Arkansas' twenty-first state senate district is represented by Republican Senator John Cooper.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 84,049 civilians reside within Arkansas' twenty-first state senate district. Arkansas state senators represent an average of 83,312 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 76,383 residents.

About the office

Members of the Arkansas State Senate are elected to four-year terms with term limits. The Arkansas legislature is one of 15 state legislatures with term limits. Arkansas senators are subject to term limits of no more than 16 years in either or both legislative chambers throughout their lifetimes. Service in the state legislature is part-time. In the first election after the census, all 35 seats are up for election. The Senators "shall divide themselves into two classes, by lot, and the first class shall hold their places for two years only, after which all shall be elected for four years." Arkansas legislators assume office on the first day of session: the second Monday of January.

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

Term limits

The Arkansas legislature is one of 15 state legislatures with term limits. The Arkansas State Senate has been a term-limited state Senate 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 senate, 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 senate, 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

Elections for the office of Arkansas State Senate will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for March 3, 2020, and a primary runoff is scheduled for March 31, 2020. The filing deadline was November 11, 2019.

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

There are no candidates on the ballot in the Democratic primary at this time.

2016

Elections for the Arkansas State Senate took place in 2016. 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 John Cooper ran unopposed in the Arkansas State Senate District 21 general election.

Incumbent John Cooper ran unopposed in the Arkansas State Senate District 21 Republican Primary.

2014

John Cooper (R) defeated Steve Rockwell (D) in the special election, which took place on January 14. Rockwell and Radius Baker advanced past Gene Roebuck and Ray Kidd in the Democratic primary. Rockwell defeated Baker in the Democratic primary runoff. Dan Sullivan and Cooper advanced past Chad Niell in the Republican primary. Cooper defeated Sullivan in the Republican primary runoff.

The seat was vacant following Paul Bookout's (D) resignation on August 21, 2013, after he was fined $8,000 by the Arkansas Ethics Commission for spending campaign funds on personal items.

A special election for the position of Arkansas State Senate District 21 was called for January 14, with a primary on October 8, 2013. A primary runoff took place on November 12, 2013. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was September 6, 2013.

Arkansas State Senate, District 21, Special Election, 2014

2012

Elections for the office of Arkansas State Senate 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. Incumbent Paul Bookout ran uncontested in the May 22 Democratic primary before winning the general election without opposition.

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Arkansas State Senate District 21 raised a total of $728,068. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $80,896 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Arkansas State Senate District 21