Arkansas voters could make history with 2 Supreme Court races, including crowded chief justice race

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas voters could make history in two races for the state Supreme Court in Tuesday’s election, with candidates vying to become the first elected Black justice and the first woman elected to lead the court.

The races could also expand Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ influence, paving the way for her to appoint new justices after conservative groups spent heavily in recent years trying to push the court further to the right.

Three of the court’s seven justices — Karen Baker, Barbara Webb and Rhonda Wood — are running against former state legislator Jay Martin for chief justice. If none of the candidates win a majority, the top two will advance to a November runoff.

The four are running to succeed Chief Justice Dan Kemp, who was first elected in 2016 and is not seeking reelection. A win by one of the three sitting justices would give the court its first woman elected chief justice in history.

Justice Courtney Hudson is running against Circuit Judge Carlton Jones for another seat on the court. The two are seeking to replace Justice Cody Hiland, who Sanders appointed to the court last year.

<bsp-list-loadmore data-module="" class=«PageListStandardB» data-gtm-region=«READ MORE» data-gtm-topic=«No Value» data-show-loadmore=«true» data-gtm-modulestyle=«List B»> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> READ MORE </bsp-custom-headline> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> US Rep. Steve Womack aims to fend off primary challenge from Arkansas state lawmaker </bsp-custom-headline> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> Republican Rep. Steve Womack of Arkansas faces challenge from state lawmaker in GOP primary </bsp-custom-headline> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> 2 races,