November 2, 2010

Charlotte Wagner and Tommy Baker are unopposed in their re-election bids to the Arkansas House, and David Burnett has no opposition in his race for the Arkansas Senate. Wagner represents District 77, while Baker will continue as the representative for District 55. Both are Democrats...

Staff

Little doubt in some While the results of most local elections won't be known until later tonight, the three individuals who will represent Mississippi County in the Arkansas Legislature for the next two years are a sure thing.

Charlotte Wagner and Tommy Baker are unopposed in their re-election bids to the Arkansas House, and David Burnett has no opposition in his race for the Arkansas Senate.

Wagner represents District 77, while Baker will continue as the representative for District 55. Both are Democrats.

Burnett, who topped Barrett Harrison is the Democratic primary earlier this year, will represent Senate District 15. He replaces the term-limited Steve Bryles.

Statewide, Democrats are poised to maintain control of the Arkansas Legislature despite an anti-establishment backlash that could end the party's long-standing dominance of the state political scene.

Democrats have controlled Arkansas politics since Reconstruction, but voter discontent with incumbents nationally raised the possibility that Republicans could make significant gains in 2010.

In the chase for 100 seats in the Arkansas House, Democrats have 38 uncontested candidates while Republicans have 21. Two of the Democrats initially had GOP opponents, but one Republican nominee died and another was struck from the ballot because of a 1980s misdemeanor conviction for bribery.

Candidates in the two parties will go head-to-head in another 30 contests Tuesday. In the remaining 11 races, nine Democratic candidates face independents, write-in candidates or nominees from third parties; Republicans face minor opposition in two of the contests.

In the 35-member Arkansas Senate, Democrats are assured of 20 seats, including 12 posts not up for re-election this year. Republicans are assured of eight seats, while another seven will be contested between the two parties Tuesday.

In high-profile House races, longtime civil rights lawyer John Walker, a Democrat, faces Republican Carolyn Smith. For years, Walker has been heavily involved in desegregation litigation involving Little Rock schools. The issue vexes many lawmakers who want to stop state payments to integrate schools.

State Rep. Dawn Creekmore faces former state Rep. Jeremy Hutchinson for a Senate seat representing parts of Pulaski and Saline counties. Hutchinson beat state Rep. Dan Greenberg for the GOP nomination in the spring. The winner replaces Sen. Shane Broadway, a Democrat who's running for lieutenant governor.Little doubt in some races

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