Teeter wins special GOP runoff for late Arkansas House member’s seat

Republican Bill Teeter is one step closer to serving the remainder of the late Rep. Stan Berry’s term, after winning a special primary runoff election for an Arkansas River Valley area seat Tuesday. 

The retired Russellville dispatcher and volunteer firefighter won 92% of the vote, according to unofficial results from the secretary of state’s office. 

Teeter and Nikki Phillips advanced to the Republican special primary runoff after earning the most votes in a four-way June 2 special election to represent House District 44, which includes portions of Pope and Van Buren counties. Phillips previously told the Advocate she planned to bow out of the runoff so Teeter could start learning about his new position.

Republican nominee selected to run for late Arkansas lawmaker’s House seat

Teeter now advances to an Aug. 4 special election to fill the House District 44 vacancy. Because no candidates from other parties filed to run for the seat, Teeter will be unopposed. 

“I’m just ready to get in there and go to work,” he said Wednesday. “A lot of people have believed in me and supported me along the way and it’s kind of been a very surreal experience.”

Teeter will serve the remainder of Berry’s term, which ends in January. Last month, Teeter also won the Republican nomination for House District 44 in a separate special election. Teeter will also be unopposed in November’s general election to serve a two-year term.

Berry, who held the seat since 2019, died at the age of 71 in March. Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders called both special elections to address his vacant seat, which left Republicans with a 79-20 majority in the Arkansas House.

Another special election in the Arkansas Legislature could be called following the announcement of Sen. Ben Gilmore’s resignation last week. The Crossett Republican is joining Attorney General Tim Griffin’s office as a senior advisor Wednesday, according to a press release. 

“Once Senator Gilmore’s seat is declared vacant, the parties must determine whether they are requesting a special election or convention,” the governor’s spokesperson Sam Dubke said. “Should they determine to request a special election, the Governor will announce those dates at the appropriate time.”

Gilmore’s resignation leaves Republicans with a 28-6 majority in the Arkansas Senate.