Jonesboro, AR – JonesboroRightNow.com – Erika Askeland will be the Democratic candidate for State House District 32 in the November general election.

According to unofficial election results, in the Democratic primary, Askeland defeated opponent Josh Alfano. Askeland received 93.4% of the vote, while Alfano received 6.6%.

“I am absolutely overjoyed. It does tell me that I made the right move in choosing to run again after running for State Senate in 2024,” she said. “That tells me that people are still interested in this campaign and interested in my platform of improving public education and increasing healthcare access.”

Askeland will run against incumbent Rep. Jack Ladyman (R-Jonesboro), who ran unopposed in the Republican primary for the seat, in the November general election.

Heading onto the campaign trail for November, Askeland said the next steps will be canvassing and door knocking leading into the summer months.

Askeland has worked in early childhood education for over 20 years, including teaching in Jonesboro, Marked Tree and Brookland. She currently teaches 3rd grade at Brookland Public Schools.

Her opponent, Alfano, said he was planning to help as many Democrats as possible win seats across the states. He said he won’t be ruling out a campaign in the near future.

He works as a Jonesboro Economical Transit (JET) employee and serves as a children’s pastor at Salvation Ministries.

“I think that we all want to win and we hope that our hearts are in the right place. I am tickled pink for my friend Erika though,” he said. “I’m very excited to see her win.”

State House District 32 is a portion of Craighead County, with parts of Jonesboro included in it.

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