Democrats secured a majority on the Washington County Quorum Court in the November 3 election, flipping three Republican seats. Unofficial results give Democrats eight seats and Republicans six, with one district headed to a December 1 runoff. That means the final balance could be 8–7 or 9–6.
Marshallese candidate Faith Laukon came within 57 votes of Republican incumbent David Wilson in District 2. Wilson received 2,125 votes, or 50.68%, to Laukon’s 2,068 votes, or 49.32%—a difference of just 1.36 percentage points.
In District 6, Democrat Lowell Taylor defeated Republican incumbent Lisa Ecke, 2,349 to 1,335, receiving 63.76% of the vote. Ecke previously faced Marshallese candidate Michael Mapa in 2022. Democrats AnneDella Hines and Diane Bryant also defeated Republican incumbents in districts 7 and 10, completing the three-seat shift that gave Democrats control of the county’s legislative body, which approves budgets and ordinances.
The incoming Quorum Court lineup, pending certification, is:
| District | Winner or status | Party | Reported result |
|---|---|---|---|
| District 1 | Bradley Bruns | Republican | 3,885–2,611 over Lou Reed Sharp |
| District 2 | David Wilson | Republican | 2,125–2,068 over Faith Laukon |
| District 3 | Robert Massingill | Republican | Unopposed |
| District 4 | Vladimir Rivera Lopez | Democrat | 1,275–673 over Bill Ussery |
| District 5 | Kyle S. Lyons | Republican | 2,570–1,919 over Stephanie Shufelt |
| District 6 | Lowell Taylor | Democrat | 2,349–1,335 over Lisa Ecke |
| District 7 | AnneDella Hines | Democrat | 3,320–2,770 over Charles T. Dean Jr. |
| District 8 | Shawndra Washington | Democrat | Unopposed |
| District 9 | Beth Coger | Democrat | Unopposed |
| District 10 | Diane Bryant | Democrat | 3,433–2,608 over Robert E. Dennis |
| District 11 | Suki Lin Highers | Democrat | Unopposed |
| District 12 | Evelyn Rios Stafford | Democrat | Unopposed |
| District 13 | Willie Leming | Republican | Unopposed |
| District 14 | Gary Ricker | Republican | 3,844–2,672 over Jimm Garlock |
| District 15 | December 1 runoff | Republican / Democrat | Butch Pond: 3,223; Ashley Harvey: 2,748 |
Democrat Dana Deree also won the county judge’s race, receiving 40,755 votes, or approximately 54%, to Republican Tim Shepard’s 34,703 votes, or 46%. The county judge oversees county operations and presides over the Quorum Court.
When the results were announced, Deree spoke saying, “I am an unapologetic, unhyphenated Democrat, but I think this job ought to be nonpartisan. That is how I will treat it.”
He also outlined his priorities, saying he wants to focus on responsible budgeting, improving county infrastructure and roads, supporting public safety, and making county government more accessible and responsive to residents. Deree said he would work with members of both parties and emphasized that the county judge’s office should serve all residents, regardless of political affiliation.
Two Springdale City Council contests are headed to December runoffs after no candidate received a majority. Mike Gilbert led the Ward 4, Position 1 race, while Armando Garcia led the Ward 2, Position 2 special election.
Across Arkansas, Republicans won all seven state executive offices. Updated unofficial returns showed Sarah Huckabee Sanders winning reelection as governor with 53.9%, Leslie Rutledge winning lieutenant governor with 63.9%, Kim Hammer winning secretary of state with 55.9%, and Cole Jester winning commissioner of state lands with 64.1%. Attorney General Tim Griffin, Auditor Dennis Milligan and Treasurer John Thurston were unopposed. Republican Tom Cotton also won reelection to the U.S. Senate, receiving 54.3%.
In the closely watched 2nd Congressional District, Republican incumbent French Hill led Democrat Chris Jones by 4,405 votes with all 404 precincts reporting. Hill received 127,437 votes, or 50.9%, to Jones’s 123,032 votes, or 49.1%. Decision Desk HQ projected Hill the winner; the totals remain unofficial. Chris Jones previously ran against Sarah Huckabee Sanders for governor in 2022.
Republican Steve Womack won reelection in the 3rd Congressional District, which includes Springdale, receiving 127,303 votes, or 54.9%. Democrat Robb Ryerse received 96,189 votes, or 41.5%, and Libertarian Bobby Wilson received 8,413 votes, or 3.6%. All 833 precincts were reporting.
Updated November 5. Results remain unofficial and subject to certification. The latest statewide count retrieved showed 2,761 of 2,768 precincts reporting. Washington County is scheduled to certify its results November 13.
Washington County election results | Arkansas election results
Be the first to comment on "Springdale election recap: Democrats win Washington County Quorum Court majority; Laukon trails by just 57 votes"