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Brandt Smith
Brandt Smith (Republican Party) was a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives, representing District 58. He assumed office on January 12, 2015. He left office on January 9, 2023.
Smith (Republican Party) ran for election to the Arkansas House of Representatives to represent District 32. He lost in the Republican primary on March 5, 2024.
Biography
Brandt Smith earned a B.A. in behavioral sciences from National Louis University in 1989, an M.A. in religion and education from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in 1996, and a Ph.D. in organizational management and leadership from Capella University in 2011. Smith's career experience includes working as an associate professor with Liberty University, the president of Brandt Smith Consulting & Associates, Inc., and a social scientist with Human Terrain Team.[1]
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.
2021-2022
Smith was assigned to the following committees:
- House Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development Committee
- House Judiciary Committee, Vice-chair
- Joint Performance Review Committee
2019-2020
Smith was assigned to the following committees:
- Legislative Joint Auditing Committee
- Joint Performance Review Committee
- House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Arkansas committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Judiciary |
| • State Agencies and Governmental Affairs |
| • Joint Performance Review |
| • Joint Performance Review |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Smith served on the following committees:
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2024
See also: Arkansas House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Arkansas House of Representatives District 32
Incumbent Jack Ladyman defeated David McAvoy and Eric McGee in the general election for Arkansas House of Representatives District 32 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Jack Ladyman (R) | 58.6 | 5,510 |
David McAvoy (D)  | 38.1 | 3,585 | ||
 | Eric McGee (L) | 3.3 | 306 | |
| Total votes: 9,401 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. David McAvoy advanced from the Democratic primary for Arkansas House of Representatives District 32.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Arkansas House of Representatives District 32
Incumbent Jack Ladyman defeated Brandt Smith in the Republican primary for Arkansas House of Representatives District 32 on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jack Ladyman | 54.2 | 947 |
 | Brandt Smith | 45.8 | 801 | |
| Total votes: 1,748 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for Arkansas House of Representatives District 32
Eric McGee advanced from the Libertarian convention for Arkansas House of Representatives District 32 on February 25, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Eric McGee (L) |
| ||||
| = 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. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Smith in this election.
2022
See also: Arkansas' 1st Congressional District election, 2022
General election
General election for U.S. House Arkansas District 1
Incumbent Rick Crawford defeated Monte Hodges in the general election for U.S. House Arkansas District 1 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Rick Crawford (R) | 73.8 | 153,774 |
 | Monte Hodges (D) | 26.2 | 54,598 | |
| Total votes: 208,372 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Roger Daugherty (Independent)
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Monte Hodges advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Arkansas District 1.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Arkansas District 1
Incumbent Rick Crawford defeated Brandt Smith and Jody Shackelford in the Republican primary for U.S. House Arkansas District 1 on May 24, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Rick Crawford | 74.6 | 64,102 |
| Brandt Smith | 13.9 | 11,981 | |
 | Jody Shackelford | 11.4 | 9,837 | |
| Total votes: 85,920 | |||
| = 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 House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for Arkansas House of Representatives District 58
Incumbent Brandt Smith defeated Jim Burton in the general election for Arkansas House of Representatives District 58 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Brandt Smith (R) | 61.8 | 7,667 |
| Jim Burton (D) | 38.2 | 4,749 | ||
| Total votes: 12,416 | |||
| = 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 Burton advanced from the Democratic primary for Arkansas House of Representatives District 58.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Arkansas House of Representatives District 58
Incumbent Brandt Smith defeated Ken Yarbrough in the Republican primary for Arkansas House of Representatives District 58 on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Brandt Smith | 61.1 | 2,263 |
| Ken Yarbrough | 38.9 | 1,441 | ||
| Total votes: 3,704 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2018
General election
The general election was canceled. Incumbent Brandt Smith won election in the general election for Arkansas House of Representatives District 58.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Arkansas House of Representatives District 58
Incumbent Brandt Smith advanced from the Republican primary for Arkansas House of Representatives District 58 on May 22, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Brandt Smith |
| ||||
| = 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. | ||||
2016
Ballotpedia's analysis revealed that only 42 of the 100 seats up for election in 2016 involved competition between Democrats and Republicans. This made it numerically impossible for Democrats to take control of either Arkansas legislative chamber in 2016.
The reason for the low competition was that candidates were in safe districts for their parties. Between 1972 and 2014, an upward trend in uncontested state legislative elections occurred.
The Democratic Party of Arkansas focused its 2016 efforts on the state’s House of Representatives. Without the numbers to win the state Senate, H.L. Moody, communications director for the Democratic Party of Arkansas, told Ballotpedia that the party’s goal was to “start building back where we can,” beginning with the House.
Ballotpedia spoke to political analyst Richard Winger, who said that the early primary deadline for the 2016 elections was a possible factor as well, making it difficult for Democrats to recruit candidates early.
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.[2]
Incumbent Brandt Smith defeated Nate Looney in the Arkansas House of Representatives District 58 general election.[3]
| Arkansas House of Representatives, District 58 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Brandt Smith Incumbent |
55.58% | 6,448 | |
| Democratic | Nate Looney | 44.42% | 5,153 | |
| Total Votes | 11,601 | |||
| Source: Arkansas Secretary of State | ||||
Nate Looney ran unopposed in the Arkansas House of Representatives District 58 Democratic Primary.[4][5]
| Arkansas House of Representatives, District 58 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Nate Looney (unopposed) | |
Incumbent Brandt Smith ran unopposed in the Arkansas House of Representatives District 58 Republican Primary.[4][5]
| Arkansas House of Representatives, District 58 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Brandt Smith Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2014
Elections for the Arkansas House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014; a runoff election took place where necessary 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. Incumbent Harold Copenhaver was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Brandt Smith was unopposed in the Republican primary. Copenhaver was defeated by Smith in the general election.[6][7]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Brandt Smith |
52.6% | 4,396 | |
| Democratic | Harold Copenhaver Incumbent | 47.4% | 3,960 | |
| Total Votes | 8,356 | |||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Brandt Smith did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Brandt Smith did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Brandt Smith did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2014
Smith's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[8]
- Excerpt: "As your State Representative-
- I choose Strength over uncertainty. I can’t get that with the Obama administration
- I choose Results based upon strategic thought leadership as opposed to Democrat rhetoric that promises everything, but in the end creates dependency
- I choose Optimism and forward movement over pessimism and regression leading to oppression
- I choose to oppose abortion, same sex marriage, and ObamaCare.
- I choose Opportunity
- I choose Freedom over fear
Let’s partner for a better Arkansas and a better future for our children and grandchildren."
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Arkansas scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2022
In 2022, the Arkansas State Legislature was in session from February 14 to March 15.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to small business issues.
2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the Arkansas State Legislature was in session from January 11 to October 15.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the Arkansas State Legislature was in session from April 8 to April 24.
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2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Arkansas State Legislature was in session from January 14 through April 24.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the Arkansas State Legislature was in session from February 12 through March 12. The legislature held a special session from March 13 to March 15.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the 91st Arkansas State Legislature was in session from January 9 through May 1. The Legislature held a special session from May 1 to May 3.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the 90th Arkansas State Legislature was in session from April 13 through May 9. The Legislature held a three-day special session from April 6 to April 8 over healthcare. The Legislature held a second special session from May 19 to May 23 over transportation.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the 90th Arkansas State Legislature was in session from January 12 through April 2.
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See also
2024 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ LinkedIn, "C. Brandt Smith, Jr., Ph.D.," accessed March 28, 2022
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "2016 Election Dates," accessed November 17, 2015
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "2016 General Election and Nonpartisan Runoff Election," accessed November 23, 2016
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Arkansas Secretary of State, "Candidate Information," accessed July 25, 2016
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Arkansas Secretary of State, "2016 Primary Election Results," accessed April 19, 2016
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "Candidate Information," accessed March 5, 2014
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed June 26, 2014
- ↑ votebrandtsmith.com, "On The Issues," accessed April 9, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Arkansas House of Representatives District 58 2015-2023 |
Succeeded by Les Eaves (R) |
