Week of August 31, 2025

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of August 31, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions.

As Republicans and Democrats in other states debate drawing new congressional districts before next year's midterm elections, Arkansas' state lawmakers are not in a position to hold similar discussions.

Following the 2020 census, Republicans drew a congressional map strengthening the GOP's ability to hold the state's four seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The recent gerrymandering efforts in Texas and California raised a question for J. Miles Coleman, who works at the University of Virginia Center for Politics: What would it take to give minority parties in states like Arkansas a chance to have some House representation?

Check Tuesday's edition of the Democrat-Gazette for the full story.

Thank you for listening to "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky for more developments from the nation's capital!