Republican Rapert wins heated Arkansas Senate race

CONWAY, Ark. (AP) - A Republican senator who has called for more restrictions on abortions has won re-election to an Arkansas seat in one of the year's most heated legislative races.

Sen. Jason Rapert defeated Democrat Rep. Linda Tyler in his re-election bid Tuesday. The two were running for state Senate District 35, which covers parts of Faulkner and Perry counties.

Tyler was elected to the state House in 2008 and served as chair of the House Public Health Committee. Rapert was first elected in 2010.

Rapert last year proposed legislation that would have required doctors performing abortions in Arkansas to tell the woman if a fetal heartbeat is detected beforehand. The Senate approved the bill, but it failed before Tyler's committee.

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