Biden and Trump Secure Positions on Arkansas Ballot as Election Filing Period Opens

With the commencement of the filing period for Arkansas’s 2024 elections on Monday, President Joe Biden and his predecessor, Donald Trump, have both secured their spots on the state’s ballot.

The ceremonial start saw a multitude of candidates converge at the state Capitol rotunda, declaring their intentions to run in the upcoming primary and nonpartisan judicial elections slated for March 5. The window for filing will close on November 14.

Campaign proxies for both Biden and Trump submitted the necessary documentation alongside those for Republican contenders such as Vivek Ramaswamy, Ron DeSantis, and Nikki Haley. Former Governor Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas, who initiated his campaign in April, is anticipated to submit his own paperwork directly, although the exact timing remains unannounced.

John Thurston, the Republican Secretary of State, was the inaugural filer, formally announcing his campaign for the state treasurer position. Thurston is aspiring to fulfill the remaining two-year term of the late Treasurer Mark Lowery, who passed away in July.

Reflecting on what may be his final participation in the filing process, Thurston expressed his desire to be the pioneering candidate and pledged his availability throughout the week to support the ongoing procedure, as he informed the press.

Arkansas remains a stronghold for the Republican party, which maintains dominance over all statewide and federal positions. Trump’s prior presidential campaigns witnessed significant victories within the state in both 2016 and 2020.

The Democratic Party is entering the fray with aspirations to dismantle the Republican grip on the state legislature, where the GOP commands an overwhelming majority, controlling 82 seats in the House and 29 in the Senate out of the respective total of 100 and 35. All House seats and 18 Senate seats will be contested in the upcoming year.

Democratic Party Chairman Grant Tennille underscored the unaltered objective to disrupt the legislative supermajority, a necessity from the party’s viewpoint.

Conversely, the Republican Party envisions not only preserving but also expanding their legislative presence, according to Seth Mays, the Executive Director of the Republican Party of Arkansas. The party’s strategy focuses on supporting incumbent and incumbent-backed seats while also vying for victories in districts currently outside their control.

In the race for U.S. House representation, three Democrats have stepped forward, challenging Republican incumbents. Rodney Govens seeks election in the 1st District against Rep. Rick Crawford; Marcus Jones in the 2nd District against Rep. French Hill; and Caitlin Draper in the 3rd District against Steve Womack. Yet, the 4th Congressional District sees no Democratic challengers to Rep. Bruce Westerman, with filings on behalf of Hill and Westerman’s campaigns having been completed on Monday.

The March election will also be distinguished by a competitive battle for the chief justice position, featuring Justices Karen Baker, Barbara Webb, and Rhonda Wood, alongside former state Representative Jay Martin. Webb had the distinction of being the first judicial candidate to file on Monday, even though other candidates had previously submitted petitions.

Two additional seats on the state Supreme Court are also up for grabs next year, a court that has increasingly attracted attention from conservative groups during past election cycles.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Arkansas Election Filing 2024

More about Arkansas Election Filing 2024

• Arkansas 2024 Elections Overview
• Biden and Trump Qualify for Arkansas Ballot
• Filing Period for Arkansas State Elections
• Arkansas Political Campaigns
• State Treasurer Race in Arkansas
• Arkansas Legislative Assembly Composition
• Judicial Elections in Arkansas
• Arkansas Supreme Court Elections