Kara Armas Wins Arkansas House District 8 Seat
Republican Kara Armas claimed the Arkansas House District 8 special election over Democrat Parker John Stohlton.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
Republican Kara Armas won the Arkansas House District 8 special election, receiving 7,063 votes (61.8%) to Democrat Parker John Stohlton's 4,764 votes (38.2%). The results are final but unofficial as of Tuesday night.
Why it matters
The seat was vacated when Austin McCollum resigned in August, and Armas will fill it until January 11. The outcome keeps the district in Republican hands for the remainder of the term, with District 8 located entirely in Benton County.
Armas led Stohlton by 2,299 votes, winning 61.8% of the ballots cast in the special election. The totals are unofficial, and the final certified count has not yet been reported.
The players
Kara Armas
Kara Armas is the Republican who won the Arkansas House District 8 special election and will serve until January 11.
Brian Armas
Brian Armas is a Benton County justice of the peace and Kara Armas's husband, who won the Republican primary and will take over the seat on January 11.
Parker John Stohlton
Parker John Stohlton is the Democrat who lost the Arkansas House District 8 special election to Kara Armas.
The details
Kara Armas, a Republican, defeated Democrat Parker John Stohlton in the special election held Tuesday. The seat had been open since Austin McCollum resigned in August.
Timeline
August: Austin McCollum resigns from the District 8 seat.
March: Brian Armas wins the Republican primary.
November 3: Brian Armas runs unopposed in the general election.
Tuesday night: Unofficial special election results are reported.
January 11: Kara Armas fills the seat and Brian Armas takes over the seat.
Political Context
The special election replaces Austin McCollum, whose August resignation opened the seat midway through his term. Republicans retain the District 8 seat, which sits entirely within Benton County.
District 8 residents in Benton County, Rogers, Bella Vista and Pea Ridge will be represented by a Republican in the state House starting January 11. The change affects who votes on state legislation for this district through the end of the term.
The takeaway
District 8 is now set to remain under Republican representation, with the Armas household holding the seat through January 11 as the transition unfolds. Voters in Benton County should watch for certified results to confirm the final totals.
What happens next
Kara Armas and Brian Armas take office in the District 8 seat on January 11.
Further reading
Explore more in Arkansas Elections, where local races and ballot results are tracked.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Home Page.
