GOP Rep. Tim Griffin's surprising decision to retire after two terms in the House moves our rating of Arkansas's 2nd CD from Solid Republican to Lean Republican. The last House incumbent to retire after less than three terms was Ohio Republican Steve Austria in 2012, who stepped down after redistricting eliminated his seat, which makes Griffin's choice all the more unusual.President Obama took just 43 percent of the vote in Arkansas's 2nd CD in 2012, but there is a strong Democratic heritage in greater Little Rock - Democrat Vic Snyder held this seat fairly easily between 1996 and his retirement in 2010. And, there is no shortage of Democratic local officeholders, not limited to but including former Lt. Gov. Bill Halter, who could conceivably run.
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