Accountability Score — composite of attendance, independence, bipartisan tone, ethics record & transparency.
MethodologyIn the 2024 House race for AR-1, Rick Crawford (R) won with 72.9% of the vote, defeating Rodney Govens (D) who received 24.0%. A third candidate also appeared on the ballot. Rick Crawford's 48.9-point advantage over the runner-up confirmed a comfortable win.
As the incumbent, Rick Crawford benefited from name recognition, established constituent services, and the roughly 2-3 point advantage that sitting members typically enjoy. The 2024 presidential election drove higher voter turnout, which can help or hurt down-ballot candidates depending on the top of the ticket. The wide margin suggests this district is firmly in the Republican column for the foreseeable future.
In the 2022 House race for AR-1, Rick Crawford (R) defeated Monte Hodges (D) 73.8% to 26.2%. Rick Crawford received 153,774 votes compared to 54,598 for Monte Hodges, a dominant 47.6-point margin reflecting a safely partisan district.
As the incumbent, Rick Crawford benefited from name recognition, established constituent services, and the roughly 2-3 point advantage that sitting members typically enjoy. As a Republican, Rick Crawford benefited from the historical midterm penalty against the president's party — with a Democrat in the White House, the opposition typically gains seats. The wide margin suggests this district is firmly in the Republican column for the foreseeable future.
In the 2020 House race for AR-1, Rick Crawford (R) ran unopposed and received 237,596 votes. Running without a challenger is rare and usually indicates either a safe party stronghold or that the opposition could not field a candidate.
This was an open-seat race. Open seats typically attract stronger candidates and heavier spending from both parties. The 2020 presidential election drove higher voter turnout, which can help or hurt down-ballot candidates depending on the top of the ticket.
In the 2018 House race for AR-01, Rick Crawford (R) won with 69.0% of the vote, defeating Chintan Desai (D) who received 28.8%. A third candidate also appeared on the ballot. Rick Crawford's 40.2-point advantage over the runner-up confirmed a comfortable win.
This was an open-seat race with no incumbent running — Eric A. Rick Crawford (R) previously held the seat. Open seats typically attract stronger candidates and heavier spending from both parties. As a Republican, Rick Crawford won despite the historical midterm penalty against the president's party (Republican Trump was in office).
In the 2016 House race for AR-01, Eric A. Rick Crawford (R) defeated Mark West (L) 76.3% to 23.7%. Eric A. Rick Crawford received 183,866 votes compared to 57,181 for Mark West, a dominant 52.6-point margin reflecting a safely partisan district.
As the incumbent, Eric A. Rick Crawford benefited from name recognition, established constituent services, and the roughly 2-3 point advantage that sitting members typically enjoy. The 2016 presidential election drove higher voter turnout, which can help or hurt down-ballot candidates depending on the top of the ticket.
In the 2014 House race for AR-01, Eric A. Rick Crawford (R) won with 63.3% of the vote, defeating Jackie Mcpherson (D) who received 32.4%. A third candidate also appeared on the ballot. Eric A. Rick Crawford's 30.9-point advantage over the runner-up confirmed a comfortable win.
As the incumbent, Eric A. Rick Crawford benefited from name recognition, established constituent services, and the roughly 2-3 point advantage that sitting members typically enjoy. As a Republican, Eric A. Rick Crawford benefited from the historical midterm penalty against the president's party — with a Democrat in the White House, the opposition typically gains seats.
In the 2012 House race for AR-01, Eric A. Rick Crawford (R) won with 56.2% of the vote, defeating Scott Ellington (D) who received 39.1%. 2 additional candidates split the remaining vote. Eric A. Rick Crawford's 17.1-point advantage over the runner-up confirmed a comfortable win.
This was an open-seat race. Open seats typically attract stronger candidates and heavier spending from both parties. The 2012 presidential election drove higher voter turnout, which can help or hurt down-ballot candidates depending on the top of the ticket.