Voters elect Democratic challengers, pass local issues
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Republican U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton will face Democratic challenger Hallie Shoffner on the November ballot for the U.S. Senate seat in Arkansas after they secured the nominations, the Associated Press called Tuesday night.
Here are other key decisions.
Governor
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders will also have a Democratic challenger in the general election. State Sen. Fred Love (D-Little Rock) won the Democratic nomination, according to the AP.
Complete statewide election results were not yet available Tuesday night.
Benton County judge
State Rep. Austin McCollum (R-Bentonville) could face independent candidate Taylor Sizemore after winning about 64% of the vote in the Republican primary, defeating Justice of the Peace Carrie Perrien Smith, according to final but unofficial election results from Benton County.
- Sizemore must get enough signatures from registered Benton County voters by May 1 to be on the ballot, the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported.
Washington County judge
The Republican nomination for Washington County judge is headed to a runoff on March 31 after no one in the three-way race secured enough of the vote to win. Incumbent Washington County Judge Patrick Deakins will face Tim Shepard, a Fayetteville police department captain.
- Shepard took about 48.5% of the vote, followed by Deakins with about 31.4%, according to final but unofficial results from Washington County.
- The winner will face Democratic candidate Dana Deree, who ran unopposed, in November.
Washington County sheriff
Washington County voters chose Sheriff Jay Cantrell with about 69.5% of the vote over Mike Stewart in the Republican primary, according to Washington County, effectively reelecting him because he won't face a challenger in November.
Fayetteville bond issues
Fayetteville voters passed all nine bond issue questions for a total of $375.5 million, meaning residents should expect $150.5 million worth of water and wastewater work, a new aquatic center with year-round swimming, a new fire station and other projects, according to final but unofficial results from Washington County.
- Voters overwhelmingly supported most projects with at least 75% of the vote for all but the aquatic center, which squeaked by with 50.7% of the vote. The most popular item was fire department funding, with more than 86% of voters in favor.
- An existing 1-cent sales tax will stick around until all of the bond issues are paid off.
Farmington school district millage increase
Farmington school district voters chose to increase the millage rate by 2 mills, bringing the district's millage rate to 42.1 mills, with about 58% of the vote, according to Washington County. The school district has said the funding will allow it to build a new junior high school.
- A mill is equal to $1 of property tax for each $1,000 of assessed value, which is 20% of market value. Residents in the Farmington school district will pay $40 more per year for every $100,000 of their properties' market value.
State Senate District 26
Brad Simon (R-Paris) won 75.6% of the vote against Independent Adam Watson, according to the Arkansas Secretary of State in the special election for Senate District 26, which was vacated when Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R-Branch) died in September.