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Arkansas, House of Representatives, District 54

Arkansas House District 54
Current incumbentJohnny Rye Republican Party

Arkansas' fifty-fourth state house district is represented by Republican Representative Johnny Rye.

Arkansas state representatives represent an average of 29,159 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 26,734 residents.

About the office

Members of the Arkansas House of Representatives serve two-year terms with term limits of no more than 16 years in either or both legislative chambers throughout their lifetimes.

Qualifications

Article 5, Section 4 of the Arkansas Constitution states: "No person shall be a Senator or Representative who, at the time of his election, is not a citizen of the United States, nor any one who has not been for two years next preceding his election, a resident of this State, and for one year next preceding his election, a resident of the county or district whence he may be chosen. Senators shall be at least twenty-five years of age, and Representatives at least twenty-one years of age."

Salaries

State legislators
SalaryPer diem
$40,188/year$155 for legislators who live more than 50 miles from the Capitol; $59 for legislators who live less than 50 miles from the Capitol.

Term limits

The Arkansas legislature is one of 15 state legislatures with term limits. The Arkansas House of Representatives has been a term-limited state House since Arkansas voters approved the Arkansas Term Limits Initiative in 1992 as an initiated constitutional amendment. In 2014, Arkansas voters passed the Arkansas Elected Officials Ethics, Transparency and Financial Reform Amendment which permits legislators to serve a total of 16 years in the House or Senate during his or her lifetime.

Vacancies

If there is a vacancy in the house, the Governor must call for a special election in order to fill the vacancy. The election must be called by the Governor without delay. For all special elections in the house, the county that first established the district is responsible for conducting the election.

All special elections must be held on the second Tuesday of each month. However, if the second Tuesday of the month falls on a legal holiday, the election can be held on the third Tuesday of the month instead. Special elections can also be held at the same time as the statewide primary election, the general election, or the presidential primary.

Elections

2020

General election
General election for Arkansas House of Representatives District 54

The general election will occur on November 3, 2020. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.

Candidate

Johnny Rye (R)

Democratic primary election

The primary elections were canceled.

Republican primary election

The primary elections were canceled.

2018

General election
General election for Arkansas House of Representatives District 54

Incumbent Johnny Rye (R) defeated Austin Jones (D) in the general election for Arkansas House of Representatives District 54 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Johnny Rye (R)
75.9
5,486

Austin Jones (D)
24.1
1,741

Total votes: 7,227
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Arkansas House of Representatives District 54

Austin Jones advanced from the Democratic primary for Arkansas House of Representatives District 54 on May 22, 2018.

Candidate

Austin Jones (D)

Republican primary election
Republican primary for Arkansas House of Representatives District 54

Incumbent Johnny Rye advanced from the Republican primary for Arkansas House of Representatives District 54 on May 22, 2018.

Candidate

Johnny Rye (R)

2016

The reason for the low competition was that candidates were in safe districts for their parties. Between 1972 and 2014, an upward trend in uncontested state legislative elections occurred.

The Democratic Party of Arkansas focused its 2016 efforts on the state’s House of Representatives. Without the numbers to win the state Senate

Richard Winger, who said that the early primary deadline for the 2016 elections was a possible factor as well, making it difficult for Democrats to recruit candidates early.

The primary election was held on March 1, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing period began at noon local time on November 2, 2015, and ended at noon local time on November 9, 2015. Incumbent Dave Wallace (R) did not seek re-election.

Johnny Rye defeated Hunter Williams in the Arkansas House of Representatives District 54 general election.

Arkansas House of Representatives, District 54 General Election, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Johnny Rye 74.18% 6,490
Democratic Hunter Williams 25.82% 2,259
Total Votes 8,749
Source: Arkansas Secretary of State

Hunter Williams ran unopposed in the Arkansas House of Representatives District 54 Democratic Primary.

Arkansas House of Representatives, District 54 Democratic Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Hunter Williams (unopposed)

Johnny Rye defeated Wes Wagner in the Arkansas House of Representatives District 54 Republican Primary.

Arkansas House of Representatives, District 54 Republican Primary, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Johnny Rye 51.42% 1,685
Republican Wes Wagner 48.58% 1,592
Total Votes 3,277

2014

Elections for the Arkansas House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014; a runoff election took place where necessary on June 10, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 3, 2014. Incumbent Wes Wagner was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Dave Wallace was unopposed in the Republican primary. Wagner was defeated by Wallace in the general election.

Arkansas House of Representatives, District 54 General Election, 2014

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngDave Wallace 56.2% 4,133
Democratic Wes Wagner Incumbent 43.8% 3,227
Total Votes 7,360

2012

Elections for the office of Arkansas House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on May 22, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 1, 2012. Wes Wagner ran unopposed in the May 22 Democratic primary before winning the general election without opposition.

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Arkansas House of Representatives District 54 raised a total of $402,660. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $19,174 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Arkansas House of Representatives District 54

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $72,247 3 $24,082
2014 $156,158 2 $78,079
2012 $13,350 1 $13,350
2010 $48,551 6 $8,092
2008 $24,500 2 $12,250
2006 $1,162 1 $1,162
2004 $41,408 4 $10,352
2002 $21,200 1 $21,200
2000 $24,084 1 $24,084
Total $402,660 21 $19,174