Arkansas House set to vote on speaker

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - The Arkansas House is preparing to vote on whether to replace next year's speaker after Republicans won a majority in the chamber for the first time since Reconstruction.

The House is scheduled to vote Thursday on whether to replace Democratic Rep. Darrin Williams of Little Rock as the speaker designate for the chamber. Republicans won 51 seats in the 100-member House.

Democratic Rep. Greg Leding of Fayetteville says Williams is the Democrats' first choice. But if Williams doesn't win a majority, Republican Rep. Davy Carter could get the Democrats' support.

Carter has not said publicly whether he's running and hasn't responded to numerous requests for comment.

Republican Rep. Terry Rice of Waldron was the GOP's choice for speaker when Democrats still had the majority and Williams was voted speaker designate.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)