Hi Community Members!
Candidate filing for partisan and judicial offices completed this past Tuesday! The email below recaps the races Benton County residents will see on their ballot in 2024. Where I could, I’ve included links to a few candidates of interest who have already established public websites or social media accounts for their campaigns. I’ll share more information in early 2024 as campaigns become more active.
Also, a big THANK YOU to the members of this community who had discussions with me about running for office, connected me to friends and family who should run for office, and those who continue to advocate for our common causes. I couldn’t do this without you!
Not sure what districts you will see on your ballot? Check your voter registration HERE and once your information displays, scroll to the bottom of the page and expand the Districts section on the bottom right side.
Notes on the candidate information below:
D - Democrat, L - Libertarian, R - Republican
Judicial and School Board elections are nonpartisan in Arkansas
* indicates an incumbent
Federal Offices
President (Primary Mar. 5, 2024; General Nov. 5 2024); 4 year terms
Armando “Mando” Perez-Serrato - D
Asa Hutchinson - R
Cenk Uygur - D
Chris Christie -R
David Stuckenberg - R
Dean Phillips - D
Donald J. Trump - R
Doug Burgum - R
Frankie Lozada - D
Joseph R. Biden, Jr.* - D
Marianne Williamson - D
Nikki Haley - R
Ron DeSantis - R
Ryan L. Binkley - R
Stephen P. Lyons - D
Vivek Ramaswamy - R
U.S. Congressional District 3 (Primary Mar. 5, 2024; General Nov. 5 2024); 2 year terms:
Caitlin Draper - D
Congressman Steve Womack* - R
Senator Clint Penzo - R
Caitlin Draper for Arkansas Launch Party is this Sunday at Veterans Memorial Park (4451 N. Vantage Drive) in Fayetteville from 2- 4 p.m.! Come meet Caitlin and hear about her campaign. Meet other local candidates in attendance and participate in family friendly activities.
State-Wide Offices
State Treasurer (General Nov. 5, 2024) - this race is to fulfill the remaining term (2026) of the vacated position due to the death of State Treasurer, Mark Lowery
John Pagan - D
Secretary of State John Thurston - R (if the Secretary wins, Governor Sanders will appoint someone to complete the Secretary of State term (2026))
Arkansas State Supreme Court (General Mar. 5, 2024; Runoff Nov. 5, 2024); 8 year terms
Chief Justice Position 1:
Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Karen Baker (if Justice Baker wins, Governor Sanders will appoint someone to Position 6 until the next judicial election)
Jay Martin
Supreme Court Justice Barbara Womack Webb (if Justice Webb wins, Governor Sanders will appoint someone to Position 4 until the next judicial election)
Supreme Court Justice Rhonda Wood (if Justice Wood wins, Governor Sanders will appoint someone to Position 7 until the next judicial election)
Associate Justice Position 2 - this race is to fulfill the remaining term (2030) of the vacated position due to the death of Justice Robin Wynne
Judge Carlton D. Jones
State Supreme Court Justice Courtney Hudson (if Justice Hudson wins, Governor Sanders will appoint someone to Position 3 until the next judicial election)
Associate Justice Position 5:
Supreme Court Justice Shawn A. Womack* (unopposed)
Benton County Judicial Offices
Prosecuting Attorney (General Mar. 5, 2024); - this race is to fulfill the remaining term (2026) of the vacated position due to the resignation of Prosecutor Nathan Smith
Bryan Sexton
Sarah Phillips
District Court Judges (General Mar. 5, 2024); 4 year terms - all four seats will be going uncontested, so the four existing justices will continue to serve through 2028.
District Judge Chris M. Griffin* (Division 1)
Judge Ray Bunch* (Division 2)
Judge A.J. Anglin* (Division 3)
Judge Jeff Conner* (Division 4)
State Legislative Offices - with Benton County voters
State Senate (Primary Mar. 5, 2024; General Nov. 5, 2024); 4 year terms
State Senate District 33
State Senator Bart Hester* - R (unopposed)
State Senate District 34
Senator Jim Dotson* - R
State House (Primary Mar. 5, 2024; General Nov. 5, 2024); 2 year terms
State Representative District 7
David McPherson - D
State Representative Brit McKenzie* - R
State Representative District 8
Representative Austin McCollum* - R (unopposed)
State Representative District 10
Kate Schaffer - D
State Representative Mindy McAlindon* - R
State Representative District 11
Rey Hernandez - D
State Representative Rebecca Burkes* - R
State Representative District 12
David L. Barber - D
State Representative Hope Hendren Duke* - R
State Representative District 13
Ashley Sheys - D
State Representative R. Scott Richardson* - R
State Representative District 14
Jacob Malloy - D
Joshua Hagan - R
Nick Burkes - R
State Representative District 15
State Representative John P. Carr* - R
Stephanie Funk - D
State Representative District 16
Representative Kendon Underwood* - R (unopposed)
State Representative District 17
Jeremy Criner - R
Randy Torres - R
State Representative District 18
Justin Meeks - D
State Representative Robin Lundstrum* - R
Benton County Offices
Justices of the Peace (Primary Mar. 5, 2024; General Nov. 5, 2024); 2 year terms
District 1
Michael McCaskey - R
Justice of the Peace Jeff Dunn* - R
District 2
Justice of the Peace Ken Farmer* - R
Alex Tabor - D
District 3
Justice of the Peace Richard McKeehan* - R
Evangeline Beaumont - D
District 4
Justice of the Peace Chris Latimer* - R
Letisha Hinds - D
District 5
Justice of the Peace Carrie Perrien Smith* - R
Steven Baker - D
District 6
Justice of the Peace Brian Armas* - R (unopposed)
District 7
Justice of the Peace Joseph Bollinger* - R
Kelly Sikorski - D
District 8
Justice of the Peace Joel Jones* - R
Carol Vella - D
Lisa Richards - R
District 9
Gregory Woodell - R (unopposed)
District 10
Justice of the Peace Danny McCrackin* - R
Lon Cross - D
District 11
Justice of the Peace Dustin Todd* - R (unopposed)
District 12
Caroline Greer - R
John Good Rissler - R
District 13
Justice of the Peace Kurt S. Moore* - R (unopposed)
District 14
Justice of the Peace Bethany Rosenbaum* - R
Melody Miller - D
District 15
Justice of the Peace Joel Edwards* - R
Andrew Sova - R
Constables (General Nov. 5, 2024); 2 year terms; unless an Independent files, all the following Constables will be elected:
James Gibson* - R - Township 1
Constable Keith Brummett* - R - Township 2
Stephen Rosser - R - Township 3
Constable Gordon L. Fisher* - R - Township 4
Steven Walls - R - Township 5
Benton County Spring School Board Offices
Decatur Schools had no one file for Zone 1 or Zone 4. Their current board members will appoint board members to serve in the unfilled positions until the next spring school board election (Spring 2025).
School Districts (General Mar. 5, 2024); 5 year terms
Gentry Zone 3
Rebecca Burkhalter (Becky)* (unopposed)
Gravette At-Large Position 1
Chris Flynt* (unopposed)
Pea Ridge Zone 5
Johnnie Dye* (unopposed)
Rogers Zone 4
Amy Horn* (unopposed)
Siloam Springs
Political Contributions State Tax Credit
Arkansas law (§ 7-6-222) allows for an annual political contributions credit for your state income taxes. This credit provides for an individual income tax credit of up to $50 per taxpayer ($100 for a joint return) for cash contributions made by the taxpayer in a taxable year to one or more of the following:
A candidate seeking nomination or election to a public office or to the candidate’s campaign committee (excluding federal candidates); or
An approved political action committee; or
An organized political party.
If you’re as excited as I am about having more choices on the ballot, please consider donating to a candidate, the Democratic Party of Benton County and/or the Democratic Party of Arkansas.