UPDATED: Republicans hold onto 3 of Arkansas’ 4 US House seats

Three Republicans representing deep red parts of Arkansas held onto their seats Tuesday, handily dispatching their Democratic challengers — though one of the state’s four congressmen remained locked in a tight battle for another term.

The Associated Press called the 1st and 4th Congressional Districts for their incumbents early in the night, with Reps. Rick Crawford and Bruce Westerman securing a ninth and seventh term, respectively. It called the 3rd Congressional District, currently represented by Republican Rep. Steve Womack, later in the night.

The AP still has not called the 2nd Congressional District, where Republican Rep. French Hill is locked in his tightest reelection bid to date with Democrat Chris Jones to represent central Arkansas.

It comes as Democrats are projected to take control of both the House and Senate after historic wins in traditionally red states such as Texas, Iowa, Kansas and South Carolina.

Westerman, who has represented large swaths of south, west and north Arkansas since 2015, outraised and outspent his opponent James Russell by large margins.

The licensed forester from Hot Springs ran on his record as the chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, where he has pushed for changes to the National Environmental Policy Act, as well as his support for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that he says will help address affordability concerns stemming from the ongoing war in Iran.

Westerman, a former state legislator, defeated his 2024 Democratic opponent, Risie Howard, with more than 72% of the vote. 

“I’m honored to once again have the trust of the people of Arkansas’s Fourth Congressional District,” Westerman said in a statement provided by a spokesperson. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue serving and remain committed to working for Arkansas in Washington, D.C.”

His 2026 opponent, Russell, offered Westerman congratulations after the race was called.

Crawford, who represents the 1st District, fended off both Democratic and Libertarian challengers Tuesday.

Crawford chairs the House Intelligence Committee, campaigned on supporting more infrastructure for his district covering parts of east, south and north Arkansas, as well as additional domestic fertilizer production to help his district’s agriculture-heavy economy.

Crawford won in a district that voted for Republican President Donald Trump by more than 45 percentage points in 2024. Crawford won reelection that year against Democrat Rodney Govens with nearly 73% of the vote.

Representatives for the Crawford campaign did not immediately provide comment.

Meanwhile, in the 2nd District, Jones hoped to capitalize on the sour national mood toward Republicans, with voters deeply unhappy about the cost of living and stubbornly high gas prices amid the war in Iran.

The 2nd Congressional District is the bluest of Arkansas’ four House seats, covering central Arkansas, including most of Little Rock. Redistricting by the majority-Republican state Legislature in 2021 made the map more favorable to Hill, who won reelection in 2024 with 59% of the vote.

Democrats have tried for years to unseat Hill, who first took office in 2015, but have not succeeded so far. Polling from Hendrix College and Talk Business and Politics found Jones with a slim lead over Hill in August, though the results were within the poll’s margin of error. 

The matchup in the 3rd Congressional District between Womack, Libertarian Bobby Wilson and Democrat Robb Ryerse was an amalgamation of previous elections. Wilson was Womack’s opponent in the general election in 2024, while Ryerse was defeated when challenging Womack during the Republican primary in 2018.

“Our region is one of the most dynamic in the country, and I remain committed to ensuring communities across the district have a strong advocate in Washington who understands their unique needs,” Womack said in a written statement after the AP called the race. “I look forward to continuing to deliver results for the Third District, from securing federal investments to providing unmatched constituent service to supporting the policies that build a stronger, safer, and more prosperous nation where families and businesses can thrive for generations to come.”

Womack, a self-described “institution guy,” was known for having a decade and a half long unbroken congressional voting streak. It was the longest active streak in Congress when it was broken in November 2025 due to a family emergency that prevented Womack from attending a vote. 

Womack stoked speculation in 2023 that he would retire after venting about Republican infighting in a Washington Post interview. He later called the speculation overblown and told the Advocate this year that he still had the energy and passion to represent the district in Congress.

AP Graphics may not be republished