2026 Arkansas Election Results: Sanders Wins Second Term

Incumbent Sweeps and Tight Legislative Races Define Arkansas Midterms

Voters across Arkansas cast their ballots on Tuesday, delivering a second term to Republican Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and cementing Republican majorities across several key legislative and congressional contests, according to results reported by Little Rock Public Radio. Sanders easily secured her victory over Democratic state Sen. Fred Love and Libertarian Colt Shelby, capturing roughly 54 percent of the vote as late Tuesday evening returns rolled in. Alongside the gubernatorial race, incumbent U.S. Senator Tom Cotton successfully defended his seat, holding off Democratic challenger Hallie Shoffner and Libertarian Jeff Wadlin.

The night highlighted a stark financial divide in the state’s top-tier races. Sanders commanded a campaign war chest of roughly $3.4 million as of late September, far outpacing her opponents as she defended her first-term record, anchored by her sweeping education overhaul known as Arkansas LEARNS. In the federal Senate race, Cotton raised over $7 million from January 2025 to October 2026, according to Federal Election Commission data cited by Little Rock Public Radio, while Shoffner raised over $4 million between July 2025 and October 2026. Other statewide offices also tilted toward Republican incumbents, with Attorney General Tim Griffin running uncontested and Lieutenant Governor Leslie Rutledge defeating Libertarian Michael Kalagias.

Arkansas Congressional Incumbents Win Re-Election Bids

Down the ballot, Arkansas’ congressional delegation remained largely steady. U.S. Representatives Rick Crawford, Steve Womack, and Bruce Westerman all won their re-election bids, while the central Arkansas race for the U.S. House featuring incumbent Republican French Hill and Democratic challenger Chris Jones remained remarkably close. With 99 percent of the votes counted late Tuesday, Hill held a thin margin at 50.9 percent to Jones’s 49.1 percent. Crawford’s race was called roughly an hour after polls closed across the state.

Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders speaks during 2026 election night

In municipal leadership, Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. cruised to a third term, avoiding a runoff by securing over 60 percent of the vote against Vice Mayor and Ward 7 City Director B.J. Wyrick. Scott campaigned on economic growth and public safety gains from his first two terms, while Wyrick stepped down from the city board she joined in 1994 to mount her mayoral challenge.

Voters Approve Citizenship Voting Amendment and Constitutional Changes

Voters also weighed in on major constitutional changes. According to Associated Press tracking, the majority of Arkansans voted in favor of Issue 1, the “Citizens Only Voting Amendment,” which clarifies that only U.S. citizens hold the right to vote in elections. Voters similarly approved Issue 2 to codify the right to keep and bear arms, alongside support for Issue 4 regarding water bonds.