Johnny Rye
2023 - Present
2027
2
Johnny Rye (Republican Party) is a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives, representing District 36. He assumed office on January 9, 2023. His current term ends on January 11, 2027.
Rye (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the Arkansas House of Representatives to represent District 36. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Biography
Johnny Rye lives in Truman, Arkansas. Rye earned a degree from Arkansas State University. He has served as the assessor of Poinsett County, on the board and legislative committee of the Association of Arkansas Counties, and as the district governor of the Arkansas Lions Club.[1]
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at:editor@ballotpedia.org.
2023-2024
Rye was assigned to the following committees:
- House City, County and Local Affairs Committee
- House Revenue and Taxation Committee
- Public Retirement and Social Security Programs Committee
- Legislative Joint Auditing Committee
2021-2022
Rye was assigned to the following committees:
- House City, County and Local Affairs Committee
- Public Transportation Committee
- Advanced Communications and Information Technology Committee
- Legislative Joint Auditing Committee
- Public Retirement and Social Security Programs Committee
2019-2020
Rye was assigned to the following committees:
- Legislative Joint Auditing Committee
- Joint Performance Review Committee
- House City, County and Local Affairs Committee
- Public Transportation Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Arkansas committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • City, County and Local Affairs |
| • Public Transportation |
| • Public Retirement and Social Security Programs |
| • Public Retirement and Social Security Programs |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2024
See also: Arkansas House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Arkansas House of Representatives District 36
Incumbent Johnny Rye defeated Daniel Parker in the general election for Arkansas House of Representatives District 36 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Johnny Rye (R) | 67.9 | 5,318 | |
| Daniel Parker (D) | 32.1 | 2,519 | ||
| Total votes: 7,837 | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Arkansas House of Representatives District 36
Daniel Parker advanced from the Democratic primary for Arkansas House of Representatives District 36 on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Daniel Parker | |
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Arkansas House of Representatives District 36
Incumbent Johnny Rye advanced from the Republican primary for Arkansas House of Representatives District 36 on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Johnny Rye | |
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Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Rye in this election.
2022
See also: Arkansas House of Representatives elections, 2022
General election
General election for Arkansas House of Representatives District 36
Incumbent Johnny Rye won election in the general election for Arkansas House of Representatives District 36 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Johnny Rye (R) | 100.0 | 5,126 | |
| Total votes: 5,126 | ||||
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Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Johnny Rye advanced from the Republican primary for Arkansas House of Representatives District 36.
2020
See also: Arkansas House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for Arkansas House of Representatives District 54
Incumbent Johnny Rye won election in the general election for Arkansas House of Representatives District 54 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Johnny Rye (R) | 100.0 | 8,091 | |
| Total votes: 8,091 | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Johnny Rye advanced from the Republican primary for Arkansas House of Representatives District 54.
2018
General election
General election for Arkansas House of Representatives District 54
Incumbent Johnny Rye defeated Austin Jones in the general election for Arkansas House of Representatives District 54 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Johnny Rye (R) | 75.9 | 5,486 | |
| Austin Jones (D) | 24.1 | 1,741 | ||
| Total votes: 7,227 (100.00% precincts reporting) | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Arkansas House of Representatives District 54
Austin Jones advanced from the Democratic primary for Arkansas House of Representatives District 54 on May 22, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Austin Jones | |
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Arkansas House of Representatives District 54
Incumbent Johnny Rye advanced from the Republican primary for Arkansas House of Representatives District 54 on May 22, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Johnny Rye | |
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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2016
Ballotpedia's analysis revealed that only 42 of the 100 seats up for election in 2016 involved competition between Democrats and Republicans. This made it numerically impossible for Democrats to take control of either Arkansas legislative chamber in 2016.
The reason for the low competition was that candidates were in safe districts for their parties. Between 1972 and 2014, an upward trend in uncontested state legislative elections occurred.
The Democratic Party of Arkansas focused its 2016 efforts on the state’s House of Representatives. Without the numbers to win the state Senate, H.L. Moody, communications director for the Democratic Party of Arkansas, told Ballotpedia that the party’s goal was to “start building back where we can,” beginning with the House.
Ballotpedia spoke to political analyst Richard Winger, who said that the early primary deadline for the 2016 elections was a possible factor as well, making it difficult for Democrats to recruit candidates early.
The primary election was held on March 1, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing period began at noon local time on November 2, 2015, and ended at noon local time on November 9, 2015.[2] Incumbent Dave Wallace (R) did not seek re-election.
Johnny Rye defeated Hunter Williams in the Arkansas House of Representatives District 54 general election.[3]
| Arkansas House of Representatives, District 54 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Johnny Rye |
74.18% | 6,490 | |
| Democratic | Hunter Williams | 25.82% | 2,259 | |
| Total Votes | 8,749 | |||
| Source: Arkansas Secretary of State | ||||
Hunter Williams ran unopposed in the Arkansas House of Representatives District 54 Democratic Primary.[4][5]
| Arkansas House of Representatives, District 54 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Hunter Williams (unopposed) | |
Johnny Rye defeated Wes Wagner in the Arkansas House of Representatives District 54 Republican Primary.[4][5]
| Arkansas House of Representatives, District 54 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Johnny Rye |
51.42% | 1,685 | |
| Republican | Wes Wagner | 48.58% | 1,592 | |
| Total Votes | 3,277 | |||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Johnny Rye did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Johnny Rye did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Johnny Rye did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Johnny Rye completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Rye's responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
Improve English proficiency of our graduating high school seniors Imprkve our Highway infrastructure Overall, cut taxes
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
Highway funding Better assist City and County Governments Improve our K-12 school systems
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
George Washington Ronald Reagan
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Honestly Integrity Dedication
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
DeficaDedi Honestly Integrity
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
To improve the lives of Mt constituents
What legacy would you like to leave?
He loved his country and state tirelessly to improve the lives of the people of Arkansas and the United States.
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
The assassination of John Kennedy
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
EorWork in my father's grocery business
What happened on your most awkward date?
A lost election in 1982
What is your favorite holiday? Why?
Christmas
What is your favorite book? Why?
Arkansas History
What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?
Bible
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
BeH Jude
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
Loosing family members
Every state besides Nebraska has two legislative chambers. What do you consider the most important differences between the legislative chambers in your state?
State and local issues
Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?
Yes
What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?
Our infrastructure
What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?
A closer view on all issues
Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.
Yes. More peogress can be made
What process do you favor for redistricting?
Voting areas that structure the candidate and constituents together with issues that are consistent.
If you are a current legislator, what appealed to you about your current committees?
The consistency between candidate and consistency.
If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the legislature, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?
Yes
Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?
Jerry Bookout of Jonesboro
Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?
Possibly at a later date
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Arkansas scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2024
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2024, click [show]. |
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In 2024, the Arkansas State Legislature was in session from April 10 to May 9.
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2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
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In 2023, the Arkansas State Legislature was in session from January 9 to May 1.
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2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
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In 2022, the Arkansas State Legislature was in session from February 14 to March 15.
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2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the Arkansas State Legislature was in session from January 11 to October 15.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the Arkansas State Legislature was in session from April 8 to April 24.
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2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Arkansas State Legislature was in session from January 14 through April 24.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the Arkansas State Legislature was in session from February 12 through March 12. The legislature held a special session from March 13 to March 15.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the 91st Arkansas State Legislature was in session from January 9 through May 1. The Legislature held a special session from May 1 to May 3.
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See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Officeholder Arkansas House of Representatives District 36 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Arkansas House of Representatives, "Johnny Rye," accessed March 30, 2023
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "2016 Election Dates," accessed November 17, 2015
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "2016 General Election and Nonpartisan Runoff Election," accessed November 23, 2016
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Arkansas Secretary of State, "Candidate Information," accessed July 25, 2016
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Arkansas Secretary of State, "2016 Primary Election Results," accessed April 19, 2016
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Denise Ennett (D) |
Arkansas House of Representatives District 36 2023-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Arkansas House of Representatives District 54 2017-2023 |
Succeeded by Mary Bentley (R) |
