What to know about candidates for Arkansas Senate District 26
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Adam Watson, left, and Brad Simon are running for the state Senate seat for District 26. Photos: Courtesy of the campaigns
Republican Brad Simon and Independent Adam Watson face off Tuesday for the state Senate District 26 seat vacated after Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R-Branch) died in September.
Why it matters: About 83,000 residents live in the district, which includes portions of Franklin, Johnson, Logan and Sebastian counties.
- Much of the district is embroiled in conflict with Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders over proposed plans to locate a 3,000-bed prison there.
The big picture: Both candidates oppose locating the prison there, citing a lack of infrastructure, utilities and workforce to support what would be the state's largest single project, estimated at $750 million to $1 billion.
Flashback: Sanders initially scheduled the special elections for June 9, after lawmakers' April fiscal session.
- Court battles ultimately led to the elections being moved to March 3.
Brad Simon
Simon, who owns a statewide pest control company, said his candidacy stems from frustration with what he views as government waste and overreach affecting small-business owners. He presents himself as a practical, business-minded conservative focused on fiscal responsibility and local feasibility.
What he's saying: "Making sure that our tax dollars are being spent wisely is my priority," he told Axios.
- He supports expanding prison capacity statewide to address prison overcrowding, but he strongly opposes the proposed Franklin County site.
- He thinks the state would do better to find another location that includes communities that want the project, saying the state should invest in reentry and mental health projects to reduce inmate recidivism.
His broader goal is to apply private-sector discipline to state spending and eliminate what he sees as inefficient capital decisions.
Adam Watson
Watson, who works in business development and spent more than a decade in commercial real estate and litigation support, said his candidacy stemmed from his advocacy against the proposed Franklin County prison site. He positions himself as an independent voice focused on government transparency, fiscal restraint and structural reform.
What he's saying: "I think the best way to serve this place … is to have somebody that's only beholden to their constituents," he said.
- He opposes the current prison proposal, arguing that repeated legislative pushback should have ended the project and that the process exposed deeper governance issues in Little Rock.
- He acknowledges the need for additional prison capacity, but he said lawmakers must also address reentry programs, mental health investment and what he views as power imbalances within state government.
His broader goal is to build bipartisan coalitions and emphasize accountability, budget discipline and procedural reform over partisan ideological fights.