House District 29: High priority for both parties
John Brummett has referred to legislative politics in Arkansas not as partisan but "regional, personal, and stupid." While true that votes and issues rarely fall down strict party lines at the Capitol, legislators, parties and enthusiasts do tune in to the partisan makeup of both chambers.
In 2006, we listed our main legislative campaign targets as protecting the Democratic seats we held and going after three new seats. We targeted six very close races and ended up winning all of them. It's easy to make a 2008 goal of picking up seats, but when you get out the maps of legislative districts, it gets a lot harder to determine which areas are ripe for a change. I think both parties would tell you that the main goals are seeking good candidates and protecting the seats currently held.
Without even one announced candidate in House District 29, I can tell you that it will be a hotly contested race and want that we will make a top priority to keep. For three terms, Rep. Janet Johnson has held the seat, and we've historically had strong Democratic representation in that legislative district (Sen. Shane Broadway before Johnson, and I'd be so bold as to say that no Republican has held that seat for the last 50 years, maybe ever). Saline County, though, has long trended Republican and voted Republican in the 2006 races for governor, Congress, and prosecuting attorney, and also in the 2004 races for Congress, U.S. Senate, and in the presidential race (with 63%). Of course, legislative campaigns are usually more closely aligned to local issues than statewide, congressional and national races (and most in the county would point that out in the prosecutor's race).
Rep. Johnson twice beat Dennis Milligan for the seat -- Milligan, of course, is now the Chairman of the Republican Party of Arkansas. It's been reported that he's considering running for the seat again in 2008. It was previously being circulated this Spring that former Republican Secretary of State candidate Jim LaGrone would seek the seat. Johnson can't run again because of term limits, but there are several Democrats considering the seat, none of which has made a decision. This will be one to watch.
In 2006, we listed our main legislative campaign targets as protecting the Democratic seats we held and going after three new seats. We targeted six very close races and ended up winning all of them. It's easy to make a 2008 goal of picking up seats, but when you get out the maps of legislative districts, it gets a lot harder to determine which areas are ripe for a change. I think both parties would tell you that the main goals are seeking good candidates and protecting the seats currently held.
Without even one announced candidate in House District 29, I can tell you that it will be a hotly contested race and want that we will make a top priority to keep. For three terms, Rep. Janet Johnson has held the seat, and we've historically had strong Democratic representation in that legislative district (Sen. Shane Broadway before Johnson, and I'd be so bold as to say that no Republican has held that seat for the last 50 years, maybe ever). Saline County, though, has long trended Republican and voted Republican in the 2006 races for governor, Congress, and prosecuting attorney, and also in the 2004 races for Congress, U.S. Senate, and in the presidential race (with 63%). Of course, legislative campaigns are usually more closely aligned to local issues than statewide, congressional and national races (and most in the county would point that out in the prosecutor's race).Rep. Johnson twice beat Dennis Milligan for the seat -- Milligan, of course, is now the Chairman of the Republican Party of Arkansas. It's been reported that he's considering running for the seat again in 2008. It was previously being circulated this Spring that former Republican Secretary of State candidate Jim LaGrone would seek the seat. Johnson can't run again because of term limits, but there are several Democrats considering the seat, none of which has made a decision. This will be one to watch.
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 8/03/2007 06:22:00 AM | Permalink |
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