Supporters cheered when the numbers came in earlier than expected at Rick Crawford’s watch party at Ridge Point Country Club on Tuesday evening.
Crawford finished with 69 percent of the vote from Tuesday’s midterm election, giving him an easy win over Democrat Chintan Desai and Libertarian Elvis Presley and confirming that he will head back to Washington for his fifth term as Arkansas’s First District’s Congressional representative.
“It’s a huge honor. It’s very humbling,” said Crawford.
Crawford, 52, who lives in Jonesboro with his wife and two children, said his priority is always Arkansas over Washington.
“We live here and we’re plugged in. I do more constituent service work in Walmart,“ he said.
At his watch party at Legends Barbeque in Jonesboro, Chintan Desai took his loss in stride and said he was proud to run a campaign that focused on listening to constituents.
“We knew this was going to be a tough race, here in Arkansas’s First,” he said.
At their respective watch parties, both candidates were keeping an interested eye on the national races unfolding at the same time.
“There’s a lot to celebrate, nationally,” said Desai.
Both candidates also took some time to note the candidacy of Libertarian Elvis Presley, who bears the same name as the late superstar and has worked as an Elvis impersonator. Presley finished with about two percent of the vote.
“I found him to be a very delightful individual,” said Crawford.
"I thought he ran a spirited campaign. I respect anyone who’s willing to stand up for what they believe In,” said Desai.