Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders officially declared state Senate District 26 a vacant seat in the Legislature, paving the way for a special election to succeed Sen. Gary Stubblefield, who died earlier this month.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Two candidates have announced intentions to run for the Arkansas Senate District 26 seat, which was left vacant after Sen. Gary Stubblefield died on Sept. 2. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders certified the seat vacancy on Monday, Sept. 15, two days after Stubblefield was honored and laid to rest in Franklin County.

Two Arkansas Repubicans have announced their candidacies for the vacant Senate District 26 seat following the death of Senator Gary Stubblefield earlier this mo

Rep. Mark Berry (R-Ozark) announced Monday that he would run in an upcoming special election to fill the state Senate District 26 seat formerly held by the late Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R-Branch), who died on Sept. 2.

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders sent a letter to the Democratic and Republican parties of Arkansas on Monday morning regarding the now vacant seat

It was undisputed that the three-way split cracked cities, school districts, and judicial districts with high concentrations of Black people. And for the first time in history, Pulaski County no longer remained wholly within a single congressional district as its population anchor.

Miller County Judge Cathy Harrison announced her candidacy for Arkansas secretary of state on April 3. Filing for office opens at noon Nov. 3. Early voting in the preferential primary is Feb. 16-March 2, 2026.

State Auditor Dennis Milligan is seeking re-election to a second four-year term in 2026, Milligan announced on Monday.

Hundreds of Arkansas farmers gathered last week in Brookland, pleading for emergency financial relief as they struggle under mounting debt, rising costs, and collapsing crop prices. Many in the room had voted for President Donald Trump, yet they now fear the survival of their farms — and their families’ livelihoods — are at stake.

Dunbar and his wife have a blended family of five children. Filing for office opens at noon Nov. 3. Early voting in the preferential primary is Feb. 16-March 2, 2026.