The four Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives in Arkansas are facing challenges from Democratic rivals

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – The four Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives in Arkansas are facing challenges in this year’s elections from Democratic rivals who are fighting an uphill battle to break the Republican Party’s hold on the state’s federal delegation.

Republican U.S. Reps. Rick Crawford, French Hill, Steve Womack and Bruce Westerman are seeking re-election in the heavily Republican state. Republicans have held all seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate since 2013.

1st District: Crawford faces Govens

Crawford, who has represented the 1st Congressional District since 2011, is facing a challenge from Democratic candidate Rodney Govens. The 1st District covers eastern Arkansas and includes the cities of Jonesboro, West Memphis and Helena-West Helena. Libertarian Steve Parsons is also running for the seat.

Crawford is a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee and has said he will seek the top Republican position on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in the next Congress.

Govens, a Cabot resident who has worked in the telecommunications industry, has called for improvements to the Veterans Administration system and foster care across the country. Crawford has said he wants to tackle the national debt by introducing permanent spending controls.

2nd District: Hill faces Jones

Hill, who was first elected to the 2nd District in 2014 and serves as vice chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, is running against Democratic candidate Marcus Jones. The 2nd District seat covers central Arkansas, including Little Rock.

Democrats have tried unsuccessfully to achieve this in recent years trying to win back the district, hoping to rely heavily on turnout in Little Rock despite the state’s continued shift to the right. The majority GOP Legislature redrew redistricting lines in 2021, moving thousands of mostly Black voters out of the 2nd District.

Hill has focused heavily on immigration in his re-election bid, calling for increased border security and measures he says will help combat inflation. Jones is a retired Army colonel who served as a senior Army advisor to the Arkansas Army National Guard at Camp Robinson. Jones has called for an expansion of the child tax credit and legislation to increase access to health care in rural areas.

3rd District: Womack faces Draper

Womack, a ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, was first elected to the 3rd District in 2010 and is running against Democrat Caitlin Draper, a clinical social worker from Fayetteville.

The 3rd District covers northwest Arkansas and includes the cities of Fayetteville, Springdale and Fort Smith.

Womack, the former chairman of the House Budget Committee, was the only member of the House of Representatives to do so face a primary challenge in March he defeated state Sen. Clint Penzo. Womack received the support of the state’s top Republicans in that battle, including Republican Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

Womack has listed border security as a priority and said he believes he has the experience to find bipartisan solutions in a closely divided Congress.

Draper, like other Democrats running for House of Representatives seats in Arkansas, has said she supports legislation at the federal level that would protect abortion access following the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding Roe v. Wade was abolished. She has also said that climate change and healthcare are listed as top issues.

Libertarian Bobby Wilson is also running for the seat.

4th District: Westerman faces Howard

Westerman, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, was first elected to the 4th District in 2014. He is up against Risie Howard, a lawyer from Pine Bluff.

The 4th District covers southern Arkansas and includes Pine Bluff, Hot Springs and Texarkana.

Westerman, a former state lawmaker and the only forest ranger in the House of Representatives, has praised his work on forestry legislation and said his priorities in the next Congress also include energy and mining issues. Howard has said she wants to strengthen the Affordable Care Act and protect Social Security.