Gravette Democrat plans bid for state House seat

GRAVETTE — Chris Birch, 28, of Gravette said he plans to run as a Democratic candidate for northwestern Benton County’s House District 92.

A Democrat has not run for the state House seat in Gravette and the surrounding area since at least 2000, election records show. The district’s last Democratic representative lost his re-election bid in 1994.

Sen. Jim Hendren, R-Sulphur Springs, began his political career by winning that 1994 race. Hendren’s father, Kim Hendren of Gravette, is the current representative. Kim Hendren’s daughter, Gayla Hendren McKenzie, is running as a Republican to replace her father. Kim Hendren is also Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s brother-in-law.

Birch is an Air Force veteran and member of the Air National Guard, he said.

He is attending the University of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville. He hopes to graduate in May and take the bar exam in the summer, he said. He added he is working as a law clerk in the Washington County prosecuting attorney’s office.

So far, neither Birch nor McKenzie has any announced primary opponents. Candidate filing for state offices begins Feb. 22 and ends March 1. The general election is Nov. 6. Members of the House serve two-year terms.