Arkansas voters Tuesday reshaped the judicial landscape in the 16th Circuit and decided a slate of Independence and Stone county races, while also setting the stage for a November U.S. Senate matchup between Republican incumbent Tom Cotton and Democratic newcomer Hallie Shoffner.
In the four contested District 16 circuit judge races, Holly Meyer defeated Chaney Taylor in Division 1, Kara Byars topped a two-candidate field that included Scott Davidson and Thomas Kendrick in Division 2, and Lee Harrod beat Matthew Gray Dellinger in Division 3. In Division 4, Kimberly Edington held a 25-vote lead over Maureen Harrod.
In Independence County, voters chose incumbent Kevin Jeffery over Mark Biram for county judge, selected incumbent Shawn Stephens over Susan Baxter for sheriff, and sent Gena Lawrence to the county clerk’s office over Lisa Ann Drake.
In neighboring Stone County, Sheriff Brandon Long turned back a challenge from Dennis Simmons. The county judge race there is headed to a runoff, with Tim Hudspeth and Darryl Sullivan set to meet again on March 31. Voters in both the Timbo and Rural Special school districts approved their respective detachment measures.
Statewide, Secretary of State Cole Jester won the Republican nomination for commissioner of state lands, defeating Christian Olson. The Associated Press called the race with 53% of votes counted. Jester will face Libertarian nominee Christopher Olson in November. And a likely runoff between Secretary of State candidates Bryan Norris and Kim Hammer is expected for later this month.
Jester was appointed secretary of state by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders in 2024 after John Thurston won a special election to fill the remainder of the late Treasurer Mark Lowery’s term. Because he was appointed rather than elected to the post, Jester was ineligible to seek the secretary of state seat outright.
He will replace term-limited Land Commissioner Tommy Land if he wins in November.
In the U.S. Senate race, Shoffner — a sixth-generation farmer from Jackson County who says Trump’s tariffs forced her family out of agriculture last year — defeated Dunbar with 81.2% of the vote, with 40% of ballots counted when the AP called the race.
“I’m so humbled and grateful that the people of Arkansas have decided to put their trust in me,” Shoffner said. “I’m going to take it to the mat every single day for them. That’s what this has been about since the beginning.”
Cotton dispatched two Republican primary challengers — Micah Ashby, who received 9.3%, and Jeb Little, who received 8.6% — with 82.1% of the vote.
The AP called that race with 20% of ballots counted.
“I’m running to lower costs for Arkansas families, to continue rebuilding our military and bringing jobs and investments home to Arkansas, and to make our state safer and more prosperous,” Cotton said on Facebook. “I look forward to earning the support of Arkansans in November and continuing to be your voice in the Senate.”
For an unofficial look at Tuesday night’s regional races, click here.
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