Nashville Mayoral Race Heads to Runoff

Incumbent Larry Dunaway fell short of the 51 percent needed to avoid a runoff, while Howard and Pike County voters weighed in on several local issues.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a tall civic building facade in navy and cream with a single red accent, symbolizing the city's unresolved mayoral contest. — No candidate reached the 51 percent needed to avoid a runoff in Nashville's mayoral race, with Larry Dunaway leading at 378 votes ahead of Dennis Woodruff at 291. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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No candidate in the Nashville mayoral race reached the 51 percent threshold, sending the contest to a runoff. Larry Dunaway led with 378 votes, followed by Dennis Woodruff with 291 and Kelly Windham with 188.

Why it matters

A runoff means Nashville voters will return to the polls to choose between the top finishers before the mayoral term begins. In neighboring Howard and Pike counties, voters approved Issues 1, 2, and 4 and rejected Issue 3 in the same election.

Dunaway received 378 votes, Woodruff 291 and Windham 188, none reaching the 51 percent required to avoid a runoff. Howard and Pike County voters approved Issues 1, 2, and 4 and rejected Issue 3, and the total ballot count for Nashville was not reported.

The players

Larry Dunaway

Dunaway is the Nashville incumbent who finished first but fell short of the majority needed to win outright.

Dennis Woodruff

Woodruff finished second in the Nashville mayoral race and advanced to the contest's next stage.

The details

Nashville voters split their ballots among several candidates, leaving no one above the majority threshold. In Howard County, Joey Davis won the sheriff's race with 73 percent of the vote, and John Raulerson unseated incumbent Juanita Jackson 208 to 196 for Quorum Court District 9.

November 3, 2026: Election day, with results reported across Howard and Pike counties and in Nashville.

Political Context

Arkansas municipal runoff rules require a 51 percent majority for a mayoral victory, and the Nashville result triggers a second round under that standard. Opposition to runoff requirements typically centers on the cost and voter fatigue of repeat elections, though the extraction does not identify any specific objection raised in this race.

Nashville residents will need to vote again in a runoff to decide the mayoral race. Voters in Howard and Pike counties have already seen Issues 1, 2, and 4 approved, which may affect local budgets and bond-funded projects in those communities.

The takeaway

Local elections can hinge on majority thresholds, so checking whether a race will go to a runoff is an important step for voters following results. Ballot measures approved in one county do not automatically apply to neighboring counties, so readers should check the specific issues on their own ballot.