ARKANSAS, USA — The Associated Press has projected that U.S. Rep. Steve Womack has beat out his Democratic and Libertarian opponents for Arkansas's 3rd Congressional District seat. This will be Womack's 8th term in Congress.
"I'm beyond grateful to the voters of the 3rd District of Arkansas for giving me the trust and confidence to go back to Washington," Womack said to 5NEWS.
Womack was going up against Democratic candidate Caitlin Draper and Libertarian candidate Bobby Wilson. Once polls closed at 7:30 p.m. in Arkansas, results from voters in parts of Sebastian, Benton, Washington, Madison, and Crawford counties revealed that Womack was favored to win reelection yet again.
The incumbent fended off a party opponent in the March primary, State Sen. Clint Penzo, who claimed Womack voted against "conservative values." Womack received 54% of the overall vote.
Womack has served in the U.S. Congress since 2011. He serves as a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee and a chairman of its Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee. He also works on the Defense and Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Subcommittees.
Before becoming a congressman, Womack served as the mayor of Rogers for 12 years, where he says he led the vision and transformation from "a bedroom community to a very dynamic and progressive city in Northwest Arkansas." In 2009, Womack retired from the Arkansas Army National Guard where he served as a colonel. He is an alumnus of Arkansas Tech University.
After being elected against seven opponents in the 2010 primary election, Womack took office in 2011. Since his election, he is now a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, where he serves as the chairman of the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee. He also sits on the Defense and Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Subcommittees.
Ahead of his latest election cycle, Womack received endorsements from Republican officials such as Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
Sebastian County Judge Steve Hotz, Benton County Judge Barry Moehring, and mayors from Alma, Huntsville, Farmington, Prairie Grove, Greenwood, Mulberry, Pea Ridge, Little Flock, Rogers, Springdale, Van Buren, and Bella Vista also endorsed Womack.
Womack had a financial advantage over the other candidates with around $2 million during this election season, while Draper raised $251,226. Wilson's financial records were not available.
Womack will serve another two-year term in the U.S. House of Representatives.
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