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Arkansas State Senate District 28

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Arkansas State Senate District 28
Incumbent
Assumed office: January 9, 2023

Arkansas State Senate District 28 is represented by Bryan King (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


2016 pivot county

206 Pivot Counties Logo.png
See also: Pivot Counties and Legislative districts intersecting with Pivot Counties

This district was one of 710 state legislative districts that, based on boundaries adopted after the 2010 census, intersected with one or more Pivot Counties. These 206 Pivot Counties voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012.

The 206 Pivot Counties were located in 34 states. Iowa, with 31, had the most such counties. At that time, the partisan makeup of state legislative districts intersecting with Pivot Counties was slightly more Republican than the overall partisan makeup of state legislatures throughout the country.[12]

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.[13] 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.[14] 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.[15]

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.[15]

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.[15]

Arkansas State Senate District 28
until January 8, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Arkansas State Senate District 28
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 28

Bryan King defeated Jim Wallace in the general election for Arkansas State Senate District 28 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Bryan King
Bryan King (R)
 
76.0
 
21,768
Image of Jim Wallace
Jim Wallace (D) Candidate Connection
 
24.0
 
6,888

Total votes: 28,656
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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Republican primary runoff election

Republican primary runoff for Arkansas State Senate District 28

Bryan King defeated incumbent Bob Ballinger in the Republican primary runoff for Arkansas State Senate District 28 on June 21, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Bryan King
Bryan King
 
53.8
 
3,655
Image of Bob Ballinger
Bob Ballinger
 
46.2
 
3,137

Total votes: 6,792
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.

Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Jim Wallace advanced from the Democratic primary for Arkansas State Senate District 28.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Arkansas State Senate District 28

Bryan King and incumbent Bob Ballinger advanced to a runoff. They defeated Keith Slape, Robert Largent, and Theodore Walker in the Republican primary for Arkansas State Senate District 28 on May 24, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Bryan King
Bryan King
 
31.8
 
4,863
Image of Bob Ballinger
Bob Ballinger
 
29.2
 
4,465
Image of Keith Slape
Keith Slape
 
19.2
 
2,936
Image of Robert Largent
Robert Largent Candidate Connection
 
10.3
 
1,578
Image of Theodore Walker
Theodore Walker Candidate Connection
 
9.5
 
1,461

Total votes: 15,303
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 28

Incumbent Jonathan Dismang won election in the general election for Arkansas State Senate District 28 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jonathan Dismang
Jonathan Dismang (R)
 
100.0
 
14,169

Total votes: 14,169
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 Jonathan Dismang advanced from the Republican primary for Arkansas State Senate District 28.

General election

General election for Arkansas State Senate District 28

Incumbent Jonathan Dismang won election in the general election for Arkansas State Senate District 28 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jonathan Dismang
Jonathan Dismang (R)
 
100.0
 
14,169

Total votes: 14,169
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 Jonathan Dismang advanced from the Republican primary for Arkansas State Senate District 28.

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.[16]

Incumbent Jonathan Dismang ran unopposed in the Arkansas State Senate District 28 general election.[17]

Arkansas State Senate, District 28 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png Jonathan Dismang Incumbent (unopposed)
Source: Arkansas Secretary of State



Incumbent Jonathan Dismang ran unopposed in the Arkansas State Senate District 28 Republican Primary.[18][19]

Arkansas State Senate, District 28 Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png Jonathan Dismang Incumbent (unopposed)

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 Jonathan Dismang defeated Tiffany Rogers (D) in the general election. Both candidates ran unopposed in the May 22 primary elections.[20][21]

Arkansas State Senate, District 28, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngJonathan Dismang Incumbent 54.6% 15,724
     Democratic Tiffany Rogers 45.4% 13,096
Total Votes 28,820

Campaign contributions

From 2000 to 2022, candidates for Arkansas State Senate District 28 raised a total of $1,519,685. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $79,983 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money

Campaign contributions, Arkansas State Senate District 28
Year Amount Candidates Average
2022 $484,300 6 $80,717
2020 $44,300 1 $44,300
2016 $74,645 1 $74,645
2012 $332,608 2 $166,304
2010 $201,925 2 $100,963
2008 $13,638 1 $13,638
2006 $34,125 1 $34,125
2002 $148,765 3 $49,588
2000 $185,379 2 $92,690
Total $1,519,685 19 $79,983


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. The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip of Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.
  13. Democracy Docket, "Arkansas State Conference NAACP v. The Arkansas Board of Apportionment complaint," Dec. 29, 2021
  14. Arkansas Online, "Arkansas board accepts redrawn legislative district maps," Oct. 30, 2021
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 All About Redistricting, "Arkansas," accessed April 20, 2015
  16. Arkansas Secretary of State, "2016 Election Dates," accessed November 17, 2015
  17. Arkansas Secretary of State, "2016 General Election and Nonpartisan Runoff Election," accessed November 23, 2016
  18. Arkansas Secretary of State, "Candidate Information," accessed July 25, 2016
  19. Arkansas Secretary of State, "2016 Primary Election Results," accessed April 19, 2016
  20. Arkansas Secretary of State, “2012 General Election,” October 21, 2013
  21. 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)