Womack projected to win third congressional district Republican nomination

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Steve Womack (left) is facing a challenge from Arkansas state Sen. Clint Penzo (right) in the Republican primary election for the 3rd Congressional District. Election day is March 5, 2024. (Courtesy photos)

U.S. Rep. Steve Womack was projected to defeat state Sen. Clint Penzo in Tuesday’s Republican primary for Arkansas’ 3rd Congressional District seat. 

The Associated Press called the race at 9:47 p.m. with the incumbent earning about 54% of the vote with 95% of votes counted. 

Womack, a seven-term congressman from Rogers, will face Democrat Caitlin Draper of Fayetteville in November’s general election. The winner will serve the 3rd district, which includes Benton, Carroll, Washington, Madison and Crawford counties and a portion of Sebastian County.

Womack was the only one of Arkansas’ four House members to face a primary challenge. All four have Democratic opponents in the general election. 

In a statement, Womack said he’s looking forward to the opportunity to “lead the fight against the Biden agenda and restore the values that define our great nation.”

“Working to secure the border, supporting our men and women in uniform, and promoting the conservative values that made our nation the greatest in the world continues to be among my highest priorities,” he said. 

“It is the honor of my life to have the continued confidence of Third District GOP voters to be our nominee for Congress in November. I work every day to deliver for our nation.”

Last year’s unprecedented fight over who should be speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives prompted Sen. Penzo, a 48-year-old real estate agent from Springdale, to join the congressional race. 

Penzo built a campaign around challenging Womack’s conservative record, calling him a RINO — Republican in name only — and promising to caucus with Washington D.C.’s most far-right lawmakers.

As of Dec. 31, Womack had raised $1.28 million for his campaign while Penzo had raised $57,482, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission.

Womack also received endorsements from National Right to Life and prominent Republicans, like Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders. 

“We at the Republican Party of Arkansas offer our congratulations to our candidates across the State, including Congressman Steve Womack, on their primary victories and look forward to running the best ground game Arkansas has ever seen to elect Republicans up and down the ballot this fall,” Republican Party of Arkansas Chairman Joseph Wood said in a statement. 

Womack was Rogers mayor for 12 years before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010. The 67-year-old is also a retired Arkansas Army National Guard colonel. 

Penzo spent two years on the Tontitown City Council before being elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives in 2016. Penzo was elected to the Arkansas Senate in 2022 and can continue serving the remainder of his four-year term.

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