AR-3: John Boozman (R) To Seek Re-Election In 2004

[goobergunch]

ROGERS, Ark. -- U.S. Rep. John Boozman of Rogers will seek re-election in next year's general election, he told a group of Republican supporters Tuesday night.

Unlike 2002, Boozman will likely face a Democratic challenger for the 3rd District seat.

State Democratic officials said that State Rep. Jan Judy of Fayetteville has said she is strongly considering seeking the Democratic nomination.

State Democratic chairman Ron Oliver said two or three other candidates who have expressed interest, but he declined to identify them.

more...http://www.thehometownchannel.com/news/2384201/detail.html

[Art_from_Ark]

1. Best of luck to Jan Judy

Repugs have had a stranglehold on the 3rd district since 1966. The only Dem who came close to winning the seat during that time was Bill Clinton in 1974-- and the election was probably stolen from him.

[jiacinto]

2. This is the most Republican seat in AR

According to NCEC the seat gave Bush nearly 60% of the vote in 2000. This area has always been Republican. Even during the "era" of the "Solid South" NW Arkansas, the Ozarks area, supported Republicans. This has always been the least Democratic part of Arkansas. As you can see, even in the 2002 Senate, where Pryor (D) unseated Tim Hutchinson (R), the only areas of the state that cling onto the Republican were in the 3rd district. Only two counties in the district--Johnson and Franklin--supported Pryor (D). The rest of the other counties all supported Hutchinson (R).

This district is the home to Wal-Mart. These voters even supported Dole against Clinton in 1996. So State Rep Jan Judy (D) is going to have a rough time at it in 2004. She will have to work very hard to win this seat.

[mndemocrat_29]

3. Hutchinson may have gained votes from home field advantage

That was his home district.

However, I agree that that particular section of the state will be nearly impossible to win. However, best of luck to Rep. Jan Judy!

[jiacinto]

4. Who knows

If she can raise decent amounts of money, polls well, then maybe the DCCC might be willing to throw money at the race.

[NewJerseyDem]

5. Boozman will win

I find it really hard to believe that the Democrats can hold all 4 house seats in Arkansas. This is a state that leans republican yet democrats have done really well in congressional and senate races recently. It just seems unlikely but if we can have all three members of the North Dakota delegation than I guess we could win in any state.