Arkansas 2026 Filing Opens; High-Profile Candidates File

Candidates across Arkansas began filing Nov. 3 for the 2026 cycle at the State Capitol and county courthouses, with party filings starting at noon and nonpartisan judicial/prosecutorial filings at 3 p.m.; the filing deadline is in mid‑November (Nov. 11 or Nov. 12). High‑profile filings included Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, U.S. Reps. Bruce Westerman and French Hill (who faces a challenge from Democrat Chris Jones), and Hallie Shoffner, who filed to run against U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton. All 100 state House seats and 17 state Senate seats are on the ballot, and candidates completed party paperwork, ethics forms and Secretary of State filings as county clerks guided local filings. Election officials said they are preparing for the March 3, 2026 primary — a schedule moved from May to March under recent state law — with early voting beginning Feb. 16. Party and county officials emphasized recruiting poll workers, voter registration outreach, and that filing fees and procedures help vet serious candidates.