The November 2012 ballot in Arkansas will list only one candidate on the ballot for State Representative, district 54. He is Fred Smith, the Green Party nominee. His only ballot-listed opponent, incumbent Democrat Hudson Hallum, has resigned from the race and from the legislature. See this story. Arkansas permits write-in votes in the general election, so it is not a certainty that Smith will win.
Assuming Smith does win, this will be the second time the Green Party has elected a state legislator in Arkansas by virtue of being in a race in which no other party had a nominee on the general election ballot. The first time was in 2008, when Richard Carroll was elected. He remained in the Green Party for a year, and got a bill through the legislature expanding the petitioning period for newly-qualifying parties from two months to three months. But then he switched to the Democratic Party, and he lost the Democratic primary in 2010.
Yes!!! Finally a Third Party 99% chance of winning State legislative seat. If Greens win in Maine 66, they would set a record for themselves for having more than one elected the same year.
Fred Smith is the former State Representative booted off the democratic ballot!
This is an example of why it is important for minor party and independent candidates to gain ballot access. You just might get elected to something every once in a while.
I imagine he will caucus with the democrats if he wins.
Actually, Smith is on the ballot in District 50. It used to be 54.
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