Arkansas Politics

Joe Profiri, formerly the head of the Arkansas Department of Corrections, met with lawmakers Tuesday to discuss the need for more prison bed space.

The Department of Human Services asked the federal government for two years to come up with a new Medicaid model

Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Cody Hiland nominated instead

Sanders also proposes $20 million in new spending for early childhood education

Republican Sen. Joshua Bryant was elected Thursday as the Arkansas Senate’s next leader following three hours of deadlocked voting that indicated divisions facing the majority-GOP chamber next year.

Democrats picked up at least 10 seats in the House, concentrated in Benton, Washington and Pulaski counties; plus one seat in the Senate, where Republicans still have a supermajority.

Three Republicans representing deep red parts of Arkansas held onto their seats Tuesday, handily dispatching their Democratic challengers — though one of the state’s four congressmen remained locked in a tight battle for another term.

Cotton won reelection to his Arkansas seat Tuesday, fending off a challenge from Democrat Hallie Shoffner who focused on how tariffs and rising fuel prices were hurting the state’s farmers.

Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders defeated Democratic state Sen. Fred Love and Libertarian Colt Shelby Tuesday night in her bid for a second term as Arkansas governor.

Read Little Rock Public Radio's full coverage of the 2026 midterms.