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  • COTTON: The likelihood of him jumping in a Senate race has a number of folks eyeing his 4th District seat.

Roll Call speculates on Arkansas congressional races, wrongly, I think, calling all of Arkansas four districts safe for incumbents. Tim Griffin got clobbered in Pulaski County by a candidate generally seen as weak, and if the Club for Growth indeed manages to find a primary opponent for Rick Crawford — a Jonesboro businessman perhaps? — a Democrat with any fundraising skill in the 1st District could put up a strong challenge.

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Most of the potential candidates Roll mentions are ones we’ve floated here before.

IN THE 1ST: Rep. Marshall Wright, a lawyer from Forrest City who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, appears to be a strong possibility. U.S. Attorney Christopher Thyer might be a potential, too.

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IN THE 2ND: Lots of potential comers for Democrats: Franklin McLarty, Sen. David Johnson, Rep. John Charles Edwards, interim Higher Education head Shane Broadway, Conway Mayor Tab Townsell, and Democratic party chairman Will Bond.

IN THE 3RD: It remains hopeless.

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IN THE 4TH: Democrats Sen. Bruce Maloch (Magnolia); Chris Thomason, chancellor of the UA Community College in Hope, and U.S. Attorney Conner Eldridge. On the Republican side, if as expected U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton runs for Senate against Sen. Mark Pryor, Roll Call mentions Arkansas House Majority Leader Rep. Bruce Westerman (Hot Springs), Rep. Matthew Shepherd (El Dorado) and Beth Anne Rankin (again!). We’ve previously heard Rep. Nate Bell (Mena) a former and Rep. Lane Jean (Magnolia) mentioned.