Primary Elections

Arkansas Primary Elections 2026

Primary date, filing deadlines, key contested races, and what to watch in Arkansas ahead of the 2026 general election.

May 19, 2026
Primary Date
June 9, 2026
Runoff / RCV
March 2026
Filing Deadline
Low — Solid Republican primari
Competitiveness

Key 2026 Primary Races

U.S. Senate Tom Cotton (R) not up until 2028
Governor Sarah Sanders not up until 2030
U.S. House AR-2 (French Hill is up for Senate)

2026 Primary Overview

Arkansas is safely Republican. If French Hill runs for Senate (replacing Boozman who is retiring), the AR-2 Republican primary will be competitive for the open seat.

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Generic Ballot Democrats48.1% Republicans41.1% D+7 Trump Approval Approve39% Disapprove58% Senate D47 R53 House D213 R222 Generic Ballot Tracker Trump Approval Senate 2026 House 2026 Latest Analysis