Kim Hammer Wins
Secretary of State Runoff
State Senator Kim Hammer defeats Bryan Norris in a close 51%–49% Republican primary runoff, earning the GOP nomination for Arkansas Secretary of State.
By Garrett Ham
3rd Vice Chair, Republican Party of Benton County
Republican Primary Runoff Results — March 31, 2026
Winner
Kim Hammer
51% of the vote
Runner-Up
Bryan Norris
49% of the vote
Hammer Secures the Nomination
State Senator Kim Hammer has won the Republican primary runoff for Arkansas Secretary of State, defeating Army veteran Bryan Norris in a closely contested race on March 31, 2026. Hammer earned 51% of the vote to Norris's 49%, securing the Republican nomination for one of Arkansas's most consequential statewide offices.
The narrow margin reflected the intensity of the race, which drew significant attention beyond a typical down-ballot contest. Both candidates campaigned hard across the state, offering Republican voters a clear choice between legislative experience and outsider reform.
A Hard-Fought Race
The runoff was triggered after no candidate in the March 3 Republican primary for Secretary of State cleared the 50% threshold required to win outright. Hammer and Norris emerged as the top two vote-getters and spent the weeks leading up to March 31 making their case to Republican voters across all 75 Arkansas counties.
Hammer, a pastor and longtime conservative legislator representing Senate District 16, campaigned on his legislative record and statewide conservative profile. Norris, an Army veteran, emphasized election integrity, administrative modernization, and his outsider status as a contrast to career politicians.
Looking Ahead to November
In his victory remarks, Hammer struck a unifying tone, emphasizing the importance of coming together as a party ahead of November. "When citizens participate, our democracy is strengthened and our Republic grows stronger," Hammer said, expressing gratitude to voters and a focus on party unity for the general election.
Hammer now advances to the November 2026 general election as the Republican nominee, where he will face Democrat Kelly Grappe and Libertarian Michael Pakko. Given Arkansas's strong Republican lean at the statewide level, Hammer enters the general election as the clear favorite.
About the Office
The Arkansas Secretary of State is a statewide constitutional officer who oversees elections and voter registration, maintains official state records and business filings, serves as keeper of the state seal, administers the Notary Public program, and publishes Arkansas statutes and administrative code. The position holds substantial power over election administration in the state.
See the full picture. The Secretary of State race is just one of dozens of contests in 2026. For a complete breakdown of every federal, state, and county race on your ballot, see our 2026 Benton County Voter Guide.