2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Arkansas

The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Arkansas occurred on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, to elect the four U.S. representatives from the state, one from each of the state's four congressional districts. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election.

As the result of redistricting following the 2010 United States census, the boundaries of the state's congressional districts were redrawn by the then Democratic legislature. Democratic Governor Mike Beebe, who signed the new map into law in April 2011, described it as the "status quo" and not partisan. In the new map, five counties are split between districts, the first time in Arkansas history that counties have not been kept intact in congressional districts.

Overview Statewide The table below shows the total number and percentage of votes, as well as the number of seats gained and lost by each political party in the election for the United States House of Representatives in Arkansas. United States House of Representatives elections in Arkansas, 2012PartyVotesPercentageSeats+/– Republican637,59161.4%4+1 Democratic304,77029.4%0-1 Green57,7065.6%0- Libertarian37,9873.7%0- Totals 1,038,054 100% 4 —

By district Results of the 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Arkansas by district:

DistrictRepublicanDemocraticGreenLibertarianTotalResult Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %District 1 138,800 56.23% 96,601 39.13% 6,427 2.60% 5,015 2.03% 246,843 100.0% Republican HoldDistrict 2 158,175 55.19% 113,156 39.48% 8,566 2.99% 6,701 2.34% 286,598 100.0% Republican HoldDistrict 3 186,467 75.90% 0 0.00% 39,318 16.01% 19,875 8.09% 245,660 100.0% Republican HoldDistrict 4 154,149 59.53% 95,013 36.69% 4,807 1.86% 4,984 1.93% 258,953 100.0% Republican GainTotal 637,591 61.42% 304,770 29.36% 57,706 5.56% 37,987 3.66% 1,038,054 100.0%

District 1

The 1st district had lost population, and so was drawn in the new map to incorporate counties in southeastern Arkansas which were previously a part of the 4th district. Republican incumbent Rick Crawford was first elected in 2010.

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Rick Crawford, incumbent U.S. Representative

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Scott Ellington, prosecuting attorney

Eliminated in primary Clark Hall, state representative Gary Latanich, professor of economics at Arkansas State University

Declined Paul Bookout, president pro tempore of the Arkansas Senate; L. J. Bryant, business owner and nominee for Land Commissioner in 2010 Chad Causey, former chief of staff to U.S. Representative Marion Berry and nominee for this seat in 2010 David Cook, former state representative and candidate for this seat in 2010 Keith Ingram, state representative Robert S. Moore Jr., Speaker of the state house of representatives; Steve Rockwell, businessman (who had considered running in 2010) Robert F. Thompson, state senator

Endorsements

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror ScottEllington ClarkHall GaryLatanich UndecidedTalk Business/Hendrix CollegeTalk Business/Hendrix College April 24–25, 2012 497 ± 4.4% 15% 10% 4% 71%

Primary results

Green primary Candidates Nominee Jacob Holloway, graduate student at Arkansas State University.

Libertarian primary Candidates Nominee Jessica Paxton, wife of Libertarian Party of Arkansas chairman Rodger Paxton

General election Endorsements

Polling Poll sourceDate(s)administeredSamplesizeMargin of errorRickCrawford (R)ScottEllington (D)UndecidedAnzalone Liszt Research Ellington (D)Anzalone Liszt Research Ellington (D) July 16–18, 2012 401 ±4.9% 47% 45% 8%

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call, November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal BallCrystal Ball , November 5, 2012 NY TimesHouse Race Ratings, The New York Times, November 4, 2012RCP, November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012

Results

By county CountyRick CrawfordRepublicanScott EllingtonDemocraticVarious candidatesOther partiesMarginTotal#%#%#%#%Arkansas3,51755.64%2,51039.71%2944.65%1,00715.93%6,321Baxter13,03368.85%5,01126.47%8854.68%8,02242.38%18,929Chicot1,45933.91%2,75764.07%872.02%-1,298-30.17%4,303Clay2,92958.71%1,88437.76%1763.53%1,04520.95%4,989Cleburne7,96570.18%2,82124.85%5644.97%5,14445.32%11,350Craighead17,83456.62%12,40039.37%1,2654.02%5,43417.25%31,499Crittenden6,53541.15%8,53853.77%8075.08%-2,003-12.61%15,880Cross3,74958.08%2,40237.21%3044.71%1,34720.87%6,455Desha1,43234.08%2,62562.47%1453.45%-1,193-28.39%4,202Fulton2,54157.49%1,68938.21%1904.30%85219.28%4,420Greene7,81358.53%4,84336.28%6935.19%2,97022.25%13,349Independence8,07966.60%3,57229.45%4793.95%4,50737.16%12,130Izard3,19961.53%1,72733.22%2735.25%1,47228.31%5,199Jackson2,67051.16%2,31244.30%2374.54%3586.86%5,219Jefferson (part)13026.69%32767.15%306.16%-197-40.45%487Lawrence3,06155.54%2,19939.90%2514.55%86215.64%5,511Lee1,12434.02%2,05562.20%1253.78%-931-28.18%3,304Lincoln1,80249.21%1,67245.66%1885.13%1303.55%3,662Lonoke16,42869.73%6,01725.54%1,1154.73%10,41144.19%23,560Mississippi5,90246.73%6,04947.89%6795.38%-147-1.16%12,630Monroe1,36544.40%1,57451.20%1354.39%-209-6.80%3,074Phillips2,36731.56%4,64261.90%4906.53%-2,275-30.34%7,499Poinsett4,17955.73%3,05640.76%2633.51%1,12314.98%7,498Prairie1,90462.06%1,04233.96%1223.98%86228.10%3,068Randolph3,32356.87%2,22738.11%2935.01%1,09618.76%5,843Searcy (part)2,36070.43%72421.61%2677.97%1,63648.82%3,351Sharp4,45161.96%2,37833.10%3554.94%2,07328.86%7,184St. Francis3,09238.38%4,64757.68%3173.93%-1,555-19.30%8,056Stone3,41065.09%1,55029.59%2795.33%1,86035.50%5,239Woodruff1,14743.58%1,35151.33%1345.09%-204-7.75%2,632Totals138,80056.23%96,60139.13%11,4424.64%42,19917.10%246,843

District 2

Population growth in Arkansas's central counties meant that the 2nd district had to shrink in the new map. Under the new map, the 2nd district is likely to continue to favor Republicans.

Republican incumbent Timothy Griffin was first elected in 2010.

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Tim Griffin, incumbent U.S. Representative

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Herb Rule, attorney and former state representative

Declined David Boling, former chief of staff to U.S. Representative Vic Snyder and candidate for this seat in 2010 Bob Edwards, attorney (who had considered running in 2010) John Charles Edwards, state representative Drew Pritt, political consultant Bill Halter, former Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas and candidate for Senate in 2010 Pat Hays, Mayor of North Little Rock; David Johnson, state senator Jay Martin, lawyer and former state representative Tracy Steele, state representative Robbie Wills, former speaker of the state House of Representatives and candidate for this seat in 2010

Libertarian primary Candidates Nominee Chris Hayes

General election Endorsements

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012

Results

By county CountyTim GriffinRepublicanHerb RuleDemocraticVarious candidatesOther partiesMarginTotal#%#%#%#%Conway4,44558.80%2,77736.73%3384.47%1,66822.06%7,560Faulkner26,24364.61%12,17929.98%2,1965.41%14,06434.63%40,618Perry2,48964.52%1,11228.82%2576.66%1,37735.69%3,858Pulaski68,53544.02%78,88650.67%8,2545.30%-10,351-6.65%155,675Saline32,68070.23%11,51024.73%2,3465.04%21,17045.49%46,536Van Buren4,30767.88%1,68926.62%3495.50%2,61841.26%6,345White19,47674.89%5,00319.24%1,5275.87%14,47355.65%26,006Totals158,17555.19%113,15639.48%15,2675.33%45,01915.71%286,598

District 3

Population growth in Arkansas's northwestern counties meant that the 3rd district had to shrink in the new map. Under the new map, the 3rd district is likely to continue to favor Republicans.

Republican incumbent Steve Womack was first elected in 2010.

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Steve Womack, incumbent U.S. Representative

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Ken Aden, former director for West Memphis-based nonprofit Residents 4 Arkansas

Green primary Candidates Nominee Rebekah Kennedy, nominee for Senate in 2008 and for state attorney general in 2010.

Libertarian primary Candidates Nominee David Pangrac, Libertarian Party of Arkansas Vice Chairman

General election Campaign Aden would withdraw from the race after admitting to exaggerating his military record. Under Arkansas law, the Democratic Party was unable to field a replacement candidate for Aden and no Democrat appeared on the general election ballot. On August 14, 2012, Kennedy received the endorsement of the Arkansas state AFL-CIO labor union.

Endorsements

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012

Results

By county CountySteve WomackRepublicanRebekah KennedyGreenDavid PangracLibertarianMarginTotal#%#%#%#%Benton59,92479.22%9,53312.60%6,1828.17%50,39166.62%75,639Boone11,98382.20%1,80112.36%7935.44%10,18269.85%14,577Carroll6,71169.31%2,17722.48%7958.21%4,53446.82%9,683Crawford (part)11,39380.60%1,75512.42%9886.99%9,63868.18%14,136Marion5,23278.36%91213.66%5337.98%4,32064.70%6,677Newton (part)1,26181.72%18812.18%946.09%1,07369.54%1,543Pope15,44178.35%2,95314.98%1,3146.67%12,48863.37%19,708Searcy (part)17284.31%2411.76%83.92%14872.55%204Sebastian (part)28,41577.65%4,86813.30%3,3129.05%23,54764.34%36,595Washington45,93568.66%15,10722.58%5,8568.75%30,82846.08%66,898Totals186,46775.90%39,31816.01%19,8758.09%147,14959.90%245,660

District 4

Under the new map, the 4th district loses some territory in the east of the state to the 1st district and gains some Republican-leaning northwestern Arkansas counties from the 3rd district. The district also gains Yell County from the 2nd district, which is expected to make the 4th district more favorable to Democrats.

Democratic incumbent Mike Ross, who was first elected in 2000, chose not to seek re-election.

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Gene Jeffress, state senator

Eliminated in primary D.C. Morrison, businessman and candidate for Senate in 2010 Q. Byrum Hurst Jr., attorney and small business owner

Declined Robin Carroll, prosecutor and former legal counsel to the Democratic Party; Conner Eldridge, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas Steve Faris, former state senator Greg Hale, consultant for The Markham Group; Steve Harrelson, state senator Mike Hathorn, former state representative and candidate for lieutenant governor in 2010 Carlton Jones, prosecutor from Texarkana Chris Masingill, head of the Delta Regional Authority and a former staff member for Ross and Governor Mike Beebe Bruce Maloch, state representative Gregg Reep, state representative Mike Ross, incumbent U.S. Representative Larry Teague, state senator Chris Thomason, former state representative and chancellor of the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope Jeff Weaver, district director for Mike Ross Hank Wilkins, state representative

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror Q. ByrumHurst GeneJeffress D.C.Morrison UndecidedTalk Business/Hendrix CollegeTalk Business/Hendrix College May 10, 2012 418 ± 4.8% 23% 22% 11% 44%

Primary results

Primary runoff results

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Tom Cotton, consultant and Army reservist

Eliminated in primary John Cowart, police officer and currently serving U.S. Marine Corps Reserve lieutenant colonel in Afghanistan Beth Anne Rankin, teacher, former Miss Arkansas & nominee for this seat in 2010

Withdrew Marcus Richmond, business owner and retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel

Polling