Arkansas Senate Seats Up for Grabs in 2026
Voters in Arkansas will decide 17 of 35 State Senate seats in November, with a District 18 special election following in January 2027.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Legislative Policy
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Arkansas holds 2026 State Senate elections for 17 of its 35 seats, and 12 of those contests have only one candidate running. A special election for the District 18 seat is set for January 5, 2027, after Jonathan Dismang resigned.
Why it matters
Republicans will hold the majority in the Arkansas State Senate regardless of the outcome, but Democrats could hold as few as two or as many as 11 seats after the November and January elections. The District 18 vacancy follows resignations that opened the seat for a new representative.
Of the 17 Arkansas State Senate seats up for regularly-scheduled elections in 2026, 12 have only one candidate running, leaving the final composition of the chamber partly settled before votes are cast. Democrats could end up with between two and 11 seats depending on how the November and January contests conclude.
The players
Jonathan Dismang
Former Arkansas State Senator for District 18 who resigned to take an executive position with Arkansas Electric Cooperatives.
Ben Gilmore
Former Arkansas State Senator who resigned to take a position with the state attorney general's office, creating a special election in District 1.
The details
Arkansas has two legislative chambers, and both must pass a bill before it reaches the governor for a signature. District 18, which covers White County and parts of Cleburne and Faulkner counties, will hold a special primary on November 3, 2026, with Camille Feyen and Will Moore set to face off in the January 5, 2027 special election.
Timeline
November 3, 2026: Arkansas State Senate general elections and District 18 special primary are held.
January 5, 2027: Special election for District 18 seat between Camille Feyen and Will Moore.
Legislative Context
Arkansas's 35-seat State Senate structure means that each regularly-scheduled cycle determines control for roughly half the chamber, and the 2026 contests follow that pattern. The current Republican majority will persist under any scenario, though the size of the Democratic minority depends on the outcome of these seats.
Residents of White County and parts of Cleburne and Faulkner counties will see a new state senator for District 18 after the January 2027 special election. The outcome determines who represents their district in bills that must pass both chambers before reaching the governor.
The takeaway
Arkansas voters should check which State Senate seats are on their ballot and whether their district is part of the 2026 or January 2027 special elections, since both determine the final chamber makeup. Tracking the District 18 contest will show how the vacancy resolves.
What happens next
The Arkansas State Senate general elections and District 18 special primary take place on November 3, 2026, followed by the District 18 special election between Camille Feyen and Will Moore on January 5, 2027.
Further reading
For more on how state lawmaking works, explore Legislative Policy coverage across Arkansas.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KHBS.
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