Race heats up in House District 29

As I've said several times, House District 29 will be one of the hottest races in 2008, and both parties consider it a top priority. The stakes were raised yesterday when Ann Clemmer made it official that she'll run for this seat as a Republican, which is currently held by term-limited Rep. Janet Johnson (pictured right). We've historically had strong Democratic representation in that legislative district (Sen. Shane Broadway before Johnson, a two-term Majority Whip), and I understand that no Republican has ever held the seat. Current Republican Party Chairman Dennis Milligan came close, although he lost to Johnson twice.

Saline County 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).

Last week, the Benton Courier carried the announcement by Democrat Scott Smith will run. Smith, a Bryant businessman, will join Republicans Clemmer, Brett Hooton and Bud Lidzy and Democrat Mike Beckwith to replace Johnson. Here's the map:

House District 29