The 2026 United States Senate election in Arkansas will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of Arkansas. Republican incumbent Tom Cotton is seeking a third term.[1] He is being challenged by Democratic farmer Hallie Shoffner and Libertarian strategy consultant Jeff Wadlin.

Primary elections were held on March 3, 2026. Facing minimal opposition, Cotton won the Republican nomination with 81.6% of the vote. Shoffner won the Democratic nomination with 78.3% of the vote over Lewisville mayor Ethan Dunbar.

Democrats have not won a Senate election in Arkansas since 2008.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

  • Jeb Little, state trooper[3]
  • Micah Ashby, pastor[3]

Endorsements

Tom Cotton
Executive branch officials
U.S. representatives
Statewide officials
Organizations
Newspapers

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of February 11, 2026
Candidate Raised Spent Cash on hand
Micah Ashby (R) $41,162 $126 $754
Tom Cotton (R) $11,880,970 $8,607,793 $9,670,131
Jeb Little (R) $54,598 $43,830 $10,768
Source: Federal Election Commission[9]

Results

Results by county
  Cotton
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
  •   90–100%
Republican primary results[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Cotton (incumbent) 230,209 81.64
Republican Micah Ashby 26,040 9.23
Republican Jeb Little 25,724 9.12
Total votes 281,973 100.00

By county

Results by county[10]
County Cotton Ashby Little Margin Total
# % # % # % # %
Arkansas 1,160 84.36% 85 6.18% 130 9.45% 1,030 74.91% 1,375
Ashley 1,120 89.24% 33 2.63% 102 8.13% 1,018 81.11% 1,255
Baxter 5,927 83.09% 713 10.00% 493 6.91% 5,214 73.09% 7,133
Benton 16,827 83.28% 1,693 8.38% 1,686 8.34% 15,134 74.90% 20,206
Boone 4,633 80.04% 547 9.45% 608 10.50% 4,025 69.54% 5,788
Bradley 665 58.08% 38 3.32% 442 38.60% 223 19.48% 1,145
Calhoun 710 79.33% 72 8.04% 113 12.63% 597 66.70% 895
Carroll 3,139 76.13% 493 11.96% 491 11.91% 2,646 64.17% 4,123
Chicot 135 95.07% 6 4.23% 1 0.70% 129 90.84% 142
Clark 1,413 82.15% 165 9.59% 142 8.26% 1,248 72.56% 1,720
Clay 2,006 78.85% 243 9.55% 295 11.60% 1,711 67.25% 2,544
Cleburne 3,572 84.56% 271 6.42% 381 9.02% 3,191 75.54% 4,224
Cleveland 1,467 82.05% 118 6.60% 203 11.35% 1,264 70.70% 1,788
Columbia 1,002 91.59% 41 3.75% 51 4.66% 951 86.93% 1,094
Conway 2,616 80.49% 257 7.91% 377 11.60% 2,239 68.89% 3,250
Craighead 5,888 83.31% 579 8.19% 601 8.50% 5,287 74.81% 7,068
Crawford 5,109 83.15% 545 8.87% 490 7.98% 4,564 74.28% 6,144
Crittenden 995 91.37% 39 3.58% 55 5.05% 940 86.32% 1,089
Cross 1,947 81.43% 201 8.41% 243 10.16% 1,704 71.27% 2,391
Dallas 842 73.41% 184 16.04% 121 10.55% 963 57.37% 1,147
Desha 176 91.19% 11 5.70% 6 3.11% 165 85.49% 193
Drew 1,328 83.68% 110 6.93% 149 9.39% 1,179 74.29% 1,587
Faulkner 8,843 83.65% 886 8.38% 843 7.97% 7,957 75.27% 10,572
Franklin 1,484 74.91% 184 9.29% 313 15.80% 1,171 59.11% 1,981
Fulton 1,671 79.04% 219 10.36% 224 10.60% 1,447 68.44% 2,114
Garland 9,157 83.40% 1,064 9.69% 759 6.91% 8,093 73.71% 10,980
Grant 2,857 79.76% 308 8.60% 417 11.64% 2,440 68.12% 3,582
Greene 4,631 80.47% 712 12.37% 412 7.16% 3,919 68.10% 5,755
Hempstead 1,959 83.97% 226 9.69% 148 6.34% 1,733 74.28% 2,333
Hot Spring 3,332 82.09% 450 11.09% 277 6.82% 2,882 71.00% 4,059
Howard 1,090 86.58% 96 7.63% 73 5.80% 994 78.95% 1,259
Independence 4,018 83.41% 525 10.90% 274 5.69% 3,493 72.51% 4,817
Izard 1,627 85.86% 118 6.23% 150 7.92% 1,477 77.94% 1,895
Jackson 1,620 79.33% 280 13.71% 142 6.95% 1,340 65.62% 2,042
Jefferson 1,538 89.99% 80 4.68% 91 5.32% 1,458 85.31% 1,709
Johnson 2,498 76.56% 378 11.58% 387 11.86% 2,111 64.70% 3,263
Lafayette 601 85.61% 49 6.98% 52 7.41% 549 78.20% 702
Lawrence 1,744 84.54% 176 8.53% 143 6.93% 1,568 76.01% 2,063
Lee 236 87.73% 16 5.95% 17 6.32% 219 81.41% 269
Lincoln 1,024 81.53% 99 7.88% 133 10.59% 891 70.94% 1,256
Little River 1,787 83.19% 215 10.01% 146 6.80% 1,572 73.18% 2,148
Logan 2,687 76.90% 426 12.19% 381 10.90% 2,261 64.71% 3,494
Lonoke 7,657 75.71% 1,065 10.53% 1,392 13.76% 6,592 61.95% 10,114
Madison 2,587 72.81% 548 15.42% 418 11.76% 2,039 57.39% 3,553
Marion 2,286 84.45% 214 7.91% 207 7.65% 2,072 76.54% 2,707
Miller 3,954 86.81% 320 7.03% 281 6.17% 3,634 79.78% 4,555
Mississippi 1,317 89.65% 75 5.11% 77 5.24% 1,240 84.41% 1,469
Monroe 409 85.39% 31 6.47% 39 8.14% 370 77.25% 479
Montgomery 1,443 79.33% 157 8.63% 219 12.04% 1,224 67.29% 1,819
Nevada 616 90.46% 26 3.82% 39 5.73% 577 84.73% 681
Newton 1,150 78.23% 117 7.96% 203 13.81% 947 64.42% 1,470
Ouachita 1,797 79.20% 166 7.32% 306 13.49% 1,491 65.71% 2,269
Perry 1,394 77.96% 216 12.08% 178 9.96% 1,178 65.88% 1,788
Phillips 124 88.57% 9 6.43% 7 5.00% 115 82.14% 140
Pike 1,667 84.19% 180 9.09% 133 6.72% 1,487 75.1% 1,980
Poinsett 1,553 83.4% 140 7.52% 169 9.08% 1,384 74.32% 1,862
Polk 2,223 84.24% 173 6.56% 243 9.21% 1,980 75.03% 2,639
Pope 5,957 82.77% 552 7.67% 688 9.56% 5,269 73.21% 7,197
Prairie 1,320 81.73% 194 12.01% 101 6.25% 1,126 69.72% 1,615
Pulaski 15,972 83.71% 1,527 8.00% 1,581 8.29% 14,391 75.42% 19,080
Randolph 1,915 81.21% 181 7.68% 262 11.11% 1,653 70.10% 2,358
Saline 11,357 81.61% 1,086 7.80% 1,473 10.58% 9,884 71.03% 13,916
Scott 1,168 80.89% 155 10.73% 121 8.38% 1,013 70.16% 1,444
Searcy 1,714 78.41% 241 11.02% 231 10.57% 1,473 67.39% 2,186
Sebastian 8,713 83.10% 946 9.02% 826 7.88% 7,767 74.08% 10,485
Sevier 1,877 79.4% 257 10.87% 230 9.73% 1,620 68.53% 2,364
Sharp 1,803 84.65% 187 8.78% 140 6.57% 1,616 75.87% 2,130
St. Francis 758 87.73% 71 8.22% 35 4.05% 687 79.51% 864
Stone 2,252 77.47% 339 11.66% 316 10.87% 1,913 65.81% 2,907
Union 2,488 87.30% 137 4.81% 225 7.89% 2,263 79.41% 2,850
Van Buren 2,705 80.65% 285 8.50% 364 10.85% 2,341 69.80% 3,354
Washington 13,228 79.15% 1,829 10.94% 1,655 9.90% 11,399 68.21% 16,712
White 7,075 79.58% 1,175 13.22% 640 7.20% 5,900 66.36% 8,890
Woodruff 538 68.97% 179 22.95% 63 8.08% 359 46.02% 780
Yell 2,111 77.55% 311 11.43% 300 11.02% 1,800 66.12% 2,722
Totals 230,209 81.64% 26,040 9.23% 25,724 9.12% 204,169 72.41% 281,973

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

  • Hallie Shoffner, farmer and entrepreneur[11]

Eliminated in primary

Withdrawn

Endorsements

Hallie Shoffner
Newspapers

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of February 11, 2026
Candidate Raised Spent Cash on hand
Ethan Dunbar (D) $15,956 $17,411 $3,717
Hallie Shoffner (D) $1,237,490 $733,520 $503,970
Source: Federal Election Commission[9]

Results

Results by county
  Shoffner
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
  •   90–100%
  Dunbar
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   80–90%
Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Hallie Shoffner 102,289 78.27
Democratic Ethan Dunbar 28,394 21.73
Total votes 130,683 100.00

By county

Results by county[16]
County Shoffner Dunbar Margin Total
# % # % # %
Arkansas 274 69.54% 120 30.46% 154 39.08% 394
Ashley 279 64.14% 156 35.86% 123 28.28% 435
Baxter 421 78.40% 116 21.60% 305 56.80% 537
Benton 9,110 89.95% 1,018 10.05% 8,092 79.90% 10,128
Boone 389 82.94% 80 17.06% 309 65.88% 469
Bradley 159 58.46% 113 41.54% 46 19.48% 272
Calhoun 61 53.04% 54 46.96% 7 6.08% 115
Carroll 727 84.44% 134 15.56% 593 68.88% 861
Chicot 651 44.68% 806 55.32% -155 -10.64% 1,457
Clark 735 74.17% 256 25.83% 479 48.34% 991
Clay 92 85.19% 16 14.81% 76 70.38% 108
Cleburne 465 86.92% 70 13.08% 395 73.84% 535
Cleveland 64 79.01% 17 20.99% 47 58.02% 81
Columbia 195 30.71% 440 69.29% -155 -38.58% 635
Conway 602 71.07% 245 28.93% 357 42.14% 847
Craighead 2,567 83.06% 348 11.94% 2,219 71.12% 2,915
Crawford 854 80.87% 202 19.13% 652 61.74% 1,056
Crittenden 1,177 52.24% 1,076 47.76% 101 4.48% 2,253
Cross 192 62.75% 114 37.25% 78 25.50% 306
Dallas 64 52.03% 59 47.97% 5 4.06% 123
Desha 845 62.36% 510 37.64% 335 24.72% 1,355
Drew 398 63.88% 225 36.12% 173 27.76% 623
Faulkner 4,566 85.35% 784 14.65% 3,782 70.70% 5,350
Franklin 308 83.70% 60 16.30% 248 67.40% 368
Fulton 127 79.38% 33 20.62% 94 58.76% 160
Garland 3,184 83.70% 620 16.30% 2,564 57.40% 3,804
Grant 241 78.76% 65 21.24% 174 57.52% 306
Greene 564 80.69% 135 19.31% 329 61.38% 699
Hempstead 199 49.50% 203 50.5% -4 -1% 402
Hot Spring 651 77.41% 190 22.59% 461 56.82% 841
Howard 174 53.21% 153 46.79% 994 6.42% 327
Independence 577 85.36% 99 14.64% 478 70.72% 676
Izard 201 82.04% 44 17.96% 157 74.08% 245
Jackson 279 87.46% 40 12.54% 239 74.92% 319
Jefferson 4,144 59.45% 2,826 40.55% 1,318 18.90% 6,970
Johnson 345 88.69% 44 11.31% 2,111 77.38% 389
Lafayette 42 15.00% 238 85.00% -204 -70.00% 280
Lawrence 184 70.50% 77 29.50% 1,568 41.00% 261
Lee 977 54.13% 828 45.87% 149 8.26% 1,805
Lincoln 120 68.97% 54 31.03% 876 37.94% 174
Little River 123 49.40% 126 50.60% -3 -1.20% 249
Logan 250 80.65% 60 19.35% 190 61.30% 310
Lonoke 1,360 84.84% 243 15.16% 1,117 69.68% 1,603
Madison 173 82.78% 36 17.22% 137 65.56% 209
Marion 308 80.63% 74 19.37% 234 61.26% 382
Miller 559 56.01% 320 43.99% 3,634 12.12% 998
Mississippi 433 67.03% 213 32.97% 220 34.06% 646
Monroe 229 62.23% 139 37.77% 370 24.46% 368
Montgomery 79 90.80% 8 9.20% 71 81.60% 87
Nevada 166 49.11% 172 50.89% -6 -1.78% 338
Newton 121 81.21% 28 18.79% 93 62.42% 149
Ouachita 578 63.31% 335 36.69% 243 22.62% 913
Perry 223 85.11% 39 14.89% 184 70.22% 262
Phillips 1,049 44.58% 1,304 55.42% -255 -11.16% 2,353
Pike 131 78.44% 36 21.56% 95 56.88% 167
Poinsett 213 81.30% 49 18.70% 164 62.60% 262
Polk 214 83.27% 43 16.73% 171 66.54% 257
Pope 1,135 90.65% 117 9.35% 1,018 81.30% 7,197
Prairie 58 86.57% 9 13.43% 49 73.06% 67
Pulaski 32,366 79.57% 8,308 20.43% 24,058 59.14% 40,674
Randolph 233 82.92% 48 17.08% 185 65.84% 281
Saline 3,967 83.03% 811 16.97% 2,156 66.06% 4,778
Scott 50 69.44% 22 30.56% 28 38.88% 72
Searcy 94 88.68% 12 11.32% 82 77.36% 106
Sebastian 2,766 81.93% 610 18.07% 2,156 63.86% 3,376
Sevier 32 86.49% 5 13.51% 27 72.98% 37
Sharp 259 86.91% 39 13.09% 220 75.82% 298
St. Francis 482 54.65% 400 45.35% 82 9.30% 882
Stone 183 86.32% 29 13.68% 154 72.64% 212
Union 781 67.04% 384 32.96% 397 34.08% 1,165
Van Buren 338 86.89% 51 13.11% 287 73.78% 389
Washington 14,536 91.87% 1,286 8.13% 13,270 83.74% 15,822
White 1,212 87.95% 166 12.05% 1,146 75.90 1,378
Woodruff 185 74.90% 62 25.10% 123 49.80% 247
Yell 199 89.64% 23 10.36% 176 79.28 222
Totals 102,289 78.27% 28,394 21.73% 73,895 56.54% 130,683

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Nominee

  • Jeff Wadlin, strategy consultant[17]

General election

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
Inside Elections[18] Solid R April 23, 2026
Race To The WH[19] Safe R May 22, 2026
RealClearPolitics[20] Safe R May 19, 2026
Sabato's Crystal Ball[21] Safe R March 4, 2026
The Cook Political Report[22] Solid R April 13, 2026
The Economist[23][a] Safe R May 22, 2026

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of April 26, 2026
Candidate Raised Spent Cash on hand
Tom Cotton (R) $12,773,972 $9,383,840 $9,787,086
Hallie Shoffner (D) $1,589,764 $1,011,034 $578,730
Source: Federal Election Commission[24]

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[b]		 Margin
of error		 Tom
Cotton (R)		 Hallie
Shoffner (D)		 Undecided
GrayHouse (R)[25][A] February 7–9, 2026 550 (LV) ± 4.2% 58% 36% 7%

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The Economist's prediction model uses unconventional terminology. For the purpose of equivalency, their "Very Likely" ratings are formatted as a "Likely" rating while "Likely" ratings are formatted as a "Lean" rating.
  2. ↑ Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear

Partisan clients

  1. ↑ Poll sponsored by America One Policies

References

  1. ↑ Johnson, Julia (February 27, 2025). "Top Intel Republican Tom Cotton seeking re-election to Senate in 2026". Fox News. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Tom Cotton wins Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in Arkansas primary election". Associated Press. March 3, 2026. Archived from the original on May 6, 2026. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  3. 1 2 Vrbin, Terry (February 17, 2026). "Republican Sen. Tom Cotton focus of GOP, Democratic primaries". Arkansas Advocate. Archived from the original on February 26, 2026. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  4. ↑ Derr, Colby (July 9, 2025). "Trump endorses Senator Tom Cotton's re-election bid". THV11. Archived from the original on May 6, 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Grajeda, Antoinette (July 15, 2025). "Arkansas farmer challenges Cotton for U.S. Senate seat". Arkansas Advocate. Archived from the original on July 16, 2025. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  6. ↑ "AIPAC Political Portal". AIPAC. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Leading Nat'l Pro-Life Group Endorses Senator Tom Cotton for Re-Election". Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. January 7, 2026. Archived from the original on May 6, 2026. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
  8. ↑ "EDITORIAL: For Tom Cotton in the GOP primary for U.S. Senate". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. February 26, 2026. Archived from the original on March 1, 2026. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  9. 1 2 "2026 Election United States Senate - Arkansas". Federal Election Commission. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
  10. 1 2 "Arkansas Election Night Reporting". Arkansas Secretary of State. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  11. ↑ Jared, George (May 13, 2025). "Hallie Shoffner running for US Senate to challenge Cotton". Talk Business & Politics. Archived from the original on March 9, 2026. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Ethan Dunbar announces run for U.S. Senate". KAIT. September 10, 2025. Archived from the original on September 10, 2025. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  13. ↑ Vrbin, Tess (August 27, 2025). "James Russell III of Little Rock joins Democratic primary effort to unseat U.S. Sen. Cotton in 2026". Arkansas Advocate. Archived from the original on August 29, 2025. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  14. ↑ Earley, Neal (October 22, 2025). "Arkansas candidate for U.S. Senate withdraws, will seek another office instead". The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Archived from the original on October 27, 2025. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  15. ↑ "EDITORIAL: For Hallie Shoffner in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. February 26, 2026. Archived from the original on March 7, 2026. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Arkansas Election Night Reporting". Arkansas Secretary of State. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  17. ↑ Swaim, Kyler (February 23, 2026). "Arkansas Libertarians nominate candidates for 2026 general election". My Arkmaliss. Archived from the original on March 5, 2026. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Senate Ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  19. ↑ "2026 Senate Forecast". Race to the WH. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Battle for the Senate 2026". RealClearPolitics. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
  21. ↑ "2026 Senate ratings". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  22. ↑ "2026 CPR Senate Race Ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
  23. ↑ "2026 Senate Forecast". The Economist. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
  24. ↑ "2026 Election United States Senate - Arkansas". fec.gov. Federal Election Commission. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  25. ↑ Mitchell, Jackson (March 5, 2026). "Poll finds strong support for Trump, Cotton in Arkansas". Brookland News. Archived from the original on May 7, 2026. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
Official campaign websites
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_States_Senate_election_in_Arkansas