Democrats lose control of state Senate, House

Arkansas Democrats will not have a majority of seats in the state House next January, for the first time since Reconstruction.

With results counted through early Wednesday, Republicans hold a 50-48-1 edge over Democrats and the Green Party in the state House. One race is yet to be decided, but the Democrats don’t have a candidate in it.

That remaining seat is in Benton County, where some votes remain uncounted. There, Republican Sue Scott, with 6,234 votes, or 61.56 percent, was leading independent Mark Moore, who had 3,893 votes, or 38.44 percent, with zero of 13 precincts reporting.

It takes 51 votes to pass a bill out of the House, and the Benton County seat would give the GOP a majority.

Tuesday night, Republicans gained a state Senate majority for the first time since Reconstruction and hold a 21-13 edge, with one race undecided.

Democrats had controlled both chambers since the post-Civil War period ended in 1874.

Arkansas Democrats will not have a majority of seats in the state House next January, for the first time since Reconstruction.

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