LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A panel of federal judges won't block the certification of an east Arkansas state Senate primary while they consider a lawmaker's complaint that his district was redrawn to intentionally weaken the black vote.
The judges on Tuesday denied state Sen. Jack Crumbly's request to prevent the certification of the May 22 primary for his east Arkansas district. Crumbly lost the Democratic primary to state Rep. Keith Ingram.
Crumbly and a group of east Arkansas residents have sued the Board of Apportionment and claim the panel intentionally diluted the black vote to help Ingram. Crumbly is black and Ingram is white. No Republican is running for the seat.
On May 11, the three-judge panel denied Crumbly's request to postpone the primary while it considers his lawsuit.
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