2026 Arkansas Secretary of State election
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The 2026 Arkansas Secretary of State election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the secretary of state of Arkansas. Primary elections were held on March 3, and a primary runoff election was held on March 31. Incumbent secretary of state Cole Jester was appointed in 2024 and is ineligible to run for a full term.
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November 3, 2026
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Republican primary
The Republican primary went to a runoff, which became characterized as Hammer representing the GOP establishment, with Norris as political outsider. With little daylight on the issues between the two conservative Republicans, Hammer touted his 16 years of legislative experience and endorsements by incumbent Arkansas officeholders, and Norris portrayed himself as an outsider being attacked by the establishment. During the runoff, Norris' history of profane and conspiratorial social media posts became a campaign issue featured in commercials and websites, including one by a Sarah Huckabee Sanders-linked expenditure committee. The scandal also caused incumbent Jester to call for Norris to drop out of the race.[1]
Candidates
Nominee
- Kim Hammer, state senator from the 16th district (2019–present)[2]
Eliminated in runoff
- Bryan Norris, veteran[3]
Eliminated in primary
- Cathy Hardin Harrison, Miller County judge[4]
Endorsements
- U.S. senators
- Tom Cotton, Arkansas (2015–present)[5]
- Statewide officials
- Tim Griffin, attorney general of Arkansas (2023–present)[6]
- Sarah Huckabee Sanders, governor of Arkansas (2023–present) and former White House press secretary (2017–2019)[6]
- Cole Jester, secretary of state of Arkansas (2025–present)[7]
- Leslie Rutledge, lieutenant governor of Arkansas (2023–present)[6]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Bryan Norris | 91,933 | 34.3 | |
| Republican | Kim Hammer | 90,003 | 33.6 | |
| Republican | Cathy Hardin Harrison | 85,854 | 32.1 | |
| Total votes | 267,790 | 100.0 | ||
- 30–40%
- 40–50%
- 30–40%
- 40–50%
- 50–60%
- 30–40%
- 40–50%
- 50–60%
- 30–40%
Runoff
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Kim Hammer | 40,920 | 50.6 | |
| Republican | Bryan Norris | 40,002 | 49.4 | |
| Total votes | 80,922 | 100.0 | ||
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
- 70–80%
- 50–60%
- 50–60%
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Kelly Grappe, marketing specialist[11]
Third-party candidates
Libertarian Party
Nominee
- Michael Pakko, chair of the Libertarian Party of Arkansas and nominee for state treasurer in 2024[12]
General election
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[13] | Safe R | August 7, 2025 |