Early voting underway

Runoff sees pair of State House seat nominations up for grabs

By DON WILBURN

donaldfwilburn@gmail.com

Early voting began this week for the Democratic runoff election in House District 35, where candidates Jessie McGruder and Raymond Whiteside are vying for the nomination for a state House of Representatives seat in the Delta.

McGruder and Whiteside advanced to the runoff election after being the top two vote-getters in the four-candidate Democratic primary election on March 5. Mc-Gruder received 632 votes, while Whiteside garnered 321 votes. The runoff election will take place on April 2.

McGruder, a 46-year-old teacher and coach, is focusing on reminding voters to cast their ballots in the runoff election. Whiteside, a 39-year-old community development specialist, is utilizing a strategy of meeting people in various locations throughout House District 35.

Both candidates have expressed their policy priorities, with McGruder emphasizing the reinstatement of the Teacher Fair Dismissal Act and obtaining more funding for youth enrichment programs, while Whiteside is pushing for universal pre-kindergarten programs and expanding youth programs for children.

The winner of the Democratic runoff will face Republican nominee Robert Thorne Jr. in the general election. Thorne, a landscaper and cattleman, received the endorsement of Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

In a similar vein, the runoff election for the Democratic nomination in House District 63 is also underway, with Lincoln Barnett and Fred Leonard competing to replace retiring state Rep. Deborah Ferguson. Both candidates have outlined their policy stances, with Barnett emphasizing criminal justice, education, and economic development issues, and Leonard advocating for “livable wages” and education.

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The runoff election for House District 63 will also take place on April 2, with the winner facing Republican Tammi Bell in the general election. The district faces challenges related to a declining population, lack of jobs, access to healthcare, and food insecurity.

Early voting is at the Marion Patriot Arena and Missouri Street Church of Christ in West Memphis from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., now through Monday, April 1.