LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) 鈥� A justice who wrote a blistering dissent when the Arkansas Supreme Court from the ballot has been elected to lead the court.
Justice Karen Baker defeated Justice Rhonda Wood to replace Chief Justice Dan Kemp in Tuesday鈥檚 election. The result won鈥檛 change the court鈥檚 conservative majority.
In Tuesday's election, all four of Arkansas鈥� Republican congressmen fended off challenges from Democrats who were trying to break the GOP鈥檚 hold on the state鈥檚 federal seats.
Voters also approved a constitutional amendment that issued by a state panel for a casino.
Baker wins historic race for chief justice
Baker became the first woman elected chief justice in Arkansas, defeating Wood in Tuesday's nonpartisan runoff election.
The two justices were on opposite sides of the debate over whether to allow a measure on the ballot that would have scaled back an Arkansas law banning nearly all abortions.
Wood wrote the court鈥檚 4-3 majority opinion that upheld the state鈥檚 decision to reject petitions submitted in favor of the proposal. The court ruled sponsors of the measure did not comply with paperwork requirements for paid signature gatherers.
In a blistering dissent, Baker asked: 鈥淲hy are the respondent and the majority determined to keep this particular vote from the people?鈥�
Baker has served on the court since 2011. Wood had the support of the state's top Republicans, including Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Sen. Tom Cotton. The Republican Party of Arkansas' state committee had also endorsed her bid.
Arkansas鈥� court races have been targeted in past years by conservative groups that have spent heavily on efforts to push the court further to the right. Those groups, however, had not identified Arkansas as a target this year and instead focused on battleground states like Michigan and Ohio.
Arkansas has had one other woman serve as chief justice, but Betty Dickey was appointed to the post by former Gov. Mike Huckabee in 2003, not elected.
Republican-backed justices currently hold a 4-3 majority on the court. Even with Baker's victory, that majority is set to expand to 5-2 because Sanders is now slated to fill two vacancies on the seven-member court after the election.
All Republican representatives win reelection
All four of Arkansas鈥� Republican congressmen fended off challenges from Democrats who were trying to break the GOP鈥檚 hold on the state鈥檚 federal seats.
Rep. Rick Crawford won reelection to the U.S. House seat representing Arkansas鈥� 1st District, which covers the eastern part of the state including Jonesboro and West Memphis. He defeated Democrat Rodney Govens, who has worked in the telecommunications industry. Libertarian nominee Steve Parsons was also running. Crawford, first elected in 2010, is a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee and has said he鈥檒l seek the top Republican spot on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
鈥淭hat really tees up, hopefully, in the next Congress to serve as a committee chairman, and we're looking forward to that opportunity,鈥� Crawford told The Associated Press Tuesday night. 鈥淭hat will really help serve the citizens of Arkansas even more.鈥�
Rep. French Hill beat retired Army colonel Democrat Marcus Jones to win reelection in the race for the 2nd District, which includes Little Rock and surrounding areas. Hill was first elected to the seat in 2014 and is vice chairman of the House Financial Services Committee.
鈥淚 am deeply humbled to once again have the privilege of representing the people of Arkansas鈥檚 Second Congressional District," Hill said in a statement. 鈥淚 wake up every day energized to serve my home state and fellow Arkansans, and I stand ready to fight for our beloved nation over the next two years.鈥�
In northwest Arkansas鈥� 3rd District Rep. Steve Womack defeated Democrat Caitlin Draper, a clinical social worker. Womack was first elected in 2010 to the district, which includes Fayetteville and Fort Smith. Libertarian Bobby Wilson was also running. Womack is a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee.
鈥淐onservative principles such as less government, lower taxes, pro-growth and pro-family policies, the rule of law, and a strong national defense are what I believe creates a better America for all," Womack said in a statement. 鈥淭onight, we see that Third District Arkansans agree with me.鈥�
In the 4th District, which covers south Arkansas, Rep. Bruce Westerman triumphed over Democrat Risie Howard, an attorney from Pine Bluff. Westerman was first elected to the U.S. House in 2014 and chairs the House Committee on Natural Resources.
鈥淚t is an honor of a lifetime to continue representing the 4th district of Arkansas," Westerman said in a statement. 鈥淚 still stand by the statement that Arkansas has what America needs, and I look forward to getting back to work in DC.鈥�
Voters OK measure revoking license for planned casino
Arkansas voters approved a measure planned in the state in what had become an expensive battle between the Cherokee and Choctaw nations.
The proposed constitutional amendment revokes a license the state issued to Cherokee Nation Entertainment to build a casino in Pope County. Choctaw Nation spent more than $17 million on the campaign for the proposal. Under the measure, any future casino licenses will have to be approved by voters in a special countywide election.
鈥淭his is a great day for the people of Arkansas: today, and every day forward, no Arkansas community will have a casino that they don鈥檛 want forced into their hometown,鈥� Hans Stiritz, spokesperson for Local Voters in Charge, the campaign behind the measure, said in a statement.
Pope County was one of four sites where casinos were allowed to be built under a constitutional amendment that voters approved in 2018. Casinos have already been set up in the other three locations. Cherokee Nation Businesses spent at least $12 million on the campaign against the amendment.
鈥淚ssue 2 is a devastating setback to the economic future of the communities in Pope County and the state of Arkansas,鈥� Chuck Garrett, CEO of Cherokee Nation Businesses, said in a statement late Tuesday night.
Other proposals that would have scaled back the state鈥檚 abortion ban and expanded its were disqualified from the ballot by state election officials and the state Supreme Court. The marijuana proposal appeared on the ballot but votes for it won鈥檛 be counted.
Voters approved a measure the Legislature placed on the ballot that allows proceeds from the state's lottery to be used to fund scholarships at vocational and technical schools.
Andrew Demillo, The Associated Press
