Democratic candidates focus on voter education in Northwest Arkansas rematches

Northwest Arkansas voters may have a sense of déjà vu when they head to the polls in the coming weeks. Bentonville and Springdale residents will decide rematches in Arkansas House Districts 9, 10 and 11 where Democrats are focusing on voter education to improve their odds of victory this time around.

All three Republican incumbents did not respond to interview requests for this story.

Democrat Diana Gonzales Worthen said she felt confident about her chances during the 2022 election for Washington County’s District 9, the state’s only district with a majority of Hispanic voting-age residents. When votes were tallied, she lost to Republican DeAnna Hodges by 109 votes, the exact number of votes cast for Libertarian Steven Stilling.

Stilling is not participating in the 2024 race.

The loss was “heart-wrenching,” but Gonzales Worthen said she wanted to know what happened. What she found was that the district is home to several new voters, so lots of education about the voting process is needed, she said. As a result, the longtime educator has engaged in voter education initiatives and launched campaign efforts earlier than in 2022.



https://arkansasadvocate.com/2024/10/18/democratic-candidates-focus-on-voter-education-in-northwest-arkansas-rematches/