Arkansas Rep. McCollum resigns after arrest
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State Rep. Austin McCollum (R-Bentonville) has resigned from his House seat following his weekend arrest and calls from Republican leaders to step down.
Why it matters: The resignation leaves a vacancy for the seat that represents District 8, encompassing Pea Ridge and parts of Bentonville and Rogers.
Catch up quick: McCollum, who is also a candidate for Benton County judge, was arrested Saturday on suspicion of aggravated assault of a family or household member, first-degree false imprisonment and misdemeanor domestic battery against his wife, Ragen McCollum.
- He did not respond to Axios' request for comment.
Driving the news: The Arkansas House of Representatives shared a resignation letter from McCollum addressed to Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders dated Wednesday.
- "As I focus on my family, I do not intend to fulfill the remainder of my House term," the letter reads in part.
State of play: Per Arkansas law, Sanders will issue a letter to both parties certifying the vacancy in office and asking them to request either a special primary election or convention of delegates, Sanders' spokesperson Sam Dubke told Axios.
- McCollum's term expires in January. Republican Benton County Justice of the Peace Brian Armas is running unopposed on the November ballot to represent District 8 in the next term.
What they're saying: "Representative McCollum's resignation is the appropriate step and protects the integrity of the House of Representatives as the legal process moves forward," House Speaker Brian Evans (R-Cabot) said in a statement.
What's next: The Benton County judge race remains in question. McCollum is the only candidate on the ballot for the position. Arkansas law does not allow him to simply drop out now that he's the Republican nominee, despite many calls for him to step aside.
- If McCollum were to claim residency outside of Benton County, that would be effectively "dropping out." He is not allowed at his Bentonville home as a condition of his release and is prohibited from contacting his wife, per Judge Chris Griffin's orders.