LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas’ four Republican U.S. House members are facing challenges in this year’s elections from Democratic rivals who are fighting fierce battles to break the GOP’s grip on the state’s federal delegation.

Republican U.S. Reps. Rick Crawford, French Hill, Steve Womack and Bruce Westerman are seeking re-election in the GOP-dominated state. Republicans have held every House and Senate seat in the state since 2013.

District 1: Crawford vs. Govens

Crawford, who has represented the 1st Congressional District since 2011, faces a challenge from Democratic nominee Rodney Govens. District 1 covers eastern Arkansas and includes the cities of Jonesboro, West Memphis and Helena-West Helena. Libertarian Steve Parsons is also running for the seat.

Crawford is a ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee and has said he will be the top Republican on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in the next Congress.

Govens, a Cabot resident who works in the telecommunications industry, called for improvements to the Veterans Administration system and preventive maintenance nationwide. Crawford has said he wants to address the nation’s debt by implementing permanent spending controls.

District 2: Hill faces Jones

Hill, who was first elected to the 2nd District in 2014 and is vice chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, is running against Democratic nominee Marcus Jones. The 2nd District seat covers central Arkansas and includes Little Rock.

Democrats have tried unsuccessfully in recent years. try to undo He expects to rely heavily on turnout in Little Rock, despite the state’s shift further to the right. The majority-GOP Legislature redrew district lines in 2021, removing thousands of mostly Black voters from the 2nd District.

When she was re-elected, Hill focused heavily on immigration, calling for greater border security and citing measures she said would help fight inflation. Jones is a retired Army colonel who served as senior Army advisor to the Arkansas Army National Guard at Camp Robinson. Jones called for expansion of the child tax credit and legislation to increase access to rural health care.

District 3: Womack vs. Draper

Womack, a ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, was first elected to the 3rd District in 2010 and is running against Democrat Caitlin Draper, a clinical social worker from Fayetteville.

District 3 is located in northwestern Arkansas and includes the cities of Fayetteville, Springdale, and Fort Smith.

Womack, the former chairman of the House Budget Committee, was the only member of the state House to take on the issue. facing a primary challenge He defeated State Sen. Clint Penzo in March. Womack had the support of the state’s leading Republicans in that contest, including GOP Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

Womack has cited border security as a priority and said he believes he has experience finding bipartisan solutions in a divided Congress.

Draper, like other Democrats running for House seats in Arkansas, is considering the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. decision in 2022. Following his ruling dismissing the Wade case, he said he supported federal legislation protecting access to abortion. He also said that climate change and healthcare are among the most important problems.

Libertarian Bobby Wilson is also running for the seat.

District 4: Westerman faces Howard

Westerman, who chairs the House Natural Resources Committee, was first elected to the 4th District in 2014. He is running against Risie Howard, an attorney from Pine Bluff.

District 4 covers southern Arkansas and includes Pine Bluff, Hot Springs and Texarkana.

Westerman, a former state legislator and the only forester in the House, praised his work on forestry legislation and said his priorities in the next Congress include energy and mining issues. Howard said he wants to strengthen the Affordable Care Act and protect Social Security.