The Arkansas House of Representatives on June 17, 2024. (Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate)
Seven of the 54 contested races for seats in the Arkansas House of Representatives this November are open, meaning no incumbent is running.
All 100 seats in the Arkansas Legislature’s lower chamber are up for election every two years. Each representative served about 30,000 constituents.
Republicans currently hold supermajorities in both the House and Senate. There were 82 House Republicans and 18 House Democrats as of January 2023. Men outnumber women in the House three to one, and all but nine representatives are white.
According to a 2020 constitutional amendment, lawmakers can serve 12 consecutive years with the opportunity to return after a four-year break. Term limits were previously capped at 16 years over one’s lifetime. The Arkansas Legislature referred the amendment to the voters, who overwhelmingly approved it.
All lawmakers receive an annual salary of $44,356 and 65.5 cents per mile they travel to and from the capitol. Those who live within 50 miles of the Capitol receive $59 per diem, and those who live further away receive $155.
State representatives convene in the north chamber of the Capitol and work alongside the Senate and the governor to create laws and establish a state budget.
House members also hold seats on a wide range of committees, which handle topic-specific matters including agriculture, commerce, education, public health and ethics.
Rep. Brian Evans, R-Cabot, will become Speaker of the House in January if he defeats his Democratic opponent, Tom Bartole, in November.
House Speaker Designate Brian Evans, R-Cabot (left) and outgoing Speaker Matthew Shepherd, R-El Dorado (right) address reporters in the House’s north gallery shortly after the speakership election on Thursday, May 9, 2024. (Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate)
In addition to presiding over the House, the Speaker is third in line to be the acting governor, after the lieutenant governor and Senate president pro tempore, if the chief executive is unable to perform their official duties.
Evans won the chamber’s support with 91 votes in May to become Speaker Designate; he has served in the House since 2019. Current Speaker Matthew Shepherd, R-El Dorado, is running for reelection against Democrat O’Dell Carr but decided not to seek a fourth term as speaker.
Republican Rep. Howard Beaty of Crossett will become House Majority Leader in January, while Democratic Rep. Andrew Collins of Little Rock will become Minority Leader. Both are running unopposed for reelection.
Both parties also have legislative whips, who are responsible for ensuring that members of their party participate in meetings and vote in line with the party’s values.
Republican Rep. Stetson Painter of Mountain Home will be House Majority Whip, and Democratic Rep. Denise Garner of Fayetteville, will be House Minority Whip. Both are also running unopposed.
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Democrats Tracy Steele of House District 72 and Glenn Barnes of District 65 are the only unopposed non-incumbent candidates. Steele will succeed Rep. Jamie Scott, D-North Little Rock, who is running unopposed for the Senate. Barnes will succeed current House Minority Whip Vivian Flowers, a Democrat running for mayor of Pine Bluff.
Of the 54 contested House races in November, two have more than two candidates.
Rep. Harlan Breaux, R-Holiday Island, faces Democrat Rick Delaney and Libertarian Dakota Logan in North Arkansas’ District 6.
In Jonesboro, Republican Rep. Jack Ladyman faces Democrat David McAvoy and Libertarian Eric McGee for the District 32 seat.
Libertarian candidates are running in five other races, and four are facing incumbents Republican Reps. Austin McCollum of Bentonville, Jeremiah Moore of Clarendon, DeAnn Vaught of Horatio and Democratic Rep. Ashley Hudson of Little Rock.
The remaining race has Republican Dolly Henley and Libertarian Tammy Goodwin vying for Southwest Arkansas’ District 88 seat.
Six other contested races have no incumbent candidates:
Republican Nick Burkes faces Democrat Jacob Malloy in Benton County’s House District 14.
Republican Brad Hall and Democrat Ryan Intchauspe are running for House District 24 in Crawford and Washington counties.
Republican Alyssa Brown and Democrat Tom Nowlin are running for House District 41 in Cleburne and Stone counties.
Republican Paul Childress faces Democrat Teresa Dannaway in Saline County’s District 83.
Two Democrat-held Delta seats are up for grabs — Democrat Jessie McGruder faces Republican Robert Thorne in District 35, and Democrat Lincoln Barnett faces Republican Tammi Northcutt Bell in District 63. The city of West Memphis is split between the two districts.
Burkes is the son of first-term Rep. Rebecca Burkes, R-Lowell, who faces a rematch against her 2022 opponent, Democrat Rey Hernandez.
Two other freshman Northwest Arkansas Republicans, DeAnna Hodges of Springdale and Mindy McAlindon of Centerton, also face rematches from their 2022 opponents, Diana Gonzales Worthen and Kate Schaffer, respectively.
Ladyman is one of four GOP incumbents who fended off primary challengers in March. The others are Reps. Frances Cavenaugh of Walnut Ridge, Steven Walker of Horseshoe Bend and Cindy Crawford of Fort Smith. Walker faces no opposition in November.
The candidates, the ballot measures, and the tools you need to cast your vote.
Additionally, Little Rock Democratic Reps. Fred Allen, Denise Jones Ennett and Joy Springer all defeated primary challengers and are unopposed in the general election.
Early voting begins Oct. 21, and Election Day is Nov. 5.
The Legislature will convene at noon on Jan. 13, 2025 for the start of the 95th General Assembly.
Learn more about Arkansas’ general election with the Advocate’s 2024 Voter Guide.