2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Arkansas

The 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Arkansas were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2018, to elect the four U.S. representatives from the U.S. state of Arkansas; one from each of the state's four congressional districts. Primaries were held on May 22, 2018. The elections and primaries coincided with the elections and primaries of other federal and state offices. Polls were open from 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM CST.[1] This election marked the first time in eight years where the Democrats contested every seat.

2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Arkansas

← 2016 November 6, 2018 (2018-11-06) 2020 →

All 4 Arkansas seats to the United States House of Representatives
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Republican Democratic
Last election 4 0
Seats won 4 0
Seat change Steady Steady
Popular vote 556,339 312,978
Percentage 62.56% 35.19%
Swing Decrease 8.60% Increase 24.77%

Overview

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Popular vote
Republican
62.56%
Democratic
35.19%
Libertarian
2.21%
Other
0.04%
House seats
Republican
100%
Democratic
0%

District

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Results of the 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Arkansas by district:[2]

District Republican Democratic Others Total Result
Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %
District 1 138,757 68.95% 57,907 28.77% 4,581 2.28% 201,245 100.0% Republican Hold
District 2 132,125 52.13% 116,135 45.82% 5,193 2.05% 253,453 100.0% Republican Hold
District 3 148,717 64.78% 74,952 32.65% 6,039 2.57% 229,568 100.0% Republican Hold
District 4 136,740 66.74% 63,984 31.23% 4,168 2.03% 204,892 100.0% Republican Hold
Total 556,339 62.56% 312,978 35.19% 19,981 2.25% 889,298 100.0%

District 1

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2018 Arkansas's 1st congressional district election
 
← 2016
2020 →
     
Nominee Rick Crawford Chintan Desai
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 138,757 57,907
Percentage 68.9% 28.8%

 
Results by county
Crawford:      40–50%     50–60%      60–70%      70–80%     80–90%
Desai:      50–60%     60–70%

U.S. Representative before election

Rick Crawford
Republican

Elected U.S. Representative

Rick Crawford
Republican

Incumbent Republican Rick Crawford, who had represented the district since 2011, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 76% of the vote in 206. The district had a PVI of R+16.

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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Withdrawn
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  • Robert Butler

Libertarian primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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General election

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Polling

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Poll source Dates
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Rick
Crawford (R)
Chintan
Desai (D)
Elvis
Presley (L)
Undecided
Hendrix College[5] September 5–7, 2018 422 ± 4.7% 57% 22% 3% 18%

Results

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Arkansas' 1st congressional district, 2018[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rick Crawford (incumbent) 138,757 68.9
Democratic Chintan Desai 57,907 28.8
Libertarian Elvis Presley 4,581 2.3
Total votes 201,245 100.0
Republican hold

District 2

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2018 Arkansas's 2nd congressional district election
 
← 2016
2020 →
     
Nominee French Hill Clarke Tucker
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 132,125 116,135
Percentage 52.1% 45.8%

 
Results by county
Hill:      60–70%      70–80%
Tucker:      50–60%

U.S. Representative before election

French Hill
Republican

Elected U.S. Representative

French Hill
Republican

Incumbent Republican French Hill, who had represented the district since 2015, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 58% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of R+7.

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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Democratic primary

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The 2nd district was included on the initial list of Republican held seats being targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 2018.[8]

Candidates

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Nominee
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Eliminated in primary
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  • Gwendolynn Millen Combs, teacher and businesswoman[10]
  • Jonathan Dunkley[11]
  • Paul Spencer, teacher and activist[12]
Declined
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Primary results

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Democratic primary results[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Clarke Tucker 23,325 57.8
Democratic Gwen Combs 8,188 20.3
Democratic Paul Spencer 5,063 12.6
Democratic Johnathan Dunkley 3,768 9.3
Total votes 40,344 100.0

Libertarian primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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  • Joe Swafford, residential appraiser

General election

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Endorsements

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Clarke Tucker (D)

Organizations

Debates

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Polling

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Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
French
Hill (R)
Clarke
Tucker (D)
Joe
Swafford (L)
Undecided
Hendrix College[16] October 17–18, 2018 590 ± 4.0% 51% 40% 2% 7%
Hendrix College[5] September 5–7, 2018 428 ± 4.7% 50% 40% 2% 8%
Public Policy Polling (D)[17] April 16–17, 2018 610 ± 4.0% 47% 42% 11%

Predictions

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Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[18] Likely R November 5, 2018
Inside Elections[19] Likely R November 5, 2018
Sabato's Crystal Ball[20] Lean R November 5, 2018
RCP[21] Likely R November 5, 2018
Daily Kos[22] Likely R November 5, 2018
538[23] Likely R November 7, 2018
CNN[24] Lean R October 31, 2018
Politico[25] Lean R November 2, 2018

Results

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Arkansas' 2nd congressional district, 2018[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican French Hill (incumbent) 132,125 52.1
Democratic Clarke Tucker 116,135 45.8
Libertarian Joe Swafford 5,193 2.1
Total votes 253,453 100.0
Republican hold

District 3

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2018 Arkansas's 3rd congressional district election
 
← 2016
2020 →
     
Nominee Steve Womack Joshua Mahony
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 148,717 74,952
Percentage 64.7% 32.6%

 
Results by county
Womack:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

U.S. Representative before election

Steve Womack
Republican

Elected U.S. Representative

Steve Womack
Republican

Incumbent Republican Steve Womack, who had represented the district since 2011, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 77% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of R+19.

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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Eliminated in primary
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  • Robb Ryerse, pastor and a "progressive Republican"[27]

Primary results

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Republican primary results[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Steve Womack (incumbent) 47,757 84.2
Republican Robb Ryerse 8,988 15.8
Total votes 56,745 100.0

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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  • Joshua Mahony, president of the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund and former chairman of the Fayetteville Airport Commission (D-Fayetteville)[28]

Libertarian primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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  • Michael Kalagias, retired teacher and volunteer firefighter (L-Rogers)

General election

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Campaign

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This was the first time since he was first elected in 2010 that Womack had faced a Democrat in the general election, having only had opposition from minor parties since.

Polling

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Poll source Dates
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Steve
Womack (R)
Josh
Mahony (D)
Michael
Kalagias (L)
Undecided
Hendrix College[5] September 5–7, 2018 428 ± 4.7% 53% 31% 5% 11%

Results

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Arkansas' 3rd congressional district, 2018[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Steve Womack (incumbent) 148,717 64.7
Democratic Joshua Mahony 74,952 32.6
Libertarian Michael Kalagias 5,899 2.6
Write-in 140 0.1
Total votes 229,708 100.0
Republican hold

District 4

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2018 Arkansas's 4th congressional district election
 
← 2016
2020 →
     
Nominee Bruce Westerman Hayden Shamel
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 136,740 63,984
Percentage 66.7% 31.2%

 
Results by county
Westerman:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Shamel:      50–60%

U.S. Representative before election

Bruce Westerman
Republican

Elected U.S. Representative

Bruce Westerman
Republican

Incumbent Republican Bruce Westerman, who had represented the district since 2015, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 75% of the vote in 2016. The district had a PVI of R+17.

Republican primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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Eliminated in primary
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  • Randy Caldwell, preacher[30]

Primary results

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Republican primary results[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bruce Westerman (incumbent) 40,201 79.8
Republican Randy Caldwell 10,151 20.2
Total votes 50,352 100.0

Democratic primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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Libertarian primary

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Candidates

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Nominee
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  • Tom Canada, manufacturing lead

General election

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Debate

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2018 Arkansas's 4th congressional district debate
No. Date Host Moderator Link Republican Democratic Libertarian
Key:
 P  Participant   A  Absent   N  Not invited   I  Invited  W  Withdrawn
Bruce Westerman Hayden Shamel Tom Canada
1 Oct. 8, 2018 AETN Steve Barnes [32] P P A

Polling

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Poll source Dates
administered
Sample
size
Margin of
error
Bruce
Westerman (R)
Hayden
Shamel (D)
Tom
Canada (L)
Undecided
Hendrix College[5] September 5–7, 2018 423 ± 4.7% 54% 24% 5% 17%

Results

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Arkansas' 4th congressional district, 2018[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bruce Westerman (incumbent) 136,740 66.8
Democratic Hayden Shamel 63,984 31.2
Libertarian Tom Canada 3,952 1.9
Write-in 216 0.1
Total votes 204,892 100.0
Republican hold

References

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  1. ^ "2016 Arkansas Code: Title 7, Chapter 5, Subchapter 3; § 7-5-304 - Opening and closing polls -- Time". Justia; US law. Archived from the original on March 9, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  2. ^ Johnson, Cheryl L. (February 28, 2019). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 6, 2018". Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  3. ^ "FEC Form 2 Statement of Candidacy" (PDF). Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  4. ^ "Chintan Desai Announces Race for AR 1st District Congress Seat". ARKANSASMATTERS. November 17, 2017. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
  5. ^ a b c d Hendrix College
  6. ^ a b c d "2018 Arkansas general election results". Arkansas Secretary of State. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  7. ^ "FEC Form 2 Statement of Candidacy" (PDF). Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  8. ^ Cheney, Kyle (January 30, 2017). "Amid Democratic doldrums, DCCC identifies 2018 targets". Politico. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
  9. ^ Brantley, Max. "Rep. Clarke Tucker announces race for French Hill's 2nd District congressional seat". Arkansas Times. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
  10. ^ "FEC Form 2 Statement of Candidacy" (PDF). Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  11. ^ Brantley, Max. "A 4th Democratic candidate for 2nd District Congress". Arkansas Times. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  12. ^ THV11 Digital Team (July 13, 2017). "Paul Spencer officially announces campaign to challenge Rep. French Hill". Retrieved July 13, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ Max Brantley (April 28, 2017). "Political speculation: A Democrat to run for 2nd District Congress". arktimes.com. Arkansas Times. Archived from the original on August 10, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  14. ^ a b c "2018 Arkansas primary election results". Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  15. ^ "Red to Blue". dccc.org/. DCCC. Archived from the original on October 31, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  16. ^ Hendrix College
  17. ^ Public Policy Polling (D)
  18. ^ "2018 House Race Ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  19. ^ "2018 House Ratings". The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
  20. ^ "2018 House". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
  21. ^ "Battle for the House 2018". RCP. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
  22. ^ "Daily Kos Elections 2018 race ratings". Daily Kos. Retrieved November 5, 2018.[permanent dead link]
  23. ^ Silver, Nate (August 16, 2018). "2018 House Forecast". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  24. ^ "CNN's 2018 Race Ratings". cnn.com. Turner Broadcasting System. Archived from the original on October 31, 2018. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  25. ^ "Who wins 2018? Predictions for Every House & Senate Election". POLITICO. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  26. ^ "FEC Form 2 Statement of Candidacy" (PDF). Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  27. ^ Jilani, Zaid (May 19, 2017). "MEET THE PASTOR RUNNING AS A PROGRESSIVE REPUBLICAN TO GET BIG MONEY OUT OF POLITICS". The Intercept. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  28. ^ DeMillo, Andrew (May 8, 2017). "Arkansas Scholarship Fund Head Says He'll Run for Congress". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
  29. ^ "FEC Form 2 Statement of Candidacy" (PDF). Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  30. ^ "Forms lacking for 2 Arkansas congressional candidates, FEC says". NWADG.com. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  31. ^ "FEC Form 2 Statement of Candidacy" (PDF). Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  32. ^ YouTube
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Official campaign websites for first district candidates

Official campaign websites for second district candidates

Official campaign websites for third district candidates

Official campaign websites for fourth district candidates