Who's running in Arkansas's 4th congressional district
2 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
2 candidates · ballot order · Bruce Westerman currently holds this seat
Low confidenceLow confidenceOnly one weak source, dated material, or indirect evidence. Treat specifics with caution.What would raise it: An official filing record and at least one independent report about this candidate would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Reforming the Endangered Species Act and giving states more authority over wildlife.
Land management and forest management policy, where Animal Wellness Action credits him with some bipartisan conservation work.
Protecting hunters' and anglers' access, including opposing federal limits on lead ammunition and tackle on public lands.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
US Representative for Arkansas's 4th District since January 2015; chairman, House Natural Resources Committee.
Former majority leader of the Arkansas House of Representatives.
Introduced the ESA Amendments Act in 2025; House leadership pulled it from floor consideration, per Animal Wellness Action.
Voted for the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act (H.R. 556) and the 2026 farm bill.
Unopposed in the 2026 Republican primary; endorsed by President Trump, per Wikipedia.
Arguments in favor
President Trump endorsed Westerman for re-election.
— President Donald Trump, per Wikipedia's race page
Arguments against
Westerman 'has become one of the most influential congressional opponents of federal wildlife protections', using his chairmanship to weaken the Endangered Species Act, remove gray wolf protections and block limits on toxic lead ammunition.
— Animal Wellness Action
What we couldn’t verify
No DCCC material or published criticism from his Democratic opponent was found in a loaded source.
His campaign website and 2026 platform could not be loaded.
Whether debates will be held had not been reported in a loaded source.
Fighting the influence of money in politics and government corruption.
Economic fairness.
Better health care and lower prescription drug costs.
Education and job training.
Affordable housing and protecting the environment.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Has not held elected office; candidate in the 2022 Democratic primary for governor.
Won the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary over Steven O'Donnell.
Owner of an outpatient mental-health clinic; Arkansas National Guard veteran.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No published argument for or against Russell by a named outside group, party or opponent could be loaded, so none is listed. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette coverage reporting that he lives outside the 4th District is paywalled and could not be read. Searched: 'Rus Russell' and 'James Russell' with Westerman, criticism, endorsement and NRCC; Arkansas Times, Arkansas Advocate, KARK and Texarkana Gazette coverage.
His campaign website and fundraising were not found in a loaded source.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
November 3, 2026 is Arkansas's general election. US House races are decided by plurality; Arkansas's general-election runoffs apply only to county and municipal offices. The map did not change for 2026: the 2021 districts remain in use, a federal racial gerrymandering challenge to the map was dismissed, and no 2026 redraw was found. Primaries were held March 3, 2026. Roster confirmed against Ballotpedia, Politics1 and Wikipedia: Republican Rep. Bruce Westerman, unopposed in his primary, and Democrat James 'Rus' Russell, who beat Steven O'Donnell. No Libertarian or independent candidate was found on the November ballot. The Arkansas Secretary of State's certified list was not loaded. The 4th is the state's largest district by area, covering most of southern and western Arkansas from part of Little Rock to Texarkana and north to Pope County. The candidate order here follows the published candidate listings, with the incumbent first; it is not verified ballot order and implies no ranking.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Arkansas ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.