3 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.
3 candidates · ballot order · Tom Cotton currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Securing the southern border and hard-line immigration enforcement.
Lowering prices and opposing federal regulatory overreach.
Military strength and a hawkish foreign policy, particularly toward Iran.
Second Amendment protections.
Targeted Arkansas measures: energy costs, infant care and parent assistance, and blocking cell phone signals in prisons.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Senator from Arkansas since January 2015; U.S. Representative for Arkansas's 4th district, 2013–2015.
Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference; third-ranking Senate Republican.
U.S. Army officer, 2004–2009.
Missed 88 of 4,339 roll call votes from January 2013 to August 2026, a 2.0% rate, better than the Senate median of 2.8%.
Was among 51 senators who voted in September 2025 against an attempt to force release of records relating to Jeffrey Epstein; in November 2025 he supported legislation ordering their release, which passed the Senate unanimously.
Has voted against the Farm Bill twice.
Won the March 3 2026 Republican primary with 81.6%, about 230,209 votes.
Arguments in favor
He is running to secure the border, lower prices and keep America safe, and his Senate work has centred on border security, defence policy and Iran.
— Tom Cotton for Senate campaign
As chairman of both the Intelligence Committee and the Republican Conference he is the third-ranking Senate Republican, giving a small state unusual influence on national security policy.
— Fox News reporting on his re-election announcement
He has one of the lowest missed-vote rates in the Senate and has introduced Arkansas-specific legislation on energy costs, infant care and prison contraband phones.
— GovTrack.us voting records and Legis1 analysis
Arguments against
He has voted against the Farm Bill twice, and has spent ten years rigging a corrupt political system against regular people rather than representing Arkansas farmers.
— Hallie Shoffner, his Democratic opponent
He does not represent everyday Arkansans — a criticism made not only by Democrats but by both of his own Republican primary challengers.
— Republican primary challengers Micah Ashby and Jeb Little, and Democratic candidates, as reported by the Arkansas Advocate
He voted in September 2025 against releasing the Jeffrey Epstein records, reversing only after public pressure — the vote that prompted a Republican state trooper to challenge him in his own primary.
— Jeb Little, his Republican primary challenger
What we couldn’t verify
His stated reason for the September 2025 Epstein records vote and for the later reversal.
His response to the criticism of his Farm Bill votes.
A Farm Bill that gives farmers 'room to breathe,' after her opponent voted against it twice.
Recentring the state economy on Arkansas farmers — 'Arkansans growing food for Arkansans' — including selling locally grown food to public school cafeterias.
New rural infrastructure to support local food systems.
Recognising and responding to the effect of climate change on agriculture, and promoting conservation and sustainable farming.
Taking on what she calls a corrupt political system rigged against regular people.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Sixth-generation Arkansas farmer; grew soybeans, rice, corn, cotton and wheat in the Arkansas Delta.
Closed her farm after a year of rising costs, poor markets, new tariffs and no meaningful Farm Bill relief, to protect her parents' land and retirement.
Entrepreneur; has not previously held elected office.
Launched her Senate campaign in July 2025.
Won the March 3 2026 Democratic primary with 78.3%, about 102,289 votes, over Lewisville mayor Ethan Dunbar.
Arguments in favor
She has actually farmed in Arkansas and lost the farm to the conditions she is campaigning about — rising costs, bad markets, tariffs and the absence of Farm Bill relief.
— Hallie Shoffner for Senate campaign
Her agriculture plan is concrete: a Farm Bill that gives farmers room to breathe, and building infrastructure so Arkansas farmers can sell locally grown food to Arkansas public schools.
— Hallie Shoffner for Senate campaign, as reported by THV11
She has run a more competitive campaign than expected in a state Democrats have written off, taking 78.3% of her primary against a sitting mayor.
— Arkansas Times reporting on her campaign
Arguments against
She is running as an Arkansas farmer but was a Democratic insider and a donor to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez before this campaign — the farmer framing obscures her national partisan politics.
— Tayte Christensen, Townhall
Her positions on climate and agriculture put her at odds with an Arkansas electorate that has not elected a Democrat statewide in over a decade.
— Washington Examiner reporting on the race
She has never held elected office and would be a freshman minority-party senator, against an incumbent who chairs two major Senate bodies.
— Tom Cotton for Senate campaign framing, as reported by Legis1
What we couldn’t verify
Her positions on immigration, abortion and foreign policy, which could not be established from sources located.
Relief for a middle class he says is being squeezed while the major parties fight culture wars.
A self-described pragmatic, centrist approach to economic policy.
Finding common ground across party lines on shared Arkansas problems.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Businessman and strategy consultant based in Bentonville.
Nominated by the Libertarian Party of Arkansas for U.S. Senate in February 2026.
Announced his campaign on May 19 2026.
Has not held elected office.
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 coverage critical of him by name could be located, so no arguments against him are recorded here rather than substituting criticism of the Libertarian Party generally. With no criticism available, no arguments for him are recorded either, so the two columns stay comparable.
His specific positions on agriculture, health care, immigration and abortion.
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.
Roster established from NBC News, the Arkansas Advocate, Talk Business & Politics and Ballotpedia, cross-checked. Republican incumbent Tom Cotton won the March 3 2026 primary with 81.6% over pastor Micah Ashby and state trooper Jeb Little. Hallie Shoffner won the Democratic primary with 78.3% over Lewisville mayor Ethan Dunbar. Jeff Wadlin was nominated at the Libertarian Party of Arkansas convention in February 2026. No independent or other minor-party Senate candidate could be confirmed for the November ballot.
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.