Republican Rep. Steve Womack of Arkansas faces challenge from state lawmaker in GOP primary

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Months after batting down speculation he was considering retirement, Republican U.S. Rep. Steve Womack is running for reelection against a state lawmaker who is trying to portray him as not conservative enough for the northwest Arkansas district.

Womack, 67, faces state Sen. Clint Penzo in Tuesday’s GOP primary for the 3rd Congressional District, and is running with several advantages in the race. Womack has the endorsement of the state’s top Republicans, including Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, and the support of National Right to Life and other conservative groups.

The seven-term congressman has also eclipsed Penzo in fundraising, with nearly $2 million in the bank for his reelection bid. Penzo, who announced his candidacy in November, has only a fraction of that on hand. Whoever wins the primary faces Democrat Caitlin Draper in the November election.

Womack stoked speculation that he wouldn’t run when he told The Washington Post last summer he hadn’t decided whether to seek reelection and vented frustration with dysfunction in Congress. After the interview published, Womack said he planned to seek reelection.

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