LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Barbara Womack Webb has declared victory in the race for the associate justice seat on the Arkansas Supreme Court.
The state Supreme Court race took a decidedly partisan edge for a technically nonpartisan office.
The court race between Barbara Webb and Morgan “Chip” Welch was the only statewide contest on the ballot other than the Democratic and Republican presidential primaries in Tuesday's election.
As of 10:35 p.m. with 65% area reporting, Webb has a 54% to 45.9% lead of Welch. Webb has 218,031 votes to Welch's 185,040 votes.
"I am honored by the responsibility the voters have entrusted in me," Webb said in statement. "My nearly four decades of experience in Arkansas law-- from private practice, to prosecuting attorney, to now Associate Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court-- have prepared me for this moment."
Webb is the chief administrative law judge for the Workers' Compensation Commission and Welch is a Pulaski County Circuit judge.
Welch criticized the GOP appeals of Webb, who is married to the state Republican Party chairman.
Webb in turn has accused Welch of downplaying his Democratic ties. According to Arkansas Business, Welch has previously donated to Democratic candidates and ran unsuccessfully as a Democrat for the state legislature.
THV11 has contributed to this report.