In state, women on ballot total 35

Thirty-five women are seeking seats in the Arkansas Legislature this year, the second-highest number in the past two decades.

The number of female candidates on this year's ballot is second only to the 2012 ballot, when 41 women ran for the House or Senate and 21 won. The largest number before then was in 1992, when 34 women sought those seats.

Political science professors said the increase in female candidates had less to do with gender than with new opportunities for first-time candidates, citing legislative term limits and a changing political climate for Republicans.

But there are some differences between the female candidates in 2012 and those vying for seats this year.

In 2012, 22 Democratic and 18 Republican women, and one Libertarian woman filed to run for the state Legislature.

This year, those numbers have flipped -- 20 Republican women and 15 Democratic female candidates are seeking those seats.

"Women candidates, like men candidates, are responding to the changing political landscape in Arkansas," said Janine Parry, a University of Arkansas political science professor.

Parry cited the gains made by Republicans in the Legislature in 2010 and the shift to a Republican majority in both state chambers in 2012.

The number of Republican women running for office "is clearly a reflection of that change. I don't think it's necessarily that women are changing so much as the prospects of the parties are changing," Parry said.

There are now 23 female legislators; Arkansas has 100 House districts and 35 Senate seats.

Of the 35 female candidates running for the Legislature, five are running for the Senate and 30 are running for House seats.

Four of the female Senate candidates are unopposed incumbents: Joyce Elliott, D-Little Rock; Cecile Bledsoe, R-Rogers; Linda Chesterfield, D-Little Rock; and Missy Irvin, R-Mountain View, who faced a primary challenge.

Republican Linda Collins-Smith is running against Democratic Rep. James McLean for an open seat in northeast Arkansas.

In the House, seven female candidates -- six Republicans and one Democrat -- are unopposed in the general election. Betty Overbey, D-Lamar; Charlotte Douglas, R-Alma; and Mary "Prissy" Hickerson, R-Texarkana, will get another term in the House.

Republican newcomers Julie Mayberry, Robin Lundstrum and Jana Della Rosa -- who beat a primary opponent -- are unopposed in the general election. Democrat Vivian Flowers also has no challenger.

Of the remaining House races with female candidates, seven are incumbents facing challengers -- five Democrats and two Republicans. And two of those challenges are from Republican female candidates.

Three Republican female candidates will face male Democrats for open seats, while four Republican women are posing challenges to male Democratic incumbents.

Patricia Ferrell Mays is challenging Rep. Mike Holcomb, D-Pine Bluff; Laurie Rushing is challenging Rep. David Kizzia, D-Malvern; Michelle Gray will face Rep. Tommy Wren, D-Melbourne; and Mary Bentley will face Rep. John Wayne Catlett, D-Rover.

Two Democratic female candidates will face male Republicans for open seats, while three Democratic women are challenging male Republican incumbents.

Clea Hupp is challenging Rep. Andy Davis, R-Little Rock, along with Libertarian Greg Deckelman. Candy Clark is up against Rep. Charlie Collins, R-Fayetteville; and Leah Marie Williams is facing Rep. Jim Dotson, R-Bentonville.

Two female newcomers, Republican Nelda Speaks and Democrat Willa Mae Tilley, are vying for an open seat in Baxter County held by term-limited Rep. Karen Hopper, R-Mountain Home.

For their part, state Republicans and Democrats said they're trying to make their parties welcoming to female candidates and volunteers.

The Republican National Committee targeted Pulaski County as one of its 14 in '14 -- 14 counties across the country where the party has focused on recruiting female volunteers for campaigns.

"The idea is to drive female involvement in our door-knocking program and phone banking," said Fred Brown, spokesman for the national committee's Victory 365 campaign in Arkansas. "We're getting more female volunteers in the door, and once they're involved in the process, you can recruit them as candidates in the future."

Brown said this has been a record year for female Republican candidates in Arkansas.

"In that respect, Republicans here have already been working on that bench of female candidates who are qualified and want to run for office," he said.

Candace Martin, executive director of the Democratic Party of Arkansas, said her party is proud of the ticket of female candidates running for state constitutional offices and the Legislature.

"I would add that our female candidates running for statewide office are by far the most qualified and experienced that have run in the state for some time," she said. "We've had some really great women who have served in the state Legislature and some really great women candidates running for the state House, as well."

Martin said the party has a history of being welcoming to female volunteers, voters and candidates. This year, she said, the party has run a grass-roots campaign where female volunteers call female voters.

"That is a women-led structure of women volunteers making those calls and talking about our strong record on issues important to Arkansas women and families," she said.

Metro on 10/26/2014