District 63 race could impact local, county representation

West Memphian Bell facing Hughes mayor in pivotal House contest

By Ralph Hardin

news@theeveningtimes.com

One of the last strongholds for the Arkansas Democratic Party is the State House of Representatives seat in Distrrict 63. The seat, currently held by State Rep. Deborah Ferguson (D-West Memphis), is one of only 20 seats (out of 100) held by Democrats in the Arkansas House, giving the Republican Pary a 4-to-1 supermajority in the state’s lower legislative chamber.

When Ferguson announced late last year that she would not seek re-election and a seventh term in the state’s lower legislative chamber, it opened up an opportunity for both parties to field a candidate to be her replacement when the General Assembly reconvenes in Little Rock next January.

The vacancy leaves the race wide open after three lengthy tenures going back to the 1990s that included Ferguson, Keith Ingram and Steve Jones, all Democrats.

District 63 was reapportioned in 2021 based on the 2020 U.S. Census figures. As such, the district now includes nearly all of West Memphis and southerrn Crittenden County communities such as Proctor, Edmondson, Lehi, Anthonyville and Horseshoe Lake. It also includes eastern St. Francis County, encompassing Hughes, Heth, parts of Forrest City and rurual communities in both counties. The Republican nominee, Tammi Northcutt Bell of West Memphis, was unopposed in the March primary, paving the way for her spot on the Nov. 5 ballot.

In the Democratic Primaey, West Memphis businessman Fred Leonard faced off with Hughes Mayor Lincoln Barnett. Althought Leonard outpolled Barnett in West Memphis by more than 100 votes, Barnett drew support from Cross County and won the nomination by a vote of 610 to 474, setting up a showdown between him and bell in next week’s General Election.

A win for Barnett would be a boon to state Democrats as they try to stay politically relevant in and increasingly “red” state, while a win for Bell would show a major shift in the party ideology of the Mississippi Delta, which has not had a GOP legislator in the House since Reconstruction.

A win by Barnett would, however, diminish Crittenden County’s presence and voice in the state legislature, already weakened when, in 2022, Marianna businessman Reginald Murdock won the State Senate District 9 race previously held by West Memphian Keith Ingram, who declined to seek re-election that year.

Bell, who lives in West Memphis, would, along with whoever wins the Distict 35 House race, maintain Crittenden County’s two legislators in the General Assembly.

Early voting is currently underway at three locations in Crittenden County. See the Notice of Election on Page 19 for complete details on dates, times and locations. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Polls will be open on Election Day from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

A valid photo ID is required to vote in the election.

BARNETT

BELL