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 [list of list of counties in Arkansas|counties in Arkansas|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.

By district

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

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

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Declined

Green primary

Candidates

Nominee

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Nominee

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

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Declined

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Chris Hayes

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

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Ken Aden, former director for West Memphis-based nonprofit Residents 4 Arkansas

Green primary

Candidates

Nominee

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Nominee

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.

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

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Withdrew

Green primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • J. Joshua Drake

Libertarian primary

Bobby Tullis had considered seeking Libertarian nomination for the seat; however in December 2011 Tullis gave his support to Republican candidate Beth Anne Rankin; nevertheless, he was subsequently nominated as the Libertarian candidate.

Candidates

Nominee