Arkansas State Senate District 16

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Arkansas State Senate District 16
Incumbent
Assumed office: January 9, 2023

Arkansas State Senate District 16 is represented by Kim Hammer (R).

As of the 2020 Census, Arkansas state senators represented an average of 86,107 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 83,607 residents.

About the office

Members of the Arkansas State Senate are elected to four-year terms with term limits. The Arkansas legislature is one of 16 state legislatures with term limits. Arkansas senators are subject to term limits of no more than 12 consecutive years with the opportunity to return after a four-year break.[1]

Service in the state legislature is part-time. In the first election after the census, all 35 seats are up for election. The Senators "shall divide themselves into two classes, by lot, and the first class shall hold their places for two years only, after which all shall be elected for four years." Arkansas legislators assume office on the second Monday of January following their election.[2]

Qualifications

See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

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."[3]

Article 19, Section 3 of the Arkansas Constitution states: "No persons shall be elected to, or appointed to fill a vacancy in, any office who does not possess the qualifications of an elector."[4]


Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
State legislative salaries, 2024[5]
SalaryPer diem
$44,356/yearFor legislators residing within 50 miles of the capitol: $59/day. For legislators residing more than 50 miles from the capitol: $166/day.

Term limits

See also: State legislatures with term limits

The Arkansas legislature is one of 16 state legislatures with term limits. The state Senate has been term-limited since Arkansas voters approved the Arkansas Term Limits Initiative in 1992 as an initiated constitutional amendment. The first year that the term limits enacted in 1992 impacted the ability of incumbents to run for office was 2000.

In 2014, voters approved the Arkansas Elected Officials Ethics, Transparency and Financial Reform Amendment which permitted legislators to serve a total of 16 years in the House or Senate during his or her lifetime.[6] In 2020, voters modified the term limits for Arkansas state legislative members. Voters passed Issue 2 in November 2020 with 55.38% of the vote. The measure imposed term limits of 12 consecutive years for state legislators with the opportunity to return after a four-year break. State legislators elected in November 2020 or already in office would be allowed to serve the former term limit of 16 years.

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

If there is a vacancy in the Arkansas General Assembly, the governor must call for a special election to fill the vacancy. The election must be called by the governor without delay.[7][8] For all special elections in the Senate, the county that first established the district is responsible for conducting the election.[9] If the special election is to fill a House seat, the county board of election commissioners representing the vacant district conducts the election.[10][11]

DocumentIcon.jpg See sources: Arkansas Stat. Ann. § 7-11-103 and Arkansas Cons. Art. 5, § 6


District map

Redistricting

2020 redistricting cycle

See also: Redistricting in Arkansas after the 2020 census

On December 29, 2021, new state House and Senate district maps went into effect.[12] The Arkansas Board of Apportionment—made up of the governor, secretary of state, and attorney general—initially displayed these maps on Oct. 29, 2021, beginning a month-long public comment period.[13] The board met on Nov. 29 to incorporate feedback and then voted 3-0 in favor of the final maps. These maps took effect for Arkansas' 2022 legislative elections.

How does redistricting in Arkansas work? The Arkansas General Assembly is responsible for drawing congressional district lines. Both chambers of the state legislature must approve a single redistricting plan. The governor may veto the lines drawn by the state legislature.[14]

Arkansas' state legislative district lines are drawn by a politician commission, the Arkansas Board of Apportionment. The commission comprises the governor, the secretary of state, and the attorney general.[14]

The Arkansas Constitution requires that Arkansas State Senate district lines be "contiguous, and that they follow county lines except where necessary to comply with other legal requirements." There are no such requirements in place for congressional districts.[14]

Arkansas State Senate District 16
until January 8, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Arkansas State Senate District 16
starting January 9, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Elections

2022

See also: Arkansas State Senate elections, 2022

General election

General election for Arkansas State Senate District 16

Incumbent Kim Hammer defeated Jaron Salazar in the general election for Arkansas State Senate District 16 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Kim Hammer
Kim Hammer (R)
 
75.7
 
20,738
Image of Jaron Salazar
Jaron Salazar (L)
 
24.3
 
6,649

Total votes: 27,387
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Kim Hammer advanced from the Republican primary for Arkansas State Senate District 16.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for Arkansas State Senate District 16

Jaron Salazar advanced from the Libertarian convention for Arkansas State Senate District 16 on February 20, 2022.

Candidate
Image of Jaron Salazar
Jaron Salazar (L)

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2020

See also: Arkansas State Senate elections, 2020

General election

General election for Arkansas State Senate District 16

Incumbent Breanne Davis won election in the general election for Arkansas State Senate District 16 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Breanne Davis
Breanne Davis (R)
 
100.0
 
27,639

Total votes: 27,639
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Breanne Davis advanced from the Republican primary for Arkansas State Senate District 16.

General election

General election for Arkansas State Senate District 16

Incumbent Breanne Davis won election in the general election for Arkansas State Senate District 16 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Breanne Davis
Breanne Davis (R)
 
100.0
 
27,639

Total votes: 27,639
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Breanne Davis advanced from the Republican primary for Arkansas State Senate District 16.

2018

AR SD 16.JPG
See also: Arkansas state legislative special elections, 2018

A special election for the position of Arkansas State Senate District 16 was called for May 22, 2018. A special primary election was called for February 13, 2018. A special primary runoff election was called for March 13, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was December 13, 2017.[15]

The seat became vacant after the death of Senator Greg Standridge (R). Standridge, who was being treated for cancer, passed away on November 16, 2017.[16]

Breanne Davis (R) defeated Teresa Gallegos (D) in the special election. Gallegos ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. Bob Bailey and Breanne Davis defeated Luke Heffley in the Republican primary. Davis defeated Bailey in the Republican primary runoff.[15][17][18]

Arkansas State Senate, District 16, 2018
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngBreanne Davis 76.7% 9,161
     Democratic Teresa Gallegos 23.3% 2,786
Total Votes 11,947
Source: Arkansas Secretary of State These election results are unofficial and will be updated after official vote totals are made available.


Arkansas State Senate, District 16 Runoff Republican Primary, 2018
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngBreanne Davis 55.3% 4,266
Bob Bailey 44.7% 3,453
Total Votes 7,719
Source: Arkansas Secretary of State


Arkansas State Senate, District 16 Republican Primary, 2018
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngBreanne Davis 43.4% 2,440
Green check mark transparent.pngBob Bailey 41.4% 2,327
Luke Heffley 15.2% 854
Total Votes 5,621
Source: Arkansas Secretary of State

2016

See also: Arkansas State Senate elections, 2016

Elections for the Arkansas State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election was held on March 1, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing period began at noon local time on November 2, 2015, and ended at noon local time on November 9, 2015.[19]

Incumbent Greg Standridge ran unopposed in the Arkansas State Senate District 16 general election.[20]

Arkansas State Senate, District 16 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png Greg Standridge Incumbent (unopposed)
Source: Arkansas Secretary of State



Incumbent Greg Standridge ran unopposed in the Arkansas State Senate District 16 Republican Primary.[21][22]

Arkansas State Senate, District 16 Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png Greg Standridge Incumbent (unopposed)

2015

See also: Arkansas state legislative special elections, 2015

Thomas Akin, Stan Berry and Greg Standridge faced off in the Republican primary on January 13, 2015. No Democratic candidates filed to run.[23] Because no candidate received more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two vote-getters, Berry and Standridge, met in a runoff election on February 10, which Standridge won.[24][25] Standridge was unoppposed in the special election on April 14.[26]

The seat was vacant following Michael Lamoureux's (R) appointment as Gov.-elect Asa Hutchinson's (R) chief of staff and transition director.[27]

A special election for the position of Arkansas State Senate District 16 was called for April 14. A primary election took place on Jaunary 13, 2015, with a runoff on February 10. Because candidates from only one party filed to run, the primary became the special election. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was December 1, 2014.[28]

Arkansas State Senate, District 16, Special Runoff Election, 2015
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngGreg Standridge 53.6% 2,675
     Republican Stan Berry 46.4% 2,313
Total Votes 4,988
Arkansas State Senate, District 16, Special Election, 2015
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngGreg Standridge 47.8% 2,124
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngStan Berry 41.1% 1,826
     Republican Thomas Akin 11% 490
Total Votes 4,440

2012

See also: Arkansas State Senate elections, 2012

Elections for the office of Arkansas State Senate consisted of a primary election on May 22, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 1, 2012. Michael Lamoureux ran unopposed in the May 22 Republican primary before winning the general election without opposition.[29][30]

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2022, candidates for Arkansas State Senate District 16 raised a total of $1,064,472. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $53,224 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money

Campaign contributions, Arkansas State Senate District 16
Year Amount Candidates Average
2022 $82,463 2 $41,231
2020 $57,506 1 $57,506
2018 $308,567 4 $77,142
2016 $2,550 1 $2,550
2012 $113,172 1 $113,172
2010 $91,068 2 $45,534
2008 $14,700 1 $14,700
2006 $210,930 3 $70,310
2004 $5,225 1 $5,225
2002 $178,291 4 $44,573
Total $1,064,472 20 $53,224


See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. Arkansas State Legislature, "Constitution of the State of Arkansas of 1874," accessed January 14, 2015
  2. Justia, "Arkansas Constitution Article 5 - Legislative Department Section 5 - Time of meeting," accessed October 26, 2021
  3. Justia, "Arkansas Constitution Article 5 - Legislative Department Section 4 - Qualifications of senators and representatives," accessed May 21, 2025
  4. Justia, "Arkansas Constitution Article 19 - Miscellaneous Provisions," accessed May 23, 2025
  5. National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
  6. Arkansas Legislature, "HJR1009," accessed February 9, 2021
  7. Arkansas Legislature, "Arkansas Code - Unannotated," accessed February 9, 2021 (Statutes, 10-2-118)
  8. Arkansas Legislature, "Arkansas Code - Unannotated," accessed February 9, 2021 (Statutes, 10-2-119)
  9. Arkansas Legislature, "Arkansas Code - Unannotated," accessed February 9, 2021 (Statutes, 10-2-120(a)(1))
  10. Arkansas Legislature, "Arkansas Code - Unannotated," accessed February 9, 2021 (Statutes, 7-11-103(a))
  11. Arkansas Legislature, "Arkansas Code - Unannotated," accessed February 24, 2025 (Statutes, 7-11-105 1 (a)-(c))
  12. Democracy Docket, "Arkansas State Conference NAACP v. The Arkansas Board of Apportionment complaint," Dec. 29, 2021
  13. Arkansas Online, "Arkansas board accepts redrawn legislative district maps," Oct. 30, 2021
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 All About Redistricting, "Arkansas," accessed April 20, 2015
  15. 15.0 15.1 Arkansas Online, "Democrat going for it, joins state Senate race," December 14, 2017
  16. Arkansas Times, "Sen. Greg Standridge dies at 50," November 16, 2017
  17. Arkansas Secretary of State, "February 13, 2018 Special Primary Election," February 13, 2018
  18. Arkansas Secretary of State, "March 13, 2018 Special Primary Runoff Election," March 13, 2018
  19. Arkansas Secretary of State, "2016 Election Dates," accessed November 17, 2015
  20. Arkansas Secretary of State, "2016 General Election and Nonpartisan Runoff Election," accessed November 23, 2016
  21. Arkansas Secretary of State, "Candidate Information," accessed July 25, 2016
  22. Arkansas Secretary of State, "2016 Primary Election Results," accessed April 19, 2016
  23. Arkansas Secretary of State, "Special Election for Senate District 16," accessed December 3, 2014
  24. Arkansas Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed February 25, 2015
  25. Arkansas Secretary of State, "Official primary runoff election results," accessed March 18, 2015
  26. arkansasonline.com, "1-candidate election nets 110 ballots," accessed April 16, 2015
  27. Arkansas Business, "Michael Lamoureux Resigns to Work for Asa Hutchinson," November 11, 2014
  28. The Republic, "Arkansas governor sets April 14 special election to fill vacant state Senate seat," November 21, 2014
  29. Arkansas Secretary of State, “2012 General Election,” October 21, 2013
  30. Arkansas Secretary of State, “2012 General Primary,” October 21, 2013


Current members of the Arkansas State Senate
Leadership
Majority Leader:Blake Johnson
Minority Leader:Greg Leding
Senators
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 10
District 11
District 12
District 13
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
District 18
District 19
District 20
District 21
District 22
District 23
District 24
District 25
District 26
Vacant
District 27
District 28
District 29
Jim Petty (R)
District 30
District 31
District 32
District 33
District 34
District 35
Republican Party (28)
Democratic Party (6)
Vacancies (1)