The Arkansas House of Representatives on June 17, 2024. (Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate)
Seven of the 54 contested races for seats in the Arkansas House of Representatives this November are open, meaning no incumbent is running.
All 100 seats in the Arkansas Legislature’s lower chamber are up for election every two years. Each representative served about 30,000 constituents.
Republicans currently hold supermajorities in both the House and Senate. There were 82 House Republicans and 18 House Democrats as of January 2023. Men outnumber women in the House three to one, and all but nine representatives are white.
According to a 2020 constitutional amendment , lawmakers can serve 12 consecutive years with the opportunity to return after a four-year break. Term limits were previously capped at 16 years over one’s lifetime. The Arkansas Legislature referred the amendment to the voters, who overwhelmingly approved it.
All lawmakers receive an annual salary of $44,356 and 65.5 cents per mile they travel to and from the capitol. Those who live within 50 miles of the Capitol receive $59 per diem, and those who live further away receive $155.