Three Republican primary runoff elections were held in Arkansas for state legislative seats on March 31, 2020. No other party held primary runoff elections. On the ballot were state House Districts 53, 90, and 91. The general election is scheduled for November 3, 2020.
District 90 Rep. Jana Della Rosa was the only incumbent on the primary runoff ballot and was defeated by challenger Kendon Underwood. With all precincts reporting, unofficial results show Rosa received 45.0% of votes to Underwood’s 55.0%. In District 53, Jon Milligan defeated Cole Peck with 68.3% of the vote; Peck received 31.7%. The closest match-up of the night was in District 91, where Delia Haak defeated Scott Richardson with 54.0% to 46.0%. All three primary runoff winners face Democratic candidates in the general election.
Three other states originally planned to hold elections on March 31, 2020, but rescheduled them due to coronavirus pandemic concerns. Alabama and Mississippi postponed their statewide primary runoff elections to July 14 and June 23, respectively. Four Massachusetts special state legislative elections were postponed from March 31 to May 19 (Senate 2nd Hampden and Hampshire District and Senate Plymouth and Barnstable District) and June 2 (House 3rd Bristol District and House 37th Middlesex District).
Entering the 2020 election, the Arkansas House of Representatives has 24 Democrats and 76 Republicans. All 100 seats are up for election. A majority in the chamber requires 51 seats. Arkansas has a Republican state government trifecta. A trifecta exists when one political party simultaneously holds the governor’s office and majorities in both state legislative chambers.
Additional reading: Changes to election dates, procedures, and administration in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020 United States Senate election in Alabama, 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama, 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Mississippi, 2020 Massachusetts state legislative special elections, 2020
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