99chambers

Arkansas House of Representatives seat · lines in effect since 2022

Arkansas House District 97

A district of about 29,000 people, 34% Black, 20% of adults with a bachelor's degree. It votes R+25.5 relative to the nation for president.

Matthew Shepherd (R) · since Nov 2, 2010Next election Nov 7, 2028The 2026 race →

Where it sits among all 100 seats

Every Arkansas House of Representatives seat by partisan lean, from most Democratic to most Republican. Lean is the seat's presidential vote on current lines, relative to the nation.

R+25.538th most
Democratic
Most DemocraticMost Republican51st seat · the majority lineDistrict 97

Source: 99chambers: 2024 and 2020 presidential results on current lines, relative to the nation (2024 weighted 3:1)Updated Oct 16, 2026, 5:19 AM ET

Every race on these lines

Results recomputed from precinct returns as if today's boundaries had always existed, so years compare like for like.

2024
Arkansas House of RepresentativesR+39.0

Outlined: the race for this seat itselfBlank: no race that year

Source: 99chambers results archive: precinct results allocated to current lines; 2026: civicAPIUpdated Nov 7, 2026, 3:01 PM ET

Who lives here, compared

Grey bars show the spread of all 100 seats. Small marks are other seats in Arkansas. The black marker is District 97.

Adults with a bachelor's degree20% 41st pct · 59th of 100 in AR

Lower than 59% of seats.

White adults without a degree46% 39th pct · 61st of 100 in AR

Lower than 61% of seats.

Hispanic residents5% 40th pct · 60th of 100 in AR

Lower than 60% of seats.

Black residents34% 85th pct · 16th of 100 in AR

Higher than 85% of seats.

Asian residents1% 57th pct · 44th of 100 in AR

Higher than 57% of seats.

People per square mile47 30th pct · 70th of 100 in AR

Less dense than 70% of seats.

Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, allocated to current linesUpdated Oct 13, 2026, 5:06 AM ET

Seats most like this one

Nearest seats on demographics, density and lean.

District 94
33% Black · 20% college gradsR+27.3Held RDistrict 95
34% BlackR+29.6Held RDistrict 37
29% BlackR+41.2Held RDistrict 98
48% BlackR+13.0Held R

Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, allocated to current lines; 99chambers: 2024 and 2020 presidential results on current lines, relative to the nation (2024 weighted 3:1)Updated Oct 16, 2026, 5:19 AM ET

Who has held it

These lines took effect in 2022.

  1. Jim Andrews (R)
    2027– · Won 2026 unopposed
  2. Matthew J. Shepherd (R)
    2023–2027 · Won 2022 unopposed, 2024 by 39.0

Source: Past results: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)