Arkansas' eighty-first state house district is represented by Republican Representative Bruce Coleman.

Arkansas state representatives represent an average of 29,159 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 26,734 residents.

About the office

Members of the Arkansas House of Representatives serve two-year terms with term limits of no more than 16 years in either or both legislative chambers throughout their lifetimes.

Qualifications

Article 5, Section 4 of the Arkansas Constitution states: "No person shall be a Senator or Representative who, at the time of his election, is not a citizen of the United States, nor any one who has not been for two years next preceding his election, a resident of this State, and for one year next preceding his election, a resident of the county or district whence he may be chosen. Senators shall be at least twenty-five years of age, and Representatives at least twenty-one years of age."

Salaries

Term limits

The Arkansas legislature is one of 15 state legislatures with term limits. The Arkansas House of Representatives has been a term-limited state House since Arkansas voters approved the Arkansas Term Limits Initiative in 1992 as an initiated constitutional amendment. In 2014, Arkansas voters passed the Arkansas Elected Officials Ethics, Transparency and Financial Reform Amendment which permits legislators to serve a total of 16 years in the House or Senate during his or her lifetime.

Vacancies

If there is a vacancy in the house, the Governor must call for a special election in order to fill the vacancy. The election must be called by the Governor without delay. For all special elections in the house, the county that first established the district is responsible for conducting the election.

All special elections must be held on the second Tuesday of each month. However, if the second Tuesday of the month falls on a legal holiday, the election can be held on the third Tuesday of the month instead. Special elections can also be held at the same time as the statewide primary election, the general election, or the presidential primary.

Elections

2020

The primary elections were canceled.

The primary elections were canceled.

2018

2016

The reason for the low competition was that candidates were in safe districts for their parties. Between 1972 and 2014, an upward trend in uncontested state legislative elections occurred.

The Democratic Party of Arkansas focused its 2016 efforts on the state’s House of Representatives. Without the numbers to win the state Senate

Richard Winger, who said that the early primary deadline for the 2016 elections was a possible factor as well, making it difficult for Democrats to recruit candidates early.

The primary election was held on March 1, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing period began at noon local time on November 2, 2015, and ended at noon local time on November 9, 2015. Incumbent Justin T. Harris (R) did not seek re-election.

Bruce Coleman defeated Susan McGaughey in the Arkansas House of Representatives District 81 general election.

Arkansas House of Representatives, District 81 General Election, 2016

Susan McGaughey ran unopposed in the Arkansas House of Representatives District 81 Democratic Primary.
Bruce Coleman defeated Derek Goodlin in the Arkansas House of Representatives District 81 Republican Primary.

Arkansas House of Representatives, District 81 Republican Primary, 2016

2014

Elections for the Arkansas House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014; a runoff election took place where necessary on June 10, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 3, 2014. Incumbent Justin T. Harris was unopposed in the Republican primary and was unchallenged in the general election.

2012

Elections for the office of Arkansas House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on May 22, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 1, 2012. Incumbent Justin T. Harris defeated Lisa France Norris in the May 22 Republican primary before defeating Wolf Grulkey (D) in the general election. Grulkey ran unopposed in the May 22 Democratic primary.

Arkansas House of Representatives, District 81, General Election, 2012

Arkansas House of Representatives District 81 Republican Primary, 2012

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Arkansas House of Representatives District 81 raised a total of $443,651. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $23,350 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Arkansas House of Representatives District 81