Dan Sullivan (Arkansas)
2023 - Present
2029
2
Dan Sullivan (Republican Party) is a member of the Arkansas State Senate, representing District 20. He assumed office on January 9, 2023. His current term ends on January 8, 2029.
Sullivan (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the Arkansas State Senate to represent District 20. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Sullivan is a former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives, representing District 53 from 2015 to 2021.
Biography
Dan Sullivan lives in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Sullivan earned a B.S.E. from Arkansas State University in 1972 and an M.S.E. in school administration from Northeast Missouri State University. His career experience includes working as the CEO of Ascent Children's Health Services and an administrator with the Jonesboro School System. Sullivan has served on the board of the Arkansas State Chambers of Commerce.[1][2][3]
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
Sullivan was assigned to the following committees:
- Senate Children and Youth Committee
- Senate City, County and Local Affairs Committee
- Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee, Vice Chair
- Joint Budget Committee
- Joint Performance Review Committee
- Legislative Joint Auditing Committee
2021-2022
Sullivan was assigned to the following committees:
2019-2020
Sullivan was assigned to the following committees:
- Legislative Council
- Joint Performance Review Committee
- House Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development Committee
- House Education Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Arkansas committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development |
| • Education |
| • Joint Performance Review |
| • Joint Performance Review |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Sullivan served on the following committees:
| Arkansas committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs |
| • Public Health, Welfare and Labor |
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 State Senate elections, 2024
General election
General election for Arkansas State Senate District 20
Incumbent Dan Sullivan defeated Erika Askeland in the general election for Arkansas State Senate District 20 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Dan Sullivan (R) | 60.9 | 16,929 | |
| Erika Askeland (D) | 39.1 | 10,869 | ||
| Total votes: 27,798 | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Arkansas State Senate District 20
Erika Askeland advanced from the Democratic primary for Arkansas State Senate District 20 on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Erika Askeland | |
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Arkansas State Senate District 20
Incumbent Dan Sullivan advanced from the Republican primary for Arkansas State Senate District 20 on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Dan Sullivan | |
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Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Sullivan in this election.
2022
See also: Arkansas State Senate elections, 2022
General election
General election for Arkansas State Senate District 20
Incumbent Dan Sullivan defeated Chenoa Summers in the general election for Arkansas State Senate District 20 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Dan Sullivan (R) | 62.4 | 12,951 | |
| Chenoa Summers (D) | 37.6 | 7,820 | ||
| Total votes: 20,771 | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Chenoa Summers advanced from the Democratic primary for Arkansas State Senate District 20.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Dan Sullivan advanced from the Republican primary for Arkansas State Senate District 20.
2020
See also: Arkansas State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Arkansas State Senate District 21
Dan Sullivan won election in the general election for Arkansas State Senate District 21 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Dan Sullivan (R) | 100.0 | 28,542 | |
| Total votes: 28,542 | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Arkansas State Senate District 21
Dan Sullivan defeated incumbent John Cooper in the Republican primary for Arkansas State Senate District 21 on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Dan Sullivan | 58.6 | 5,493 | |
| John Cooper | 41.4 | 3,883 | ||
| Total votes: 9,376 | ||||
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2018
General election
The general election was canceled. Incumbent Dan Sullivan won election in the general election for Arkansas House of Representatives District 53.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Arkansas House of Representatives District 53
Incumbent Dan Sullivan defeated Cole Peck in the Republican primary for Arkansas House of Representatives District 53 on May 22, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Dan Sullivan | 53.2 | 1,434 | |
| Cole Peck | 46.8 | 1,260 | ||
| Total votes: 2,694 | ||||
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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.[4]
Incumbent Dan Sullivan ran unopposed in the Arkansas House of Representatives District 53 general election.[5]
| Arkansas House of Representatives, District 53 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican |  Dan Sullivan Incumbent (unopposed) | |
| Source: Arkansas Secretary of State | ||
Incumbent Dan Sullivan ran unopposed in the Arkansas House of Representatives District 53 Republican Primary.[6][7]
| Arkansas House of Representatives, District 53 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Dan Sullivan Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2014
Elections for the Arkansas House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014; a runoff election took place where necessary on June 10, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 3, 2014. Incumbent Homer Lenderman was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Dan Sullivan was unopposed in the Republican primary. Lenderman was defeated by Sullivan in the general election.[8][9]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Dan Sullivan |
52.9% | 3,830 | |
| Democratic | Homer Lenderman Incumbent | 47.1% | 3,416 | |
| Total Votes | 7,246 | |||
2014 special election
John Cooper (R) defeated Steve Rockwell (D) in the special election, which took place on January 14.[10] Rockwell and Radius Baker advanced past Gene Roebuck and Ray Kidd in the Democratic primary.[11] Rockwell defeated Baker in the Democratic primary runoff.[12] Dan Sullivan and Cooper advanced past Chad Niell in the Republican primary.[11] Cooper defeated Sullivan in the Republican primary runoff.[12][13]
The seat was vacant following Paul Bookout's (D) resignation on August 21, 2013, after he was fined $8,000 by the Arkansas Ethics Commission for spending campaign funds on personal items.[14]
A special election for the position of Arkansas State Senate District 21 was called for January 14, with a primary on October 8, 2013. A primary runoff took place on November 12, 2013. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was September 6, 2013.[14]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | John Cooper |
57.2% | 4,318 | |
| Democratic | Steve Rockwell | 42.8% | 3,235 | |
| Total Votes | 7,553 | |||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Dan Sullivan did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Dan Sullivan did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Dan Sullivan did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2014
Sullivan's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[15]
Education
- Excerpt: "Having served over 25 years as a teacher and a principal, Dan knows that the Common Core Curriculum being handed down from Washington DC could devastate those schools that excel."
Pro Life
- Excerpt: "Dan Sullivan is staunchly pro life and will not vote for any bill that would allow taxpayer dollars to fund abortions. His votes will reflect his belief that life starts at conception and is a gift from our Creator."
Faith
- Excerpt: "Dan is a follower of Jesus Christ. He and his wife Maria attend Southwest Church, where he serves as a Shepherd. They are both active in Wolflife, an ASU campus ministry."
Healthcare
- Excerpt: "As an executive in the healthcare field, Dan has seen first hand the destructive effects of Obamacare. In the State Senate Dan will advocate repealing the Affordable Care Act and work to protect Arkansans from its damaging effects."
Guns
- Excerpt: "Dan Sullivan is a proud Concealed Carry Permit Holder and would work to defeat any legislation that restricts our rights outlined by the 2nd amendment. He is a supporter of Arkansas Act 746 of 2013 and would be against modifying it in upcoming legislative sessions."
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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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the 90th Arkansas State Legislature was in session from April 13 through May 9. The Legislature held a three-day special session from April 6 to April 8 over healthcare. The Legislature held a second special session from May 19 to May 23 over transportation.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the 90th Arkansas State Legislature was in session from January 12 through April 2.
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See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Arkansas State Senate District 20 |
Officeholder Arkansas State Senate District 20 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ State of Arkansas House of Representatives, "Dan Sullivan," accessed December 25, 2020
- ↑ Arkansas Senate, "Dan Sullivan," accessed April 5, 2023
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Dan Sullivan," accessed April 5, 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
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "Candidate Information," accessed July 25, 2016
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "2016 Primary Election Results," accessed April 19, 2016
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "Candidate Information," accessed March 5, 2014
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed June 26, 2014
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "Official special election results," accessed January 30, 2014
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 therepublic.com, "GOP, Democrats each headed to runoff for Ark. Senate seat in special election," October 8, 2013
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 kait8.com, "AR State Senate District 21 Primary Final Results," November 12, 2013
- ↑ sos.arkansas.gov, "Official candidate list," accessed September 9, 2013
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 arkansasmatters.com, "Gov. Beebe Sets Special Election to Replace Recently Resigned Senator," August 28, 2013
- ↑ sullivanarsenate.com, "Issues," accessed April 8, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Blake Johnson (R) |
Arkansas State Senate District 20 2023-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by John Cooper (R) |
Arkansas State Senate District 21 2021-2023 |
Succeeded by Blake Johnson (R) |
| Preceded by - |
Arkansas House of Representatives District 53 2015-2021 |
Succeeded by Jon Milligan (R) |
