Arkansas has one of the most conservative – and potentially the most conservative – state legislatures in the United States, according to a new report from the American Conservative Union Foundation (ACUF)’s Center for Legislative Accountability.
In the report, Arkansas state lawmakers had a 71 percent average “conservative score,” based on positions scored by the ACUF. The Arkansas Senate and House of Representatives each scored 71 percent on the scale, with Republicans in both bodies averaging 78 percent each. However, the Senate Democrats had a 50 percent conservative score compared to the House Democrats’ 47 percent.
The overall conservative score average, as well as the individual averages for the Senate and the House, were down one percentage point in 2020, compared to 2019.
These ratings, according to the ACUF, are designed to “reflect how elected officials view the role of government in an individual’s life” and are centered around the political philosophy that “sovereignty resides in the person.” To determine the lawmaker scores, the foundation looked at a range of issues, including economic issues, culture, national security, government integrity, taxation, spending, education, labor, regulation, the environment, free speech, Second Amendment rights, foreign aid, and more. Lawmakers are then scored a 0 to 100 scale.
Two Arkansas state senators received the ACU Foundation’s Award for Conservative Excellence, indicating an approval rating of 90 to 100 percent from the foundation. These senators included Sen. Bob Ballinger and Sen. Trent Garner. Three Arkansas House of Representative members– Rep. Jim Dotson, Rep. Justin Gonzales and Rep. Austin McCollum – also received the Award for Conservative Excellence.
Seven senators received the ACU Foundation’s Award for Conservative Achievement, which represents an 80 to 89 percent approval rating. Twenty-one representatives received the same recognition. The senators included Sen. Ronald Caldwell, Sen. Breanne Davis, Sen. Scott Flippo, Sen. Ricky Hill, Sen. Mark Johnson, Sen. Terry Rice and Sen. Gary Stubblefield. The representatives included Rep. Rick Beck, Rep. Marv Bentley, Rep. Stan Berry, Rep. Sarah Capp, Rep. Frances Cavenaugh, Rep. Les Eaves, former Rep. Mickey Gates, Rep. Grant Hodges, Rep. Lane Jean, Rep. Jack Ladyman, Rep. Mark Lowery, Rep. Robin Lundstrum, Rep. Josh Miller, Rep. Rebecca Petty, Rep. Aaron Pilkington, Rep. Marcus Richmond, Rep. Brandt Smith, Rep. James Sorvillo, former Rep. Dan Sullivan, Rep. Dwight Tosh and Rep. Les Warren.
Of the 26 Republicans in the Senate in 2020, 25 senators scored 70 percent or above. By contrast, only three Democratic senators –former Sen. Eddie Cheatham, Sen. Larry Teague and former Sen. Bruce Maloch – scored 60 percent or above.
In the House, only nine Republican lawmakers scored below a 70 percent ranking. These include Rep. Bruce Coleman, Rep. Cameron Cooper, former Rep. Dan Douglas, Rep. Brian Evans, Rep. Jimmy Gazaway, former Rep. Douglas House, Rep. Lee Johnson, Rep. Gayla McKenzie, and Rep. Jim Wooten. Rep. Matthew Shepherd was not scored in 2020.
Overall, Rep. Austin McCollum had the highest conservative score in 2020 with a core of 97 percent. This was a significant jump from his 2019 score of 88 percent, bringing his lifetime average to 92 percent.
Both Ballinger and Garner were the highest-ranked conservatives in the Senate, and in second place behind McCollum for conservative rankings in the overall legislature. Both lawmakers received a 92 percent conservative score, with Ballinger having a 90 percent lifetime average and Garner with an 84 percent lifetime average.
The foundation also made note of the lowest ranked Republicans and highest ranked Democrats in its report. According to the ACUF, Sen. Cecile Bledsoe had the lowest conservative score in the Senate at 69 percent, while Rep. Jimmy Gazaway had the lowest score in the House with 64 percent. However, Democrats Sen. Larry Teague and Rep. Mark Perry had the highest conservative scores in their chambers, at 70 percent and 64 percent, respectively.
See the full report here.
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