What to know about the March election
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A few powerful offices will be up for grabs in November, and the primary elections are set for March 3 with early voting starting Tuesday.
Why it matters: The primary elections decide who the final candidates will be, and in some cases, effectively elect candidates to office because candidates of only one party are running.
- Several nonpartisan judicial races and local decisions including a $375.5 million bond issue in Fayetteville are also on the ballot.
The latest: This is the first election where a new rule prohibiting registered Democrats from voting in Republican primaries is in effect. Voters registered as optional can vote in either primary, and registered Republicans can opt to vote in the Democratic primary.
- Regardless, voters can only vote in either the Republican and Democratic primaries. All voters can vote in nonpartisan races.
U.S. Senate
Lewisville Mayor Ethan Dunbar and Hallie Shoffner, a sixth-generation farmer from northeast Arkansas, are seeking the Democratic nomination to ultimately take Sen. Tom Cotton's seat.
Cotton has two challengers in the Republican primary: youth pastor Micah Ashby and Arkansas State Police trooper Jeb Little.
Governor
State Sen. Fred Love (D-Little Rock) is facing Supha Xayprasith-Mays, a business owner and former Walmart executive, for the Democratic nomination.
- Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders is seeking reelection and does not have a Republican challenger.
Commissioner of Lands
Secretary of State Cole Jester and real estate investor Christian Olson are running for the Republican nomination. No Democrats are running.
Secretary of State
Miller County Judge Cathy Hardin Harrison, state Sen. Kim Hammer (R-Benton) and veteran Bryan Norris are running in the Republican primary. Marketing specialist Kelly Grappe is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
State Supreme Court Associate Justice Position 3 — Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Nick Bronni vs. attorney John Adams.
Court of Appeals Associate Judge District 3, Position 1 — Arkansas District Court Judge Sarah Capp vs. Prosecuting Attorney Brandon Carter.
State House
Former State Rep. Charlene Fite and business owner Melissa Koller are vying for the Republican nomination for District 24, which includes part of southwest Washington County and stretches into Crawford County. Veteran Ryan Intchauspe is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
Benton County Judge
Justice of the Peace Carrie Perrien Smith and State Rep. Austin McCollum are running for the Republican nomination. The winner will face independent candidate Taylor Sizemore in the November election.
Washington County Judge
Judge Patrick Deakins is seeking reelection and has two challengers in the Republican primary:
Tim Shepard, a Fayetteville police department captain, and attorney Mark Scalise. Veteran and entrepreneur Dana Deree is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
Washington County Sherriff
Sheriff Jay Cantrell will face opponent Mike Stewart, who previously worked for the sheriff's office, in the Republican primary. This election will decide who the sheriff is as no other candidates have filed.
Washington County nonpartisan judicial races
- Circuit Judge, District 4, Division 2 — Seth Creed, Wendy Howerton and Kristin Pawlik.
- Circuit Judge, District 4, Division 3 — Maria McSperitt vs. April Rye Shy.
- Circuit Judge, District 4, Division 8 — Joanne Clarie, Judge Dawn Egan and Judge Diane Warren.
Benton County nonpartisan judicial races
- Circuit Judge, District 19-West, Division 4 — Mauricio Herrera vs. Hadley Hindmarsh.
- Circuit Judge, District 19-West, Division 6 — Joshua Robinson vs. Mike Armstrong.
- Circuit Judge, District 19-West, Division 8 — Tim McDonald vs. Ryan Blue.
Washington County Justices of the Peace
- District 5 Republican primary — Justice of the Peace Kyle Lyons vs. Jacklyn Perry Ryan.
- District 7 Democratic primary — AnneDella Hines vs. Sherry Main.
- District 10 Democratic primary — Farmington City Council Member Diane Bryant vs. Frank Jensik.
- District 13 Republican primary — Justice of the Peace Willie Leming, Ty Bates and Greg Curoso.
Benton County Justices of the Peace
- District 11 Republican primary — Justice of the Peace Dustin Todd vs. Bryan Holland.
- District 13 Republican primary — John Matar vs. Kevin Osnes.
Rogers School Board
- At-large position 6 — Board Member Mitch Lockhart vs. Jeanette Arnhart.
- At-large position 7 — Board member Nathan Gairhan vs. Mark Bariola.
- Zone 1 — Board member Robert Phillips vs. Reed Brown.
NorthWest Arkansas Community College Board of Trustees
- Zone 1 — Trustee Ashley Figer Pointer vs. Angela Calix.
- Zone 5 — Trustee Ron Branscum vs. Peter Bailey.
Go deeper: Read about the Fayetteville bond issue election and other local ballot issues.