CAVE SPRINGS Incoming Senate President Pro Tempore Bart Hester describes himself as "a right-wing Republican that appeals to the country club Republican."
The Common Ground Arkansas group founded by state Sen. Jim Hendren of Sulphur Springs, along with senator-elect Bryan King of Green Forest and state Rep. Mary Bentley of Perryville have each been sanctioned with fines and public letters of caution by the Arkansas Ethics Commission in settlements of ethics complaints filed against them, state records show.
Republicans almost swept contested state Legislative races in Benton and Washington counties, but Democrat David Whitaker of Fayetteville kept his seat, complete but unofficial results show.
Republicans appeared to retain their supermajority in the Arkansas Senate with unofficial results showing the party leading in at least 16 contested races on Tuesday.