In one Arkansas runoff today, a prosecutor who allowed three men convicted of murder in 1993 hopes to survive a tough challenge from a candidate who is backed by the establishment.

The race in the First district pits Scott Ellington a prosecutor against Clark Hall a state representative, as they battle for the Democratic nomination in a district where Democrats feel they can reclaim the seat at election time in November. The runoff winner will face off in November against Rick Crawford the current freshman Congressman in a district that last year was redrawn to include counties that are Democrat leaning located in the state’s Delta.

In the current race, Hall has been able to raise more funds with the help of the establishment with supporters such as Dustin McDaniel the current Attorney General. However, Ellington is ahead in the polls after only being one percentage point away from the needed majority to claim the party’s nomination outright. Over the last few days of the campaign, tension has increased as Ellington has been targeted by Hall for liens due to unpaid taxes and a lawsuit for credit card balances that were unpaid, while Ellington accused Hall of dragging his wife into the runoff campaign.

Hall also criticized Ellington for his role in freeing the infamous West Memphis Three who had been convicted in 1993 of killing three young boys. Following close to twenty years in prison, the men were freed after pleading guilty to murder in exchange for the time they had already served. It was part of an agreement where they agreed there was sufficient evidence to convict, but they still proclaimed innocence.