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Arkansas State Senate District 19

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Arkansas State Senate District 19
Incumbent
Assumed office: January 9, 2023

Arkansas State Senate District 19 is represented by Dave Wallace (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 19
until January 8, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Arkansas State Senate District 19
starting January 9, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Elections

2024

See also: Arkansas State Senate elections, 2024

General election

General election for Arkansas State Senate District 19

Incumbent Dave Wallace won election in the general election for Arkansas State Senate District 19 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Dave Wallace
Dave Wallace (R)
 
100.0
 
23,016

Total votes: 23,016
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Arkansas State Senate District 19

Incumbent Dave Wallace defeated Tommy Wagner in the Republican primary for Arkansas State Senate District 19 on March 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Dave Wallace
Dave Wallace
 
73.7
 
5,151
Image of Tommy Wagner
Tommy Wagner
 
26.3
 
1,836

Total votes: 6,987
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.

2022

See also: Arkansas State Senate elections, 2022

General election

General election for Arkansas State Senate District 19

Incumbent Dave Wallace won election in the general election for Arkansas State Senate District 19 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Dave Wallace
Dave Wallace (R)
 
100.0
 
17,507

Total votes: 17,507
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Dave Wallace advanced from the Republican primary for Arkansas State Senate District 19.

2018

See also: Arkansas State Senate elections, 2018

General election

General election for Arkansas State Senate District 19

James Sturch defeated Susi Epperson in the general election for Arkansas State Senate District 19 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of James Sturch
James Sturch (R)
 
72.9
 
18,563
Image of Susi Epperson
Susi Epperson (D)
 
27.1
 
6,914

Total votes: 25,477
(100.00% precincts reporting)
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.

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Arkansas State Senate District 19

Susi Epperson advanced from the Democratic primary for Arkansas State Senate District 19 on May 22, 2018.

Candidate
Image of Susi Epperson
Susi Epperson

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Arkansas State Senate District 19

James Sturch defeated incumbent Linda Collins-Smith in the Republican primary for Arkansas State Senate District 19 on May 22, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of James Sturch
James Sturch
 
52.9
 
5,309
Image of Linda Collins-Smith
Linda Collins-Smith
 
47.1
 
4,735

Total votes: 10,044
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.

2014

See also: Arkansas State Senate elections, 2014

Elections for the Arkansas State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014; a runoff election took place on June 10, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 3, 2014. James McLean was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Linda Collins-Smith was unopposed in the Republican primary. Collins-Smith defeated McLean in the general election.[15][16]

Arkansas State Senate, District 19 General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngLinda Collins-Smith 58.3% 14,647
     Democratic James McLean 41.7% 10,481
Total Votes 25,128

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. Incumbent David Wyatt defeated Linda Collins-Smith (R) in the general election. Neither candidate faced opposition in the May 22 primary elections.[17][18]

Arkansas State Senate, District 19, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngDavid Wyatt Incumbent 51.2% 15,442
     Republican Linda Collins-Smith 48.8% 14,716
Total Votes 30,158

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2024, candidates for Arkansas State Senate District 19 raised a total of $1,635,644. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $96,214 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money

Campaign contributions, Arkansas State Senate District 19
Year Amount Candidates Average
2024 $253,404 2 $126,702
2022 $243,692 1 $243,692
2018 $155,284 2 $77,642
2014 $208,813 2 $104,407
2012 $194,237 2 $97,119
2010 $383,051 4 $95,763
2006 $171,510 2 $85,755
2004 $5,953 1 $5,953
2002 $19,700 1 $19,700
Total $1,635,644 17 $96,214


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. Arkansas Secretary of State, "Candidate Information," accessed March 5, 2014
  16. Arkansas Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed June 26, 2014
  17. Arkansas Secretary of State, “2012 General Election,” October 21, 2013
  18. 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)