LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas Republicans are hoping to carve out a majority in the Legislature for the first time in more than a century, even though the racially charged writings of three GOP candidates threatens to hurt their momentum.
Democrats hold a 53-46 edge in the House and a 20-15 margin in the Senate ahead of Tuesday’s election. The GOP hasn’t controlled either chamber in 138 years — since Reconstruction.
Republicans are confident they can change that, despite the emergence of three GOP candidates’ racially tinged writings.
Rep. Jon Hubbard called slavery a “blessing in disguise.” Rep. Loy Mauch called Abraham Lincoln a “war criminal.” And candidate Charlie Fuqua called for the deportation of all Muslims.
Party leaders distanced themselves from the three, but stopped short of asking them to withdraw their candidacies.
