What's on My Ballot?
2026 Benton County Voter Guide
Every race on the 2026 ballot for Benton County voters — federal, state, and local — with key dates, candidates, and how to vote.
By Garrett Ham
3rd Vice Chair, Republican Party of Benton County
Key Dates
- March 31, 2026 — Republican Primary Runoff (Secretary of State and select legislative races)
- November 3, 2026 — General Election
2026 is a major election year in Arkansas. Benton County voters will cast ballots in races at every level of government — from U.S. Senate and Governor all the way down to county judge, justices of the peace, and constables. This guide covers the races on your ballot, the candidates who have advanced through the primary, and how to make sure you're ready to vote.
Note: This page reflects results from the March 3, 2026 preferential primary. Some races still have a runoff on March 31. We will update this page as results are finalized. Candidate information is sourced from the Arkansas Secretary of State, Ballotpedia, and official campaign filings. Your specific ballot depends on your address and districts — use VoterView to see your personalized sample ballot.
Federal Races
U.S. Senate
Tom Cotton
Incumbent. Seeking a third term. Won the Republican primary on March 3.
Hallie Shoffner
Farmer. Won the Democratic primary on March 3.
Jeff Wadlin
Libertarian nominee.
U.S. House — District 3
Arkansas's 3rd Congressional District includes all of Benton, Washington, Carroll, and Madison counties, plus portions of Crawford and Sebastian counties.
Steve Womack
Incumbent. Seeking his ninth term. Unopposed in the Republican primary.
Robb Ryerse
Pastor and nonprofit leader from Springdale.
Statewide Races
Governor
Sarah Huckabee Sanders
Incumbent. Unopposed in the Republican primary. Seeking a second term.
Fredrick Love
Won the Democratic primary on March 3.
Colt Shelby
Libertarian nominee.
Lieutenant Governor
Leslie Rutledge
Incumbent. Unopposed in the Republican primary. No Democratic challenger filed.
Michael Kalagias
Libertarian nominee.
Secretary of State
Republican Runoff — March 31, 2026
No candidate reached 50% in the March 3 primary. The top two finishers face each other in a runoff on March 31. Read our full runoff guide.
Kim Hammer
State Senator, District 16. Received 33.6% in the March 3 primary.
Bryan Norris
Army veteran. Received 34.3% in the March 3 primary.
The winner will face Kelly Grappe (D) and Michael Pakko (L) in the November general election.
Attorney General
Tim Griffin
Incumbent. Unopposed in the Republican primary and currently without a general election opponent.
Treasurer
John Thurston
Incumbent. Unopposed in the Republican primary and currently without a general election opponent.
Auditor of State
Dennis Milligan
Incumbent. Unopposed in the Republican primary and currently without a general election opponent.
Commissioner of State Lands
Cole Jester
Won the Republican primary on March 3 with 72% of the vote.
Christopher Olson
Libertarian nominee.
State Legislature
Arkansas State Senate
17 of 35 Senate seats are on the 2026 ballot (Arkansas uses a staggered system). Benton County spans six Senate districts — Districts 28, 31, 32, 33, 34, and 35 — all currently held by Republicans. Whether your senator is on this year's ballot depends on your district.
Arkansas State House
All 100 House seats are on the ballot every two years. Benton County overlaps with roughly 10–12 House districts, represented almost entirely by Republicans.
Find your specific districts and candidates: Use VoterView to see your personalized sample ballot with the exact state legislative races in your precinct.
Benton County Races
County Judge
Austin McCollum
State Representative. Won the Republican primary on March 3 with approximately 64% of the vote, defeating Carrie Perrien Smith.
Sheriff
Shawn Holloway
Incumbent. Unopposed in the Republican primary.
Other County Offices
The following county offices had unopposed Republican nominees in the March 3 primary. Most are incumbents; Joel Edwards (Tax Collector) is a current Justice of the Peace running for the office.
| Office | Republican Nominee |
|---|---|
| Circuit Clerk | Brenda DeShields |
| County Clerk | Betsy Harrell |
| Coroner | Daniel R. Oxford |
| Tax Assessor | Roderick M. Grieve |
| Tax Collector | Joel Edwards |
| Treasurer | Deanna Ratcliffe |
Justices of the Peace & Constables
Benton County has 15 Justice of the Peace districts and multiple constable districts. Several JP seats had competitive primaries on March 3. Your JP and constable candidates depend on which district you live in — use VoterView to find your specific JP and constable races and candidates.
How to Vote
- Check your registration: Visit voterview.ar-nova.org to verify your registration, find your polling place, and view your sample ballot
- Bring a valid photo ID: Arkansas requires photo identification to vote in person. Acceptable forms include an Arkansas driver's license, U.S. passport, or concealed carry license. See our voter resources page for the full list.
- Runoff — March 31: Polls are open 7:30 AM – 7:30 PM. The Secretary of State runoff and select legislative runoffs are on this ballot.
- General Election — November 3: All federal, state, and local races on the ballot. Polls open 7:30 AM – 7:30 PM.
- Absentee voting: Registered voters who will be unavoidably absent from their polling place, or who are ill or disabled, may request an absentee ballot. A witness signature is required for "unavoidably absent" voters. Contact the Benton County Clerk's office at (479) 271-1013 for details.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the 2026 general election in Benton County?
What do I need to bring to vote in Arkansas?
How do I find my polling place and sample ballot?
Can I vote absentee in Benton County?
What is the March 31 runoff election?
Stay informed. This page will be updated as runoff results come in and as general election races take shape. Bookmark it, share it with friends and neighbors, and make sure you're ready when it's time to vote. For the latest news and election updates, follow the Republican Party of Benton County on Facebook.