Senate race · 2026

Arkansas Senate Race

This election is for a seat currently held by Republican Tom Cotton. Three candidates have declared their intention to run for the seat.

All 2026 races

3 candidates · what each one campaigns on

Tom Cotton

Republican · Incumbent

Their record

Currently: U.S. Senator

Tom Cotton is a veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and earned a JD at Harvard Law School.

Campaign platform

Iran War
Cotton, who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, is an outspoken supporter of the war with Iran, stating that Iran has been an "imminent threat" for 47 years and that the U.S. should "finish the job militarily."
DefenseSource
Immigration
Cotton supports President Trump's mass deportations and immigration enforcement, describing the current state of immigration as an "invasion and a crisis."
ImmigrationSource
Immigration Reform
Cotton introduced the Reforming American Immigration for a Strong Economy Act, which aims to reduce green cards by more than half and cap refugee admissions at 50,000.
ImmigrationSource
ICE Funding
Cotton has seized on comments about 'Defund ICE' by his opponent, framing them as part of a Democratic movement that undermines law enforcement.
JusticeSource

Campaign site Ballotpedia profile

Hallie Shoffner

Democrat

Hallie Shoffner is a sixth-generation farmer from Newport, Arkansas, who earned a Master of Public Service from the Clinton School of Public Service.

Campaign platform

Iran War
Shoffner argues that military action against Iran is hurting Arkansas farmers and has said the argument for striking Iran contradicts claims of a decades-long imminent threat.
AgricultureSource
Economic Concerns
Shoffner notes that Arkansans are worried about the high cost of groceries, gas, healthcare, and medication, and highlights that Arkansas is the hungriest and second sickest state.
EconomySource
Immigration Enforcement
Shoffner criticizes the violence used by federal agents in immigration enforcement, calling it inappropriate and ineffective, and states she would vote to 'defund ICE as it exists right now'.
ImmigrationSource
Accountability in Law Enforcement
Shoffner's call to 'defund ICE as it exists right now' is a demand for accountability within federal agencies, pointing out that previous administrations deported millions without similar controversies or violence against citizens.
JusticeSource

Campaign site Ballotpedia profile

Jeff Wadlin

Libertarian

Jeff Wadlin is running for U.S. Senate out of Arkansas in 2026.

Campaign platform

End tariffs, enforce antitrust
Would eliminate broad tariffs raising consumer prices and use antitrust law against concentrating mergers.
EconomySource
Universal coverage at lower cost
Aims to cover everyone while cutting total U.S. health care spending.
Health CareSource
Expand housing supply
Would cut federal financing and infrastructure barriers to home construction while leaving zoning local.
EconomySource
End wars of aggression
Opposes foreign military entanglements he says drive debt and energy costs.
National SecuritySource
Protect democracy and personal liberty
Combines constitutional government with strong personal freedom protections.
Democracy & GovernmentSource

Campaign site Ballotpedia profile

Platform items are drawn from candidates’ own campaign materials and public reporting, summarised neutrally. They are what a candidate says they will do — not a judgement about whether they will do it. Once a candidate is serving in Congress, their record moves to the The Informed Ballot profiles.