| David Whitaker | |
| Office: | Minority Leader of the Arkansas House of Representatives |
| Term Start: | January 9, 2017 |
| Term End: | January 14, 2019 |
| Predecessor: | Eddie Armstrong |
| Successor: | Charles Blake |
| State House1: | Arkansas |
| District1: | 85th |
| Term Start1: | January 14, 2013 |
| Predecessor1: | John Burris (Redistricted) |
| Birth Name: | David Jeffrey Whitaker |
| Birth Date: | 8 April 1961 |
| Party: | Democratic |
| Education: | University of Mary Washington (BS) University of Arkansas, Fayetteville (JD) |
| Spouse: | Lisa Raney |
| Allegiance: |  United States |
| Serviceyears: | 1983–1989 |
| Rank: | Staff Sergeant |
David Jeffrey Whitaker[1] (born April 8, 1961)[2] [3] is an American attorney and politician serving as a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for the 85th district.[4] Whitaker was a candidate for Arkansas's 3rd congressional district in the 2010 election.
Raised in Georgia, Whitaker graduated from Granby High School in Norfolk, Virginia. Whitaker earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in geography from University of Mary Washington and a Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas School of Law.
He served in the United States Air Force from 1983 to 1989 reaching the rank of staff sergeant. While in the Air Force he served aboard the USNS Observation Island (T-AGM-23).
In 1992 he was an editorial research intern with the book division of the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C.[5]
During law school, he clerked for the Washington County prosecuting attorney and served on his law school's honor council.[6] From 1999 to 2000 he served on the Washington County Domestic Violence Task Force.[7] From 2001 to 2009 he served as an assistant city attorney for Fayetteville, Arkansas. From 2007 to 2009 he served as the chairman of the Washington County Democratic Party.
From 2011 to 2013 he was a member of the adjunct faculty at Northwest Arkansas Community College.
In 2013 he was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives to represent the 85th District defeating Paul Graham.
He resides in Fayetteville, Arkansas with his wife, Lisa and their two daughters.[8]
| Year | Office | District | Democratic | Republican | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | U.S. House of Representatives | Arkansas's 3rd district | David Whitaker | 27.56% | Steve Womack | 72.44% | |
| 2012 | Arkansas House of Representatives | House District 85 | David Whitaker | 56% | Paul Graham | 44% | |
| 2014 | Arkansas House of Representatives | House District 85 | David Whitaker | 100% | Unopposed | ||
| 2016 | Arkansas House of Representatives | House District 85 | David Whitaker | 52.94% | Dwight Gonzalez | 47.06% | |
| 2018 | Arkansas House of Representatives | House District 85 | David Whitaker | 100% | Unopposed | ||
| 2020 | Arkansas House of Representatives | House District 85 | David Whitaker | 55.3% | Brian Hester | 44.7% | |
| 2022 | Arkansas House of Representatives | House District 85 | David Whitaker | 52.5%% | Brian Hester | 47.5% |