Category Archives: Elections

Filing, and unfiling, for the Senate race

Elections

By Steve Brawner, © 2019 by Steve Brawner Communications, Inc.

The Democratic Party of Arkansas Monday announced it won’t field a candidate in next year’s U.S. Senate race, because it probably can’t.

That’s because the party’s only announced candidate, Josh Mahony, announced two hours after filing had closed Nov. 12 that he was quitting the race because of unspecified “family health concerns.” He had no communication with the party before the announcement and little afterwards until he hired an attorney who basically said only that Mahony is not the one who is sick.

That means that, under Arkansas law, the Democrats probably can’t replace him. If they tried, the Republicans have said they would sue, and they’re probably right and, besides, they can better afford to pay for the lawyers. Plus, no Democrat is going to beat Sen. Tom Cotton next year, anyway.

The timing of Mahony’s exit from the race raised a lot of eyebrows. It could be that someone in the family got some bad news at 12:49 p.m. Nov. 12 after the filing period closed. But that’s also the time I received a press release from the Republicans saying they were filing a Federal Election Commission complaint against Mahony for falsifying his campaign finance reports. Mahoney had listed himself as a “small business owner” despite actually being unemployed and relying on his wife’s income.

The only real news there was that the Republican Party had filed the complaint. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette had already reported about Mahony’s lack of employment and FEC reporting inconsistencies. In fact, he had told the newspaper he couldn’t remember the last time he had a full-time job. Continue reading Filing, and unfiling, for the Senate race →

Watch Little Rock school elections because of this

Education, Elections

By Steve Brawner, © 2019 by Steve Brawner Communications, Inc.

School board elections rarely attract much attention because board members are unpaid (in Arkansas) and nonpartisan, and because they serve a policymaking, oversight role that usually involves deferring to paid staff. Many races don’t even produce a yard sign, much less an attack ad. Voter interest is often low.

The 2020 Little Rock School Board races could be different. And they’re worth watching even if you don’t live in Little Rock.

As you probably know, the Little Rock School District has been under state control since 2015. With a five-year deadline looming, the State Board of Education recently voted to put the district on a path to local control, with school board elections set for next November.

This occurred after the State Board first considered giving the district control over many schools while the state maintained control over the worst ones, which happen to be in areas with high minority populations. Opponents responded with overheated but effective national attention-getting comparisons to Little Rock’s segregationist past. Continue reading Watch Little Rock school elections because of this →

The 2020 vote: Later would be better than earlier

Elections, Politics, State government

By Steve Brawner, © 2019 by Steve Brawner Communications, Inc.

Candidates in Arkansas filed for office last month, a year before the November 2020 elections, because state lawmakers moved the Republican and Democratic primaries to March 3 so the state would vote earlier and be more relevant in the presidential race.

They should have picked a later date. Being late might have made Arkansas more relevant than being early – and more importantly, being early means we’ll have fewer choices elsewhere on the ballot.

Lawmakers voted this year to move Arkansas’ primaries to March in presidential election years while keeping them in May in other years.

The logic makes sense. Because of the move, the state will be closer to the front of the line after only Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. Candidates theoretically will pay more attention to it, and Arkansans will vote while the race is still competitive.

Unfortunately, 13 other states were thinking the same thing and also will vote March 3. Almost all of them are bigger than Arkansas and some are much bigger, including California and Texas. So don’t expect any candidates to make anything more than a brief stop here. Continue reading The 2020 vote: Later would be better than earlier →

Six questions as campaign filing begins

Elections, Politics, State government

By Steve Brawner, © 2019 by Steve Brawner Communications, Inc.

We’re barely into November 2019, and candidate filing for the November 2020 elections begins Monday and ends on the 12th. Here are six questions waiting to be answered over the course of the next year.

1. Has the red wave reached its peak? 

Republicans already occupy all the congressional and statewide offices and three-fourths of the Legislature. They can increase their state legislative majority by winning in a few spots, particularly in the few rural, conservative areas still represented by Democrats, while holding on to their own vulnerable seats.

Two races in the Senate will be interesting to watch. Sen. Eddie Cheatham, D-Crossett, faces a strong challenge from Republican Ben Gilmore, who has raised a lot of money and has friends in high places, having worked for U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman and now for Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin. Republicans also will run businessman Charles Beckham against Sen. Bruce Maloch, D-Magnolia.

Meanwhile, in District 92 in Northwest Arkansas, freshman Rep. Megan Godfrey, D-Springdale, faces Republican Jed Duggar. Yes, he’s one of the 19 raised by Jim Bob and Michelle. The district’s demographic trends – it’s urban with a large Hispanic population – helped Godfrey get elected, and she’s young and dynamic and a fresh face. But Duggar will have his name, fame and other advantages. He’ll get several dozen votes from his family alone.

2. Will Rep. Mickey Gates, R-Hot Springs, file to run again after being expelled for failing to pay his taxes? 

No, he won’t. Next question. Continue reading Six questions as campaign filing begins →