2026 Arkansas Senate election

Not to be confused with 2026 United States Senate election in Arkansas.

2026 Arkansas Senate election

←  2024 November 3, 2026 2028 →
17 of 35 seats in the Arkansas Senate 18 seats needed for a majority
Leader Bart Hester Greg Leding (term-limited) Party Republican Democratic Leader since January 9, 2023 January 9, 2023 Leader's seat 33rd–Cave Springs 30th–Fayetteville Current seats 29 6 Seats up 13 4
Status of the incumbents:      Republican incumbent     Term-limited Republican      Democratic incumbent     Term-limited Democrat      No regular election
Incumbent President Pro Tempore Bart Hester Republican

The 2026 Arkansas Senate election will be held on November 3, 2026, alongside the other 2026 United States elections. ^[1] Voters will elect members of the Arkansas Senate in all 35 of the U.S. state of Arkansas's state senate districts to serve a two-year term. ^[2]

This election will take place alongside races for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, governor, state house, and numerous other state and local offices.

Retirements

Republican

1. District 13: Jane English is term-limited. ^[3]
2. District 16: Kim Hammer is term-limited. ^[3]

Democratic

1. District 9: Reginald Murdock is term-limited. ^[3]
2. District 15: Fredrick Love is term-limited. ^[3]
3. District 30: Greg Leding is term-limited. ^[3]

Special elections

Main article: 2026 Arkansas state legislative special elections §  Arkansas Senate

District	County(ies)	Contest	Incumbent		Winner		Result	Cause
26th	Franklin (p) Johnson (p) Logan (p) Sebastian (p)	March 3, 2026		Gary Stubblefield (R)	TBD		TBD	Incumbent senator died September 2, 2025.

Summary of results by district

Races unopposed by major parties. Minor parties and independents may still file to run.

  No Democrats filed

  No Republicans filed

  Both major parties filing

  No regular election

District	2020 Pres. [4]	Incumbent				Candidates [5]
		Member	Party	First elected	Status
2nd	R+31.6	Matt Stone	Republican	2022	Incumbent standing for re-election unopposed.	▌Sen. Matt Stone (Republican)
7th	R+50.6	Alan Clark	Republican	2012	Incumbent standing for re-election unopposed.	▌Sen. Alan Clark (Republican)
9th	D+14.1	Reginald Murdock	Democratic	2022	Incumbent term-limited.	▌Rep. Jessie McGruder (Democratic) ▌Kenny Phillips (Republican)
10th	R+39.7	Ron Caldwell	Republican	2012	Incumbent standing for re-election.	▌Trey Bohannan (Republican) ▌Sen. Ronald Caldwell (Republican)
11th	R+46.5	Ricky Hill	Republican	2018 (sp)	Incumbent standing for re-election unopposed.	▌Sen. Ricky Hill (Republican)
13th	R+4.9	Jane English	Republican	2012	Incumbent term-limited.	▌Rep. Brandon Achor (Republican) ▌Mischa Martin (Republican) ▌Allison Sweatman (Democratic) ▌Jason Williams (Democratic)
14th	D+23.9	Clarke Tucker	Democratic	2020	Incumbent standing for re-election unopposed.	▌Sen. Clarke Tucker (Democratic)
15th	D+62.6	Fredrick Love	Democratic	2022	Incumbent term-limited.	▌ShaRhonda Love (Democratic) ▌Rep. Tara Shephard (Democratic) ▌Charity Smith-Allen (Democratic)
16th	R+31.7	Kim Hammer	Republican	2018	Incumbent term-limited.	▌Joshua Irby (Democratic) ▌Randy Sams (Republican) ▌Rodney Wright (Republican)
21st	R+59.5	Blake Johnson	Republican	2014	Incumbent standing for re-election.	▌Sen. Blake Johnson (Republican) ▌Rep. Jeremy Wooldridge (Republican)
24th	R+60.2	Missy Irvin	Republican	2010	Incumbent standing for re-election unopposed.	▌Sen. Missy Irvin (Republican)
27th	R+17.5	Justin Boyd	Republican	2022	Incumbent standing for re-election.	▌Sen. Justin Boyd (Republican) ▌Eduardo Guzman (Democratic)
28th	R+49.5	Bryan King	Republican	2022 2012	Incumbent standing for re-election.	▌Sen. Bryan King (Republican) ▌Bobby Ballinger (Republican)
30th	D+28.2	Greg Leding	Democratic	2018	Incumbent term-limited.	▌Rep. Denise Garner (Democratic)
31st	R+14.3	Clint Penzo	Republican	2022	Incumbent standing for re-election unopposed.	▌Sen. Clint Penzo (Republican)
32nd	R+26.5	Joshua P. Bryant	Republican	2022	Incumbent standing for re-election unopposed.	▌Sen. Joshua P. Bryant (Republican)
35th	R+35.2	Tyler Dees	Republican	2022	Incumbent standing for re-election unopposed.	▌Sen. Tyler Dees (Republican)

District 2

District 2 election

←  2022 2030 →

Nominee Matt Stone (presumptive) Party Republican

Incumbent Senator Matt Stone Republican

District 2 has been represented by Republican Matt Stone since 2023. He was first elected in 2022 with 67.76 percent of the vote, and is running for re-election. He is unopposed in the Republican primary, and is currently unopposed in the general election.

District 2 is located in southern Arkansas, and contains the entirety of Calhoun, Dallas, Ouachita, and Union counties, and part of Grant County. ^[6]

Republican primary

Presumptive nominee

• Matt Stone, incumbent Senator

Results

2026 Arkansas Senate election, 2nd district (Republican primary)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Matt Stone (incumbent)

District 7

District 7 election

←  2022 2030 →

Nominee Alan Clark (presumptive) Party Republican

Incumbent Senator Alan Clark Republican

District 7 has been represented by Republican Alan Clark since 2013. He was re-elected in 2022 unopposed, and is running for re-election. He is unopposed in the Republican primary, and is currently unopposed in the general election.

District 7 is located in central Arkansas, and contains the entirety of Hot Spring County, and parts of Garland, Grant, and Saline counties. ^[6]

Republican primary

Presumptive nominee

• Matt Stone, incumbent Senator

Results

2026 Arkansas Senate election, 7th district (Republican primary)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Alan Clark (incumbent)

District 9

District 9 election

←  2022 2030 →

Nominee Jessie McGruder (presumptive) Kenny Phillips (presumptive) Party Democratic Republican

Incumbent Senator Reginald Murdock Democratic

District 9 has been represented by Democrat Reginald Murdock since 2023. He was first elected in 2022 with 53.51 percent of the vote. He is term-limited.

District 9 is located in eastern Arkansas, and contains the entirety of Crittenden and Phillips counties, and parts of Lee and St. Francis counties. ^[6]

Democratic primary

Presumptive nominee

• Jessie McGruder, member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from the 35th district (2025–present)

Results

2026 Arkansas Senate election, 7th district (Democratic primary)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jessie McGruder

Republican primary

Presumptive nominee

• Kenny Phillips, businessman

Results

2026 Arkansas Senate election, 7th district (Republican primary)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Kenny Phillips

District 10

District 10 election, Republican primary

←  2022 2030 →

Candidate Ron Caldwell Trey Bohannan Party Republican Republican

Incumbent Senator Ron Caldwell Republican

District 10 has been represented by Republican Ron Caldwell since 2023, who previously represented the 23rd district. He was re-elected in 2022 with 72.49 percent of the vote, and is running for re-election.

District 10 is located in eastern Arkansas, and contains the entirety of Cross, Jackson, Monroe, Prairie, and Woodruff counties, and parts of Arkansas, Lee, Lonoke, Poinsett, and St. Francis counties. ^[6]

Republican primary

Candidates

• Trey Bohannan, businessman
• Ron Caldwell, incumbent Senator

Endorsements

Trey Bohannan

Politician

• Sarah Huckabee Sanders, 47th Governor of Arkansas (2023–present) ^[7]

Results

2026 Arkansas Senate election, 10th district (Republican primary)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Ron Caldwell (incumbent)
	Republican	Trey Bohannan

District 11

District 11 election

←  2022 2030 →

Nominee Ricky Hill (presumptive) Party Republican

Incumbent Senator Ricky Hill Republican

District 11 has been represented by Republican Ricky Hill since 2018. He was re-elected in 2022 unopposed, and is running for re-election. He is unopposed in the Republican primary, and is currently unopposed in the general election.

District 11 is located in central Arkansas, and contains parts of Lonoke and Pulaski counties. ^[6]

Republican primary

Presumptive nominee

• Ricky Hill, incumbent Senator

Results

2026 Arkansas Senate election, 11th district (Republican primary)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Ricky Hill (incumbent)

District 13

District 13 election

←  2022 2030 →

Nominee TBD TBD Party Republican Democratic

Incumbent Senator Jane English Republican

District 13 has been represented by Republican Jane English since 2023, who previously represented the 30th district. She was re-elected in 2022 with 52.45 percent of the vote. She is term-limited.

District 13 is located in Central Arkansas, and contains parts of Pulaski County. ^[6]

Republican primary

Candidates

• Brandon Achor, member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from the 71st district (2023–present)
• Mischa Martin, former state DCFS director

Results

2026 Arkansas Senate election, 13th district (Republican primary)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Brandon Achor
	Republican	Mischa Martin

Democratic primary

• Allison Sweatman, Democratic nominee for this district in 2022
• Jason Williams, psychiatric nurse practitioner

Results

2026 Arkansas Senate election, 13th district (Democratic primary)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Allison Sweatman
	Democratic	Jason Williams

District 14

District 14 election

←  2022 2030 →

Nominee Clarke Tucker (presumptive) Party Democratic

Incumbent Senator Clarke Tucker Democratic

District 14 has been represented by Democrat Clarke Tucker since 2023, who previously represented the 32nd district. He was re-elected in 2022 with 63.50 percent of the vote, and is running for re-election. He is unopposed in the Democratic primary, and is currently unopposed in the general election.

District 14 is located in Central Arkansas, and contains parts of Pulaski County. ^[6]

Democratic primary

Presumptive nominee

• Clarke Tucker, incumbent Senator

Results

2026 Arkansas Senate election, 14th district (Democratic primary)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Clarke Tucker (incumbent)

District 15

District 15 election, Democratic primary

←  2022 2030 →

Candidate ShaRhonda Love Tara Shephard Charity Smith-Allen Party Democratic Democratic Democratic

Incumbent Senator Fredrick Love Democratic

District 15 has been represented by Democrat Fredrick Love since 2023. He was first elected in 2022 with 86.15 percent of the vote. He is term-limited.

District 15 is located in Central Arkansas, and contains parts of Pulaski County. ^[6]

Democratic primary

Candidates

• ShaRhonda Love
• Tara Shephard, member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from the 79th district (2023–present)
• Charity Smith-Allen, educator

Results

2026 Arkansas Senate election, 15th district (Democratic primary)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	ShaRhonda Love
	Democratic	Tara Shephard
	Democratic	Charity Smith-Allen

District 16

District 16 election

←  2022 2030 →

Nominee TBD Joshua Irby (presumptive) Party Republican Democratic

Incumbent Senator Kim Hammer Republican

District 16 has been represented by Republican Kim Hammer since 2019. He was re-elected in 2022 with 75.72 percent of the vote. He is term-limited.

District 16 is located in Central Arkansas, and contains parts of Pulaski and Saline counties. ^[6]

Republican primary

Candidates

• Randy Sams, insurance agent
• Rodney Wright, sheriff of Saline County

Results

2026 Arkansas Senate election, 16th district (Republican primary)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Randy Sams
	Republican	Rodney Wright

Democratic primary

Presumptive nominee

• Joshua Irby, security professional

Results

2026 Arkansas Senate election, 16th district (Democratic primary)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Joshua Irby

District 21

District 21 election, Republican primary

←  2022 2030 →

Candidate Blake Johnson Jeremy Wooldridge Party Republican Republican

Incumbent Senator Ron Caldwell Republican

District 21 has been represented by Republican Blake Johnson since 2015. He was re-elected in 2022 with 83.85 percent of the vote. He is running for re-election.

District 21 is located in the northeastern corner of Arkansas, and contains the entirety of Clay, Greene and Randolph counties, and parts of Lawrence County. ^[6]

Republican primary

Candidates

• Blake Johnson, incumbent Senator
• Jeremy Wooldridge, member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from the 1st district (2023–present)

Results

2026 Arkansas Senate election, 21st district (Republican primary)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Blake Johnson (incumbent)
	Republican	Jeremy Wooldridge

District 24

District 24 election

←  2022 2030 →

Nominee Missy Irvin (presumptive) Party Republican

Incumbent Senator Missy Irvin Republican

District 24 has been represented by Republican Missy Irvin since 2023, who previously represented the 10th and 18th districts. He was re-elected in 2022 unopposed, and is running for re-election. He is unopposed in the Republican primary, and is currently unopposed in the general election.

District 24 is located in southern Arkansas, and contains the entirety of Searcy, Stone, and Van Buren counties, and parts of Cleburne, Faulkner, and Newton counties. ^[6]

Republican primary

Presumptive nominee

• Missy Irvin, incumbent Senator

Results

2026 Arkansas Senate election, 24th district (Republican)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Missy Irvin (incumbent)

District 27

District 27 election

←  2022 2030 →

Nominee Justin Boyd (presumptive) Eduardo Guzman (presumptive) Party Republican Democratic

Incumbent Senator Justin Boyd Republican

District 27 has been represented by Republican Justin Boyd since 2023. He was first elected in 2022 with 63.57 percent of the vote, and is running for re-election.

District 27 is located in western Arkansas in the Fort Smith area, and contains part of Sebastian County. ^[6]

Republican primary

Presumptive nominee

• Justin Boyd, incumbent Senator

Results

2026 Arkansas Senate election, 27th district (Republican primary)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Justin Boyd (incumbent)

Democratic primary

Presumptive nominee

• Eduardo Guzman

Results

2026 Arkansas Senate election, 27th district (Republican primary)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Eduardo Guzman

District 28

District 28 election, Republican primary

←  2022 2030 →

Candidate Bryan King Bob Ballinger Party Republican Republican

Incumbent Senator Bryan King Republican

District 28 has been represented by Republican Bryan King since 2023. He was first elected in 2022 with 75.96 percent of the vote. He is running for re-election. King faces a primary challenge from former Republican state senator Bob Ballinger, who had been unseated by King in the 2022 Republican primary.

District 28 is located in Northern Arkansas, and contains the entirety of Carroll and Madison counties, and parts of Boone, Franklin, Johnson, and Newton counties. ^[6]

Republican primary

Candidates

• Bob Ballinger, former Senator from the 5th district (2019–2023)
• Bryan King, incumbent Senator

Results

2026 Arkansas Senate election, 28th district (Republican primary)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bryan King (incumbent)
	Republican	Bob Ballinger

District 30

District 30 election

←  2022 2030 →

Nominee Denise Garner (presumptive) Party Democratic

Incumbent Senator Greg Leding Democratic

District 30 has been represented by Democrat Greg Leding since 2023, who previously represented the 5th district. He was re-elected in 2022 unopposed. He is term-limited.

District 30 is located in Northwest Arkansas, and contains parts of Washington County. ^[6]

Democratic primary

Presumptive nominee

• Denise Garner, member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from the 20th district (2019–present)

Results

2026 Arkansas Senate election, 30th district (Democratic primary)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Denise Garner

District 31

District 31 election

←  2022 2030 →

Nominee Clint Penzo (presumptive) Party Republican

Incumbent Senator Clint Penzo Republican

District 31 has been represented by Republican Clint Penzo since 2023. He was first elected in 2022 with 60.13 percent of the vote. He is unopposed in the Republican primary, and is currently unopposed in the general election.

District 31 is located in Northwest Arkansas, and contains parts of Washington County. ^[6]

Republican primary

Presumptive nominee

• Clint Penzo, incumbent Senator

Results

2026 Arkansas Senate election, 31st district (Republican primary)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Clint Penzo (incumbent)

District 32

District 32 election

←  2022 2030 →

Nominee Joshua P. Bryant (presumptive) Party Republican

Incumbent Senator Joshua P. Bryant Republican

District 32 has been represented by Republican Joshua P. Bryant since 2023. He was first elected in 2022 unopposed. He is unopposed in the Republican primary, and is currently unopposed in the general election.

District 32 is located in Northwest Arkansas, and contains parts of Benton and Washington counties. ^[6]

Republican primary

Presumptive nominee

• Joshua P. Bryant, incumbent Senator

Results

2026 Arkansas Senate election, 32nd district (Republican primary)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Joshua P. Bryant (incumbent)

District 35

District 35 election

←  2022 2030 →

Nominee Tyler Dees (presumptive) Party Republican

Incumbent Senator Tyler Dees Republican

District 35 has been represented by Republican Tyler Dees since 2023. He was first elected in 2022 with 73.68 percent of the vote. He is unopposed in the Republican primary, and is currently unopposed in the general election.

District 35 is located in Northwest Arkansas, and contains parts of Benton and Washington counties. ^[6]

Republican primary

Presumptive nominee

• Tyler Dees, incumbent Senator

Results

2026 Arkansas Senate election, 35th district (Republican primary)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Tyler Dees (incumbent)

References

1. Booker, Brakkton (July 29, 2025). "The 2026 midterms are officially underway". POLITICO. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
2. "Arkansas State Senate elections, 2026". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 9, 2025.
3. "Arkansas Legislators Face Term Limits in 2026 Primary". Conduit News. May 7, 2025. Retrieved August 10, 2025.
4. "Dave's Redistricting" . Retrieved November 17, 2024.
5. "2026 Preferential Primary and Nonpartisan Judicial General Election -- Search Candidate Filings". Arkansas Secretary of State . Retrieved November 14, 2025.
6. "Arkansas District Finder". Arkansas Economic Development Institute. Retrieved November 23, 2025.
7. Wickline, Michael R. (October 27, 2025). "Stuttgart business owner announces run for Arkansas Senate seat, gets support from Sanders". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette . Retrieved November 23, 2025.