LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Two justices divided over whether Arkansas voters should have the option to roll back the state’s abortion ban are both vying for leadership of the state Supreme Court, even though the election will not affect the court’s conservative tilt.

Judges Rhonda Wood and Karen Baker are running to replace Chief Justice Dan Kemp in Tuesday’s election, where the state’s four congressmen are fending off challenges from Democratic candidates.

Voters will also be asked to approve a constitutional amendment that would revoke the license issued by a state board for a casino.

A historic race for chief justice

Regardless of whether Wood or Baker wins, history will be made: For the first time, Arkansas will elect a woman chief justice of its Supreme Court.

The two justices were on opposing sides in the debate over whether to keep on the ballot a measure that would have reduced an Arkansas law banning nearly all abortions.

Wood wrote the court’s 4-3 majority opinion that upheld the state’s decision to reject petitions submitted in support of the proposal. The court ruled that the measure’s sponsors failed to comply with paperwork requirements for paid signature gatherers.

In a scathing dissent, Baker asked, “Why are the respondents and the majority determined to keep this particular vote from the people?”

Although the seats are nonpartisan, Wood is running with the support of the Arkansas Republican Party State Committee, Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Republican Sen. Tom Cotton. Conservatives already have a 5-2 majority on the court, with Sanders expected to fill two vacancies on the seven-member court after the election.

Arkansas has had a woman as chief justice, but Betty Dickey was appointed to the position by former Gov. Mike Huckabee in 2003, but was not elected.

Republicans seek to defend their seats in the House of Representatives

Arkansas’ four Republican congressmen are fending off challenges from Democrats trying to break the Republican Party’s hold on every federal seat in the state.

Rep. Rick Crawford is running against Democrat Rodney Govens for the 1st District, which covers eastern Arkansas. Crawford was first elected in 2010 to represent the district, which includes Jonesboro and West Memphis. He is a ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee and has said he will seek the top Republican spot on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Govens is a Cabot resident who has worked in the telecommunications industry. Libertarian candidate Steve Parsons is also running.

Rep. French Hill faces Democrat Marcus Jones in the race for the 2nd District, which includes Little Rock and surrounding areas. Hill was first elected to this seat in 2014 and is vice chair of the House Financial Services Committee. Jones is a retired Army colonel who served as a senior Army advisor to the Arkansas National Guard at Camp Robinson.

In northwest Arkansas, 3rd District Rep. Steve Womack is running against Democrat Caitlin Draper, a clinical social worker. Womack was first elected in 2010 in the district that includes Fayetteville and Fort Smith. Libertarian Bobby Wilson is also running. Womack, a ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, fended off a challenge during the Republican primary earlier this year from a state lawmaker.

And in the 4th District, which covers southern Arkansas, Rep. Bruce Westerman is running against Democrat Risie Howard, an attorney from Pine Bluff. Westerman was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2014 and chairs the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Voters decide the fate of the future casino

A measure on the ballot in Arkansas could block the last of four voter-approved casinos in what has become a battle between the Cherokee and Choctaw nations.

The proposed constitutional amendment would revoke a state-issued license to Cherokee Nation Entertainment to build a casino in Pope County. Choctaw Nation spent more than $17 million campaigning for the proposal.

Pope County was one of four locations where casino construction was permitted under a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 2018. Casinos have already been set up in the other three locations. Cherokee Nation Businesses spent more than $12 million campaigning against the amendment.

Other proposals that would have reduced the state’s abortion ban and expanded its medical marijuana program were excluded from the ballot by state election officials.

Another measure the state Legislature has passed would allow state lottery revenue to be used to fund scholarships at career and technical schools.