by Aubry Tucker
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark– **UPDATE** Denise Garner takes State Representative Position in District 84. Garner won the election with 55.34% or 7,456 votes. Collins received 6,016 votes.
Today is the final day to vote for mid-term elections. The results of this midterm election will decide the party majority in Congress. There is currently a Republican majority, matching the party of President Trump. However, this year has seen some of the highest involvement by first-time candidates all across the nation. In addition to this trend, women are running for office in record numbers.
District 84 includes parts of Washington County and Greenland. The two Candidates are Charlie Collins and Denise Garner. According to incumbent Representative Collins’ website his main goals are to improve the lives of District 84 residents by attracting jobs to the area, and reducing income tax rates which are the highest in the nation. Representative Collins was elected in November of 2010, and seeks re-election from voters today.
Collins is well-known for adapting concealed carry laws for college campuses in Arkansas. This revision allows licensed gun owners, over the age of 21, to carry a concealed handgun on college campuses.
His opponent, Denise Garner, has no experience in politics. However, her story is not uncommon. Women previously uninvolved in politics are running for office in record numbers this year. This trend has been deemed “The Pink Wave.” Before running for office Garner devoted her time to being a mother, a nurse, and a business owner.
According to Garner’s campaign website one of Garner’s interests include placing an emphasis in local control over guns-on-campus as an issue of public safety. She also plans to make healthcare more accessible for every Arkansan, devote resources to education, and promote economic growth.
Today is the last day to vote and polls will close at 7:30 in the evening and election results are expected by 11 tonight.