Election Day is just around the corner with early voting starting on October 24 for the General Election on November 8. The last day to register to vote is October 11. There’s a lot to be voted on, from candidates in local and state races to several ballot issues. In this issue, we help you breakdown the issues, introduce the candidates, and answer some of your questions about the looming election.

Lucky 13: We currently have a total of thirteen State Senate and House races throughout Benton County, with only five of them being contested. Due to redistricting that occurred in 2021, Northwest Arkansas has received one additional State Senate seat, three additional State House seats, and changes of district numbers. Aside from state candidates, we have five issues we will be seeing on the ballot, four pertain to the state as a whole and one is specific to Benton County.

Term Limits, Comebacks, and New Representation: Senator Cecile Bledsoe is term-limited, which has led State Representative Joshua Bryant to run for Senate District 32, and Representative-Elect Brit McKenzie to enter the State House District 7 seat uncontested. State Senator Bart Hester, District 33, will be back and representing slightly more of both Rogers and Lowell. State Representative Austin McCollum will be back for House District 8, formerly District 95, with slightly more of north Rogers; and State Representative Kendon Underwood will also be back and representing slightly more of Lowell in the District 16, formerly the seat for District 90.

Still in the State Race Towards the Election: Rogers and Lowell currently have two seats that are still in the midst of campaigning. Project Manager and current State Representative John Carr (R), has had District 94 shifted to District 15, and received a challenger for the seat. Rachel Cox (D) is seeking to unseat the Representative. Another seat shift for the area can be found in House District 11 (formerly District 89) that shifted from a majority Springdale seat to now having parts of Lowell. Former State Representative Megan Godfrey has chosen not to seek re-election which has opened the seat to two individuals, Rey Hernandez (D) and Rebecca Burkes (R). Rey is a Marine Corp Veteran, and former Justice of the Peace for Benton County. Rebecca is married to former State Representative Aaron Burkes and founded The Burkes Company, a highly successful residential and commercial real estate development, construction and brokerage company.

Who is Seeking Office in Benton County: Early voting for the 2022 General Election will end on November 7. Benton County has a large list of candidates who are running for Justice of the Peace, the school board, NorthWest Arkansas Community College, and other city positions. If you are unable to vote at a poll on election day you can request an absentee ballot by October 27, but it must be received back to the polls by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day.

Ballot Issues: We have four state ballot issues and one local ballot issue that will be on the ballot. Click here to learn more about each ballot issue.

Want to Know More?

Use these online tools to learn more about the elections coming up as well as general information about the rules for each district/area of the election itself:

General Benton County Voter Tools: https://vote.bentoncountyar.gov/

Candidates and Sample Ballots in Benton County: https://vote.bentoncountyar.gov/Candidates/

Registration & Polling Place Information: https://www.voterview.ar-nova.org/voterview

Absentee Ballots: https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/voter-information/absentee-voting

Benton County also has an initiative being put forward regarding the much-needed jail expansion. For more information about the Chamber’s Government Affairs work, contact Sara Lynn Geiger at [email protected].

Meet the Candidates

*Denotes Incumbency

Federal Candidates:

U.S. Senate:

*Senator John Boozman – R – Learn more about his campaign here: https://www.boozmanforarkansas.com/
Kenneth Cates – L – Learn more about his campaign here: https://kennethcates.net/about-cates/
Natalie James – D – Learn more about her campaign here: https://www.jamesforarkansas.com/
Stuart Shirrell – I

U.S. Congressional Seat – District 3:

*Congressman Steve Womack – R – More information can be found here: https://www.womackforcongress.com/
Michael Kalagias – L – Learn more about his campaign here: http://kalagias4congress.com/
Lauren Mallett-Hays – D- Learn more about her campaign here: https://www.laurenforarkansas.com/ 

State Candidates:

Governor:

Sarah Huckabee Sanders – R – Learn more about her campaign here: https://www.sarahforgovernor.com/
Chris Jones – D – Learn more about his campaign here: https://chrisforgovernor.com/ 

Lt. Governor:

*Attorney General Leslie Rutledge – R – See more about her Lt. Governor campaign here: https://www.leslierutledge.com/
Kelly Krout – D – Learn more about her campaign here: https://www.kellyforarkansas.com/
Frank Gilbert – L – Learn more about his campaign here: https://frankgilbert.org

Attorney General:

Lt. Governor Tim Griffin – R – See more about his campaign here: https://timgriffinforag.com/meet-tim/
Jesse Gibson – D – Learn more about his campaign here: https://www.jessegibsonforarkansas.com/ 

Secretary of State:

*Secretary of State John Thurston – R- Learn more about his campaign here: https://votejohnthurston.com/
Anna Beth Gorman – D – Learn more about her campaign here: https://www.abforar.com/ 

Treasurer of State:

Representative Mark Lowery – R – Learn more about his campaign for Treasurer of State here: https://voteonthemark.com/
Pam Whitaker – D – Learn more about her campaign here: https://www.pamelawhitaker.com/ 

Auditor of State:

Treasurer Dennis Milligan – R – See more about his campaign here: https://www.dennismilligan.com/
Diamond Arnold Johnson – D – See more about her campaign here: https://114680.campaignpartner.net/?fbclid=IwAR1saKTWi9OMGaNEFGHsXFdbFcrumx_w85f76cFxDNoLLpHfJA9-7h7kfYc
Simeon Snow – L – Learn more about his campaign here: https://www.facebook.com/Snow4Liberty/ 

Commissioner of State Lands:

*Commissioner of State Lands Tommy Land – R – See more about his campaign here: https://www.votelandforland.com/
Darlene Goldi Gaines – D – See more about her campaign here: https://www.goldi4statelands.com/home 

Arkansas Supreme Court (Nonpartisan Race):

*Justice Robin Wynne – Learn more about her campaign here: https://www.wynne4arkansas.com/
Judge Chris Carnahan – Learn more about his campaign here: https://www.carnahanforark.com/ 

Arkansas State Senate

District 32

*Representative Josh Bryant – R – See more about his campaign here: https://www.bryantforarkansas.com/ 

District 33

*State Senator Bart Hester – R – Learn more about his campaign here: https://www.hesterforarkansas.com/      

Arkansas State House

District 7

Brit McKenzie – R – See more about his campaign here: https://www.britmckenzie.com/ 

District 8

*Representative Austin McCollum – R - Find more about his campaign here: https://www.mccollumforarkansas.com/ 

District 11

Rebecca Burkes – R – See more about her campaign here: https://www.rebeccaburkes.com/ 
Rey Hernandez – D – See more about his campaign here: https://www.hernandezforarkansas.com/meet-rey 

District 13 – New Seat from Redistricting:

Scott Richardson – R – See more about his campaign here: https://rscottrichardson.org/ 
Jen Standerfer – D – See more about her campaign here: https://www.jenstandsforarkansas.com/ 

District 15

*Representative John Carr – R – You can find more information here: https://johncarrforarkansas.com/ 
Rachel Cox – D- See more about her campaign here: https://www.rachelforarkansas.com/ 

District 16

*Representative Kendon Underwood – R – See more about his campaign here: https://www.underwood4arkansas.com/ 

District 18

*Representative Robin Lundstrum – R – You can find more about her campaign here: https://lundstrum4arkansas.com/ 
Monique Jones – D -  See more about her campaign here: https://www.moniqueforarkansas.com/