Howerton Wins Arkansas Circuit Judge Runoff
Wendy Howerton defeated Pawlik in the nonpartisan Fourth Circuit District 4, Division 2 judicial runoff.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Law
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Wendy Howerton won the Arkansas State Circuit Court District 4, Division 2 judge runoff with 37,267 votes, or 52 percent, in unofficial results. Her opponent, Pawlik, received 34,319 votes, or 48 percent.
Why it matters
The division presides over criminal, civil, domestic relations, probate, and juvenile legal matters across Washington and Madison counties. The runoff was required because neither candidate secured a majority in the March primary election.
Howerton's unofficial margin over Pawlik was 52 percent to 48 percent in the runoff. The results remain unofficial until certification, which has not yet occurred.
The players
Wendy Howerton
Howerton is the winning candidate who will take a seat on the Arkansas Fourth Judicial Circuit bench.
Pawlik
Pawlik is the runoff opponent who finished second in the Division 2 judicial race.
The details
Howerton and Pawlik advanced to the runoff after finishing in the top two during the March election. Circuit court judge races in Arkansas are officially nonpartisan.
Timeline
March 2026: Primary election held; no candidate won a majority.
November 3, 2026: Runoff election held; Howerton won.
January 1, 2027: Howerton's six-year term begins once results are certified.
Legal Context
Arkansas circuit judges are elected in nonpartisan races, a structure that places judicial selection on the ballot rather than through appointment in this district. The runoff outcome determines who presides over the Fourth Circuit's criminal, civil, domestic relations, probate, and juvenile dockets for the next six years.
Residents of Washington and Madison counties will see Howerton preside over criminal, civil, domestic relations, probate, and juvenile matters starting in 2027. The winner's term runs six years, shaping how local court cases are handled through the end of that period.
The takeaway
Judicial runoffs in Arkansas are decided by voters in nonpartisan contests, so the outcome reflects direct public choice for who will hear local court cases. Readers in the affected counties can track certification results as the count is finalized.
What happens next
Howerton's six-year term is scheduled to begin on January 1, 2027, once the election results are certified.
Further reading
Explore more on Law coverage tied to Arkansas courts and judicial elections.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Home Page.
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