NRCC MEMO: ARKANSAS PRIMARY RESULTS
TO: INTERESTED PARTIES
FROM: NRCC POLITICAL AND NRCC COMMUNICATIONS
DATE: MAY 18, 2010
SUBJECT: ARKANSAS PRIMARY RESULTS
An historically Democratic state, Arkansas has been trending in the GOP’s direction for years. Washington Democrats’ agenda of more spending and less jobs has only accelerated the pace. As a result, House Republicans are poised to make big gains in Arkansas this fall. Buoyed by tonight’s primary results that place top-tier challengers on the ballot, Republicans are aiming to hold all four of the state’s congressional seats by next January.
Open Seats:
AR-01 (OPEN – Rep. Marion Berry, D)
Democrat retiree Marion Berry, a self-proclaimed Blue Dog Democrat, has represented Arkansas’s First Congressional District since he was first elected in 1996. His retirement announcement, on the heels of fellow Arkansas Democrat Vic Snyder’s retirement, was cited as evidence of the shifting national political environment.
Agriculture broadcaster and small business owner Rick Crawford scored a convincing primary victory tonight and awaits the winner of the June Democratic primary runoff between lobbyist Tim Wooldridge and Washington insider Chad Causey. Cook Political Report rates the general election a “toss-up.”
Before he began creating Arkansas jobs, Crawford served his country in the United States Army, where he advanced to the rank of Sergeant in under three years. As a bomb disposal technician he also had the privilege of serving on numerous U.S. Secret Service security details supporting Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.
History: President Obama is deeply unpopular here. George W. Bush carried this district by just 5 points in 2004, but John McCain notched a 21-point victory in 2008. The Cook PVI rating is R+8.
Geography: The First District is anchored by the Jonesboro area and takes in the Mississippi River Delta to the east and south, some Little Rock exurbs to the west and Republican-leaning mountain territory to the north along the Missouri border.
AR-02 (OPEN – Rep. Vic Snyder, D)
Democrat retiree Vic Snyder was elected to represent Arkansas’s Second Congressional District in 1996. Faring poorly against GOP candidate Tim Griffin in multiple public polls, Snyder announced he would not run for re-election in November 2009.
Griffin, a veteran, former U.S. Attorney and small businessman, won the GOP primary overwhelmingly Tuesday night and awaits the winner of the June Democratic primary runoff between liberal statehouse politicians Robbie Wills and Joyce Elliott.
Griffin has served in the United States Army Reserve for 13 years, was deployed to Iraq and currently holds the rank of Major. Griffin served as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas and is a Little Rock community leader. He was one of the first ten GOP candidates across the country named as an NRCC “Young Gun.” Cook Political Report rates the general election a “lean Republican.”
History: In 2004, George W. Bush carried the district with 51% of the vote while John McCain won with 54% in 2008. The Cook PVI rating is R+5.
Geography: The Second Congressional District covers central Arkansas and includes Little Rock, the state’s capital.
AR-03 (Rep. John Boozman, R)
Republican Rep. John Boozman has represented Arkansas’s Third Congressional District since 2001 and is currently the only Republican member of Congress in Arkansas. Boozman is vacating his seat to run for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Blanche Lincoln.
Republicans Steve Womack will face off against either Cecile Bledsoe or Gunner DeLay in a June 8 GOP primary runoff. Democrats failed to nominate a credible contender here and the seat is considered “safe Republican” by most analysts.
Steve Womack began serving his state as a second lieutenant in the Arkansas Army National Guard. He then went on to establish KURM Radio with his father and served as the executive officer of the U.S. Army ROTC program at the University of Arkansas for six years. He became a financial consultant for Merrill Lynch in 1997 and was elected Mayor of Rogers in 1998.
State Senator Cecile Bledsoe was first elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives in 1998. After serving three terms in the House she was elected to the Arkansas State Senate and has established a conservative voting record.
Fort Smith attorney Gunner DeLay ran for the Arkansas State House in 1994 and defeated a 14-year incumbent. Two years later, he ran again and defeated a 34-year incumbent, who was a former Speaker of the House. DeLay then went on to win a seat in the State Senate and served four years there.
History: In 2004, George W. Bush carried the district with 62% of the vote. John McCain swept the district with 64% in 2008, while Barack Obama received only 33.45%. The Cook PVI rating is R+16.
Geography: The Third Congressional District encompasses Northwest Arkansas and contains the cities of Bentonville, Fayetteville, Springdale and Fort Smith. The district includes the corporate headquarters of Wal-Mart, located in Bentonville, and the University of Arkansas, located in Fayetteville.
Challengers:
AR-04 (Rep. Mike Ross, D)
Democrat Rep. Mike Ross has held Arkansas’s Fourth Congressional seat since 2000, when he was the only Democrat outside of California to defeat a Republican incumbent. Ross holds a leadership position in the supposedly conservative coalition of ‘Blue Dog’ Democrats, but his voting record paints a different picture. Last summer, while the Democrats’ healthcare takeover was stalled in the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Ross was the key player in striking an agreement with party leadership in order to pass the bill out of committee and bring it to the House floor for a vote. While Ross ultimately voted against the final product, his legacy as a puppet of Speaker Pelosi and President Obama was cemented when he caved to heavy pressure from his party’s left wing and green-lighted a healthcare bill that has been roundly rejected by Arkansas voters. Ross is rumored to be preparing for a bid in the 2014 governor’s race.
In the Fourth District, Republican candidate Beth Anne Rankin won the GOP nomination to face Ross in November. Rankin served the state as Miss Arkansas in 1994. She went on to work with Governor Mike Huckabee in 1996 and has received his support in her bid to oust Ross. Rankin is also a successful small business owner, founding her own music, teaching and speaking company where her students have garnered college scholarships and won awards in youth talent contests across the region.
History: George W. Bush received 51% of the vote in this district in 2004 and John McCain received 58.14% in 2008, with Barack Obama receiving 39.33%. The current Cook PVI rating is R+7.
Geography: The Fourth Congressional District covers the southern half of Arkansas and contains the towns of Camden, Hope, Hot Springs, Magnolia, Pine Bluff, and Texarkana.
RESULTS:
The following are the unofficial results from Tuesday’s primary election in Arkansas. These results are UNOFFICIAL AND INCOMPLETE until certified by the Arkansas Secretary of State.
AR-01 (Rep. Marion Berry, D)
56.5 % Precincts Reporting:
Rick Crawford 71.1% – Winner
Princella Smith 28.9%
AR-02 (Rep. Vic Snyder, D)
65.1% Precincts Reporting:
Tim Griffin 62.2% – Winner
Scott Wallace 37.8%
AR-03 (Rep. John Boozman, R)
34.7% Precincts Reporting:
Steve Womack 32.0%
Cecile Bledsoe 14.3%
Gunner DeLay 14.0%
AR-04 (Rep. Mike Ross, D)
Precincts Reporting:
75.0% Precincts Reports:
Beth Anne Rankin 54.3% – Winner
Glen Gallas 45.7%