Hammer Wins Arkansas Secretary of State Race
Republican Kim Hammer was projected to succeed Cole Jester as Arkansas' top election official after the 2026 general election.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Republican Kim Hammer was projected to win the Arkansas secretary of state race on Tuesday, defeating Democrat Grappe and Libertarian Pakko. Hammer succeeds Republican Secretary of State Cole Jester, who was appointed land commissioner.
Why it matters
The secretary of state oversees elections and manages key services for businesses and the state Capitol grounds, so the outcome shapes how the state runs its voting system. Jester could not seek the office again because he took the land commissioner post by appointment.
Unofficial Associated Press results with 99% counted show Hammer at 490,330 votes, Grappe at 347,409 and Pakko at 40,162. The figures remain unofficial until final certification.
The players
Kim Hammer
Kim Hammer is a Republican from Benton who has served about 16 years in the Arkansas General Assembly as a state representative and senator.
Cole Jester
Cole Jester is the Republican Arkansas secretary of state who was appointed by Governor Sanders to serve as land commissioner.
The details
Hammer has served about 16 years in the General Assembly as a state representative and senator. He finished second in the March 3 Republican primary and then defeated Bryan Norris in the Republican runoff by fewer than 1,000 votes. He pledged to visit schools to teach students about voting and to continue streamlining business services.
Timeline
March 3, 2026: Hammer finished second in the three-way Republican primary.
Earlier in 2026: A federal judge ruled 2025 ballot measure petition laws unconstitutional.
November 3, 2026: Hammer was projected winner in the general election.
Political Context
The office is taking shape after the 2025 legislature added photo ID and legal summary requirements for ballot measure petitions, which a federal judge later ruled unconstitutional. Hammer's win sets up how the next secretary of state handles those election rules.
Voters now know who will oversee elections and business filings in Arkansas. The new secretary of state will decide how ballot measure petition rules are applied following the federal court ruling.
The takeaway
Election results can shift who runs key state services, so tracking the office helps voters understand changes to business filings and ballot rules.
Further reading
Explore more on Elections in Arkansas to see how the state runs its voting system.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ArkansasOnline.
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