The Arkansas Republican Party wants a primary to choose a nominee for the vacant House District 54 seat in Crittenden County, where Democrat Fred Smith resigned after a felony conviction. The GOP chose a cheaper convention for a recent House vacancy in Hot Springs, but said that was because it was a speedier process and allowed filling the seat for part of the legislative session. There’s not time to get the District 54 seat filled for the session, the party said.

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