# 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Arkansas

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The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Arkansas occurred on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, to elect the four U.S. representatives from the state, one from each of the state's four congressional districts. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election.
As the result of redistricting following the 2010 United States census, the boundaries of the state's congressional districts were redrawn by the then Democratic legislature. Democratic Governor Mike Beebe, who signed the new map into law in April 2011, described it as the "status quo" and not partisan. In the new map, five counties are split between districts, the first time in Arkansas history that counties have not been kept intact in congressional districts.

## Overview
### Statewide

The table below shows the total number and percentage of votes, as well as the number of seats gained and lost by each political party in the election for the United States House of Representatives in Arkansas.
United States House of Representatives elections in Arkansas, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Votes | Percentage | Seats | +/– |
| | Republican | 637,591 | 61.4% | 4 | +1 |
| | Democratic | 304,770 | 29.4% | 0 | -1 |
| | Green | 57,706 | 5.6% | 0 | - |
| | Libertarian | 37,987 | 3.7% | 0 | - |
| Totals | Totals | 1,038,054 | 100% | 4 | — |
Popular vote
Republican
61.42%
Democratic
29.36%
Green
5.56%
Libertarian
3.66% :
House seats
Republican
100.0%
Democratic
0%
Green
0%
Libertarian
0% :

### By district

Results of the 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Arkansas by district:
| District | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Green | Green | Libertarian | Libertarian | Total | Total | Result |
| District | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Result |
| District 1 | 138,800 | 56.23% | 96,601 | 39.13% | 6,427 | 2.60% | 5,015 | 2.03% | 246,843 | 100.0% | Republican Hold |
| District 2 | 158,175 | 55.19% | 113,156 | 39.48% | 8,566 | 2.99% | 6,701 | 2.34% | 286,598 | 100.0% | Republican Hold |
| District 3 | 186,467 | 75.90% | 0 | 0.00% | 39,318 | 16.01% | 19,875 | 8.09% | 245,660 | 100.0% | Republican Hold |
| District 4 | 154,149 | 59.53% | 95,013 | 36.69% | 4,807 | 1.86% | 4,984 | 1.93% | 258,953 | 100.0% | Republican Gain |
| Total | 637,591 | 61.42% | 304,770 | 29.36% | 57,706 | 5.56% | 37,987 | 3.66% | 1,038,054 | 100.0% | |

## District 1

The 1st district had lost population, and so was drawn in the new map to incorporate counties in southeastern Arkansas which were previously a part of the 4th district. Republican incumbent Rick Crawford was first elected in 2010.

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Rick Crawford, incumbent U.S. Representative

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Scott Ellington, prosecuting attorney

##### Eliminated in primary

* Clark Hall, state representative
* Gary Latanich, professor of economics at Arkansas State University

#### Declined

* Paul Bookout, president pro tempore of the Arkansas Senate;
* L. J. Bryant, business owner and nominee for Land Commissioner in 2010
* Chad Causey, former chief of staff to U.S. Representative Marion Berry and nominee for this seat in 2010
* David Cook, former state representative and candidate for this seat in 2010
* Keith Ingram, state representative
* Robert S. Moore Jr., Speaker of the state house of representatives;
* Steve Rockwell, businessman (who had considered running in 2010)
* Robert F. Thompson, state senator

#### Endorsements

Organizations
* Blue Dog Coalition

#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Scott Ellington | Clark Hall | Gary Latanich | Undecided |
| Talk Business/Hendrix College | April 24–25, 2012 | 497 | ± 4.4% | 15% | 10% | 4% | 71% |

#### Primary results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Scott Ellington | 27,936 | 49.5 |
| | Democratic | Clark M. Hall | 21,861 | 38.8 |
| | Democratic | Gary Latanich | 6,605 | 11.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 56,402 | 100.0 |

### Green primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Jacob Holloway, graduate student at Arkansas State University.

### Libertarian primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Jessica Paxton, wife of Libertarian Party of Arkansas chairman Rodger Paxton

### General election
#### Endorsements

Organizations
* National Republican Congressional Committee "Patriot" Program
* NRA Political Victory Fund
* National Right to Life Committee
* United States Chamber of Commerce
Labor unions
* AFL-CIO
* National Association of Letter Carriers
* National Education Association
* United Steelworkers
Organizations
* Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee "Emerging Races" Program

#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Rick Crawford (R) | Scott Ellington (D) | Undecided |
| Anzalone Liszt Research Ellington (D) | July 16–18, 2012 | 401 | ±4.9% | 47% | 45% | 8% |

#### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Safe R | November 5, 2012 |
| Rothenberg | Safe R | November 2, 2012 |
| Roll Call | Safe R | November 4, 2012 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Safe R | November 5, 2012 |
| NY Times | Safe R | November 4, 2012 |
| RCP | Safe R | November 4, 2012 |
| The Hill | Likely R | November 4, 2012 |

#### Results

Arkansas' 1st congressional district, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Rick Crawford (incumbent) | 138,800 | 56.2 |
| | Democratic | Scott Ellington | 96,601 | 39.2 |
| | Libertarian | Jessica Paxton | 6,427 | 2.6 |
| | Green | Jacob Holloway | 5,015 | 2.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 246,843 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 2

Population growth in Arkansas's central counties meant that the 2nd district had to shrink in the new map. Under the new map, the 2nd district is likely to continue to favor Republicans.
Republican incumbent Timothy Griffin was first elected in 2010.

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Tim Griffin, incumbent U.S. Representative

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Herb Rule, attorney and former state representative

#### Declined

* David Boling, former chief of staff to U.S. Representative Vic Snyder and candidate for this seat in 2010
* Bob Edwards, attorney (who had considered running in 2010)
* John Charles Edwards, state representative
* Drew Pritt, political consultant
* Bill Halter, former Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas and candidate for Senate in 2010
* Pat Hays, Mayor of North Little Rock;
* David Johnson, state senator
* Jay Martin, lawyer and former state representative
* Tracy Steele, state representative
* Robbie Wills, former speaker of the state House of Representatives and candidate for this seat in 2010

### Libertarian primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Chris Hayes

### General election
#### Endorsements

Organizations
* Gun Owners of America
* NRA Political Victory Fund
* National Right to Life Committee
* United States Chamber of Commerce
Labor unions
* National Education Association
* United Steelworkers

#### Results

Arkansas' 2nd congressional district, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tim Griffin (incumbent) | 158,175 | 55.2 |
| | Democratic | Herb Rule | 113,156 | 39.5 |
| | Green | Barbara Ward | 8,566 | 3.0 |
| | Libertarian | Chris Hayes | 6,701 | 2.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 286,598 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 3

Population growth in Arkansas's northwestern counties meant that the 3rd district had to shrink in the new map. Under the new map, the 3rd district is likely to continue to favor Republicans.
Republican incumbent Steve Womack was first elected in 2010.

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Steve Womack, incumbent U.S. Representative

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Ken Aden, former director for West Memphis-based nonprofit Residents 4 Arkansas

### Green primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Rebekah Kennedy, nominee for Senate in 2008 and for state attorney general in 2010.

### Libertarian primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* David Pangrac, Libertarian Party of Arkansas Vice Chairman

### General election
#### Campaign

Aden would withdraw from the race after admitting to exaggerating his military record. Under Arkansas law, the Democratic Party was unable to field a replacement candidate for Aden and no Democrat appeared on the general election ballot. On August 14, 2012, Kennedy received the endorsement of the Arkansas state AFL-CIO labor union.

#### Endorsements

Organizations
* NRA Political Victory Fund
* National Right to Life Committee
* United States Chamber of Commerce
Labor unions
* United Steelworkers
Labor unions
* AFL-CIO

#### Results

Arkansas' 3rd congressional district, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Steve Womack (incumbent) | 186,467 | 75.9 |
| | Green | Rebekah Kennedy | 39,318 | 16.0 |
| | Libertarian | David Pangrac | 19,875 | 8.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 245,660 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

## District 4

Under the new map, the 4th district loses some territory in the east of the state to the 1st district and gains some Republican-leaning northwestern Arkansas counties from the 3rd district. The district also gains Yell County from the 2nd district, which is expected to make the 4th district more favorable to Democrats.
Democratic incumbent Mike Ross, who was first elected in 2000, chose not to seek re-election.

### Democratic primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Gene Jeffress, state senator

##### Eliminated in primary

* D.C. Morrison, businessman and candidate for Senate in 2010
* Q. Byrum Hurst Jr., attorney and small business owner

##### Declined

* Robin Carroll, prosecutor and former legal counsel to the Democratic Party;
* Conner Eldridge, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas
* Steve Faris, former state senator
* Greg Hale, consultant for The Markham Group;
* Steve Harrelson, state senator
* Mike Hathorn, former state representative and candidate for lieutenant governor in 2010
* Carlton Jones, prosecutor from Texarkana
* Chris Masingill, head of the Delta Regional Authority and a former staff member for Ross and Governor Mike Beebe
* Bruce Maloch, state representative
* Gregg Reep, state representative
* Mike Ross, incumbent U.S. Representative
* Larry Teague, state senator
* Chris Thomason, former state representative and chancellor of the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope
* Jeff Weaver, district director for Mike Ross
* Hank Wilkins, state representative

#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Q. Byrum Hurst | Gene Jeffress | D.C. Morrison | Undecided |
| Talk Business/Hendrix College | May 10, 2012 | 418 | ± 4.8% | 23% | 22% | 11% | 44% |

#### Primary results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Gene Jeffress | 23,848 | 43.0 |
| | Democratic | Q. Byrum Hurst | 19,812 | 35.7 |
| | Democratic | DC Morrison | 11,771 | 21.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 55,431 | 100.0 |

#### Primary runoff results

Democratic primary runoff results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Gene Jeffress | 15,266 | 60.7 |
| | Democratic | Q. Byrum Hurst | 9,895 | 39.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 25,161 | 100.0 |

### Republican primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Tom Cotton, consultant and Army reservist

##### Eliminated in primary

* John Cowart, police officer and currently serving U.S. Marine Corps Reserve lieutenant colonel in Afghanistan
* Beth Anne Rankin, teacher, former Miss Arkansas & nominee for this seat in 2010

#### Withdrew

* Marcus Richmond, business owner and retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel

#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Tom Cotton | John Cowart | Beth Anne Rankin | Undecided |
| Talk Business/Hendrix College | May 10, 2012 | 437 | ± 4.7% | 51% | 6% | 33% | 10% |
| Talk Business/Hendrix College | April 17, 2012 | 542 | ± 4.2% | 38.5% | 4% | 38.5% | 19% |

#### Primary results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tom Cotton | 20,899 | 57.6 |
| | Republican | Beth Anne Rankin | 13,460 | 37.1 |
| | Republican | John Cowart | 1,953 | 5.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 36,312 | 100.0 |

### Green primary
#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* J. Joshua Drake

### Libertarian primary

Bobby Tullis had considered seeking Libertarian nomination for the seat; however in December 2011 Tullis gave his support to Republican candidate Beth Anne Rankin; nevertheless, he was subsequently nominated as the Libertarian candidate.

#### Candidates
##### Nominee

* Bobby Tullis, former Democratic state representative and unsuccessful Green Party nominee for state treasurer in 2010

### General election
#### Endorsements

Labor unions
* AFL-CIO
* National Association of Letter Carriers
* National Education Association
* United Steelworkers
Organizations
* Club for Growth
* Eagle Forum
* Gun Owners of America
* National Right to Life Committee
* Tea Party Express
* United States Chamber of Commerce

#### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Likely R (flip) | November 5, 2012 |
| Rothenberg | Safe R (flip) | November 2, 2012 |
| Roll Call | Safe R (flip) | November 4, 2012 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Safe R (flip) | November 5, 2012 |
| NY Times | Safe R (flip) | November 4, 2012 |
| RCP | Safe R (flip) | November 4, 2012 |
| The Hill | Likely R (flip) | November 4, 2012 |

#### Results

Arkansas' 4th congressional district, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tom Cotton | 154,149 | 59.5 |
| | Democratic | Gene Jeffress | 95,013 | 36.7 |
| | Libertarian | Bobby Tullis | 4,984 | 1.9 |
| | Green | J. Joshua Drake | 4,807 | 1.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 258,953 | 100.0 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |