Thu. Nov 7th, 2024

Rep. Mark Johnson, R-Little Rock, is greeted with applause as he joins a Republican election watch party in Little Rock on Nov. 5, 2024. (Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate)

Republican incumbents in seven contested Arkansas Senate races won their respective elections Tuesday, keeping the party’s majority intact.

The makeup of the 35-member Senate includes 29 Republicans and 6 Democrats, unchanged from its previous ratio.

According to unofficial results from the secretary of state’s website, the seven contested races were as follows:

District 1:

  • Sen. Ben Gilmore, R-Crossett — 22,898 votes (77.38%)
  • Asher Williams, L-Pine Bluff — 6,694 votes (22.62%)

District 4:

  • Sen. Jimmy Hickey, R-Texarkana — 23,686 votes (80.75%)
  • Lonny Mack Goodwin, L-Saratoga — 5,647 votes (19.25%)

District 17:

  • Sen. Mark Johnson, R-Little Rock — 21,909 (58.26%)
  • Maureen Skinner, D-Conway — 15,697 (41.74%)

District 20:

  • Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Jonesboro — 16,901 (60.9%)
  • Erika Askeland, D-Jonesboro, 10,851 (39.1%)

District 22:

  • Sen. John Payton, R-Wilburn — 27,103 (82.27%)
  • Sandy Maier, D-Horseshoe Bend — 5,841 (17.73%) 

District 25:

  • Sen. Breanne Davis, R-Russellville — 24,168 votes (74.21%)
  • Michelle Justice, D-Russellville — 8,397 votes (25.79%)

District 34:

  • Sen. Jim Dotson, R-Bentonville — 28,119 (63.88%)
  • Kaylee Wedgeworth, D-Centerton — 15,897 (36.12%)

Elected candidates will serve for the next four years.

Nine Republican incumbents ran unopposed in the general election and will also return to the Capitol for another four years. Those lawmakers include Steve Crowell, Terry Rice, Matt McKee, Jonathan Dismang, Dave Wallace, Scott Flippo, Gary Stubblefield, Jim Petty and Bart Hester.

Only one incumbent Democrat was up for reelection, Stephanie Flowers of Pine Bluff. She ran unopposed.

Former Rep. Jamie Scott, D-North Little Rock, ran unopposed for the District 12 seat.

Position details

State senators represent about 86,000 residents in their respective districts

They generally serve four-year staggered terms and earn an annual salary of $44,356 while working alongside the governor to create laws and establish a state budget. 

Lawmakers earn a per diem of either $59 or $155 a day, based on how far they reside from the Capitol. They also receive 65.5 cents per mile they travel.

Senators hold seats on various committees, which handle topic-specific matters including agriculture, education, public health and ethics. They can join task forces and serve on joint committees with members from the Arkansas House of Representatives.

The Senate is led by a president pro tempore, a Latin term meaning “for the time being.” Sen. Bart Hester, R-Cave Springs, was elected by his fellow senators to hold the position in 2023. Hester ran unopposed in the general election.

The Legislature will convene at noon on Jan. 13, 2025 for the start of the 95th General Assembly.

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