C. Files - Incumbent Files was first elected to Senate District 13 in 2010.
- Jake C. Files
November 6 General election candidates:
District 9
Incumbent Republican Kim Hendren was ineligible to run for re-election due to term limits.
- May 22 Democratic primary:
- Tracy Pennartz - Pennartz was first elected to House District 65 in 2006.
- Tracy Pennartz
- May 22 GOP primary:
- Rick Green
- Bruce Holland - Incumbent Holland was first elected to Senate District 6 in 2010.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 10
Incumbent Republican Missy Thomas Irvin is running for re-election in District 18.
- May 22 Democratic primary:
- Larry Teague - Incumbent Teague was first elected to Senate District 20 in 2008.
- Larry Teague
- May 22 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 11
Incumbent Democrat Robert Thompson is running for re-election in District 20.
- May 22 Democratic primary:
- Larry Cowling - Cowling was first elected to House District 2 in 2006.
- Steve Harrelson - Incumbent Harrelson was first elected to Senate District 21 in 2010.
- May 22 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 12
Incumbent Democrat David Wyatt is running for re-election in District 19.
- May 22 Democratic primary:
- May 22 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 13
Incumbent Republican Jake C. Files is running for re-election in District 8.
- May 22 Democratic primary:
- Mike Fletcher - Incumbent Fletcher was first elected to Senate District 27 in 2010.
- Mike Fletcher
- May 22 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 14
Incumbent Democrat Paul Bookout is running for re-election in District 21.
- May 22 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- May 22 GOP primary:
- Bill Sample - Incumbent Sample was first elected to Senate District 19 in 2010.
- Bill Sample
November 6 General election candidates:
District 15
Incumbent Democrat David Burnett is running for re-election in District 22.
- May 22 Democratic primary:
- May 22 GOP primary:
- Ed Garner - Garner was first elected to House District 41 in 2006.
- David J. Sanders - Sanders was first elected to House District 31 in 2010.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 16
Incumbent Democrat Jack Crumbly is running for re-election in District 24.
- May 22 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- May 22 GOP primary:
- Michael Lamoureux - Incumbent Lamoureux was first elected to Senate District 4 in 2009.
- Michael Lamoureux
November 6 General election candidates:
District 17
Incumbent Democrat James Luker was ineligible to run for re-election due to term limits.
- May 22 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- May 22 GOP primary:
- Johnny Key - Incumbent Key was first elected to Senate District 1 in 2008.
- Johnny Key
November 6 General election candidates:
District 18
Incumbent Republican Jason Rapert is running for re-election in District 35.
- May 22 Democratic primary:
- May 22 GOP primary:
- Missy Thomas Irvin - Incumbent Irvin was first elected to Senate District 10 in 2010.
- Missy Thomas Irvin
November 6 General election candidates:
District 19
Incumbent Republican Bill Sample is running for re-election in District 14.
- May 22 Democratic primary:
- David Wyatt - Incumbent Wyatt was first elected to Senate District 12 in 2008.
- David Wyatt
- May 22 GOP primary:
- Linda Collins-Smith - Collins-Smith was first elected to House District 80 in 2010.
- Linda Collins-Smith
November 6 General election candidates:
District 20
Incumbent Democrat Larry Teague is running for re-election in District 10.
- May 22 Democratic primary:
- Robert Thompson - Incumbent Thompson was first elected to Senate District 11 in 2006.
- Robert Thompson
- May 22 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 21
Incumbent Democrat Steve Harrelson is running for re-election in District 11.
- May 22 Democratic primary:
- Paul Bookout - Incumbent Bookout was first elected to Senate District 14 in 2006.
- Paul Bookout
- May 22 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 22
Incumbent Republican Jeremy Hutchinson is running for re-election in District 33.
- May 22 Democratic primary:
- David Burnett - Incumbent Burnett was first elected to Senate District 15 in 2010.
- David Burnett
- May 22 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 23
Incumbent Democrat Jerry Taylor is not seeking re-election in 2012.
- May 22 Democratic primary:
- Jerry Brown - Brown was first elected to House District 57 in 2006.
- Jerry Brown
- May 22 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 24
Incumbent Democrat Jimmy Jeffress was ineligible to run for re-election due to term limits.
- May 22 Democratic primary:
- Jack Crumbly - Incumbent Crumbly was first elected to Senate District 16 in 2006.
- Keith Ingram - Ingram was first elected to House District 53 in 2008.
- May 22 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 25
Incumbent Democrat Gene Jeffress was ineligible to run for re-election due to term limits and is instead running for U.S. Congress.
- May 22 Democratic primary:
- Efrem Elliott - Elliott was first elected to House District 11 in 2010.
- Stephanie Flowers - Incumbent Flowers was first elected to Senate District 5 in 2010.
- May 22 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed.
Libertarian candidate:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 26
Incumbent Democrat Percy Malone was ineligible to run for re-election due to term limits.
- May 22 Democratic primary:
- June 12 Democratic primary runoff:
- May 22 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 27
Incumbent Democrat Mike Fletcher is running for re-election in District 13.
- May 22 Democratic primary:
- Bobby Pierce - Pierce was first elected to House District 19 in 2006.
- Garry Smith - Smith was first elected to House District 7 in 2008.
- Bobby Pierce
- May 22 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 28
Incumbent Republican Eddie Joe Williams is running for re-election in District 29.
- May 22 Democratic primary:
- Tiffany Rogers - Rogers was first elected to House District 14 in 2008.
- Tiffany Rogers
- May 22 GOP primary:
- Jonathan Dismang - Incumbent Dismang was first elected to Senate District 29 in 2010.
- Jonathan Dismang
November 6 General election candidates:
District 29
Incumbent Republican Jonathan Dismang is running for re-election in District 28.
- May 22 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- May 22 GOP primary:
- Eddie Joe Williams - Incumbent Williams was first elected to Senate District 28 in 2010.
- Eddie Joe Williams
November 6 General election candidates:
District 30
Incumbent Republican Gilbert Baker was ineligible to run for re-election due to term limits.
- May 22 Democratic primary:
- Linda Pondexter Chesterfield - Incumbent Chesterfield was first elected to Senate District 34 in 2010.
- Linda Pondexter Chesterfield
- May 22 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 31
Incumbent Democrat Mary Salmon was ineligible to run for re-election due to term limits.
- May 22 Democratic primary:
- Joyce Elliott - Incumbent Elliott was first elected to Senate District 33 in 2008.
- Fred Allen - Allen was first elected to House District 33 in 2006.
- Joyce Elliott
- May 22 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed.
November 6 General election candidates:
District 32
- May 22 Democratic primary:
- David Johnson - Incumbent Johnson was first elected in 2008.
- David Johnson
- May 22 GOP primary:
November 6 General election candidates:
District 33
Incumbent Democrat Joyce Elliott is running for re-election in District 31.
- May 22 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed.
- May 22 GOP primary:
- Jeremy Hutchinson - Incumbent Hutchinson was first elected to Senate District 22 in 2010.
- Jeremy Hutchinson
November 6 General election candidates:
District 34
Incumbent Democrat Linda Pondexter Chesterfield is running for re-election in District 30.
- May 22 Democratic primary:
- Barry Hyde - Hyde was first elected to House District 40 in 2006.
- Barry Hyde
- May 22 GOP primary:
- Jane English - English was first elected to House District 42 in 2008.
- Jane English
November 6 General election candidates:
District 35
Incumbent Republican Bill Pritchard is running for re-election in District 7.
- May 22 Democratic primary:
- Linda Tyler - Tyler was first elected to House District 45 in 2008.
- Linda Tyler
- May 22 GOP primary:
- Jason Rapert - Incumbent Rapert was first elected to Senate District 18 in 2010.
- Jason Rapert
November 6 General election candidates:
See also
References
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