In 1990,Snyder successfully ran for a seat in the Arkansas legislature and served in that body until 1996. In the Arkansas legislature,Snyder stepped into one of his earliest legislative controversies when he attempted to repeal the state's aged "Sodomy Laws". Ultimately,however,his efforts failed,and the sodomy laws stayed in effect until the state Supreme Court struck it down in Jegley v. Picado in March 2001. He also challenged the power of the Arkansas Highway Commission.[1]
Snyder focuses on many traditionally liberal issues,including a particular interest in support for veteran's and military families. He has a fairly liberal voting record for being an elected politician from the South and otherwise conservative-leaning Arkansas. Snyder voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment,restrictions on abortion,banning lawsuits against gun manufacturers and distributors,bankruptcy reform,drilling in ANWR,and on October 10,2002,he was among the 133 members of the House who voted against authorizing the invasion of Iraq;despite this,he regularly voted to fund the needs of soldiers stationed in Iraq. In addition,Snyder was one of only two Congressmen to vote against prosecuting Saddam Hussein.
On issues of free and expanded trade,Snyder differs with his party,especially his Southern populist colleagues. He has also opposed legislation cracking down on Wal-Mart,which is headquartered in Bentonville,Arkansas.
Snyder was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1996 and was reelected in 1998,2000,2002,2004,2006 and 2008.
Snyder announced on January 15,2010 that he would retire at the conclusion of his term which ended in 2010. A SurveyUSA poll released January 15,2010 showed him trailing his Republican challenger,Tim Griffin,by 17 points,although this was early in the polling cycle.[2]
During the 2008 presidential campaign,like most Arkansas Democrats,Snyder endorsed former U.S. Senator and former First Lady of Arkansas Hillary Clinton (D-New York) for President.
Electoral history
Arkansas's 2nd Congressional District House Election,1996
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United States Marine Corps 
