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Most legislative seats uncontested in May 20 primary Sunday, May 11, 2008 By Rob Moritz Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - Reflecting on his long legislative career, term-limited state Sen. Jim Argue recently mused that the most surprising change he's seen during his 16 years at the Capitol is how many people get a free ride to the Senate. "My successor is going into this open seat uncontested," Argue said. "I'm jealous." After two House terms, Democrat David Johnson will ascend to Argue's seat when the Legislature convenes in January, one of a dozen officeholders-in-waiting with a free ticket to the statehouse. Unopposed, they get to sit out the May 20 primary and the November general election, along with 66 legislative incumbents who did not draw opponents this election season. So, before a single state primary vote was cast - early voting began Monday - Democrats were assured a House majority with 51 unopposed candidates, with House Republicans garnering 12 seats the easy way, about half way to at least maintaining the 25 House seats they currently hold. Thirteen of the 18 Senate seats up for election this year were uncontested, giving eight Democrats and five Republicans a clear path to office. Overall, 76 of the 118 seats up for election are uncontested, about 65 percent. On top of that, no one in Arkansas' congressional delegation drew a major party opponent this year. U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., and U.S. Rep. Mike Ross, D-Prescott, each has a Green Party challenger in the fall, as does U.S. Rep. John Boozman, R-Rogers. So with Arkansas voters already having cast ballots in the earlier-than-usual February presidential election, Secretary of State Charlie Daniels does not have high hopes for a heavy turnout for the state primary. He's looking more to the fall. Democratic Party of Arkansas Chairman Bill Gwatney said he expects some pockets of heavy voting around the state, but not much of a turnout overall. Gwatney said he is confident Democrats will maintain or even improve their strength in the Legislature, where they hold 75 House seats and 27 in the Senate. "We have good candidates all over the state," he said. His Republican counterpart, Dennis Milligan, said voter turnout may surprise some people because the state GOP is focusing on county and local races this year in an effort to rebuild its base after getting shut out in statewide races in 2006. Milligan said the Republican Party's decision not to oppose Pryor or any of the state's three Democratic congressmen on the primary ballot was part of an overall rebuilding strategy. "When I took over as chairman coming off the '06 election cycle, we had taken some pretty big hits," Milligan said. The state GOP has fallen from its peak in 2000, when it claimed governor and lieutenant governor's offices, two congressional seats, a U.S. Senate seat and 30 state House seats. In 2006, Republicans were swept in statewide races, lost three state House seats and lost a seat each in the U.S. House and Senate. "We were top-heavy and really failed to take advantage of what we had," Milligan said, adding the Republican momentum appeared to end with the death of popular Lt. Gov. Win Rockefeller and the inability of Gov. Mike Huckabee to seek re-election because of term limits. While some see the party's failure to field a candidate against Pryor in the May 20 primary as another strike against the party, Milligan sees this year's primary as a new beginning. The Republican Party, he said, is trying to focus on fundamental politics. Using a sports analogy, Milligan said the party "is trying to get back to blocking and tackling, bare bones basics ... We're trying to develop a solid farm team." Not since the 2002 election have more Republicans run for state House and Senate seats, and more Republicans are seeking county offices, especially justice of the peace, he said. "In two years we'll really see a difference," Milligan said. The state GOP's successes in the late 1990s "weren't torn in a day and they will not be rebuilt in a day," Milligan said. "It's going to take some time. We have to have time to rebuild." |
