Arkansas Republicans finalized their picks for several key state and local offices Tuesday in a runoff that saw a veteran state legislator narrowly defeat a primary challenger for a top executive post.
State Sen. Kim Hammer of Benton secured the Republican nomination for secretary of state, defeating Army veteran Bryan Norris of Batesville. Hammer’s victory came after the March 3 primary, where no candidate captured a majority of the vote.
Hammer won with nearly 50.6% of the vote, according to results from the secretary of state.
“When citizens participate, our democracy is strengthened and our Republic grows stronger,” Hammer said in a statement released Tuesday night. “I am honored and grateful to be the Republican nominee for secretary of state, and I look forward to the road ahead. Together, we will build momentum, unite our party, and work hard to secure a big victory for our GOP team in November.”
The runoff results also determined several local contests in the northern part of the state:
- Stone County judge: Tim Hudspeth defeated Darryl Sullivan. Unofficial returns showed Hudspeth with 1,251 votes, while Sullivan had 643.
- Baxter County sheriff: Mark Hollingsworth defeated Brian Davis. Hollingsworth received 3,278 votes compared to 2,324 for Davis.
Independence County constable: In the Dota Township race, Curtis Davis won with 58 votes, defeating Ronald Laslo, who received 28.
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