Little Rock, Arkansas – Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has called a special election to fill the vacant State Senate District 18 seat following the resignation of Sen. Jonathan Dismang.
Dismang, who represented District 18 in the Arkansas General Assembly, resigned on September 15, 2026. His departure created a vacancy that must be filled through a special election under state law.
Sanders issued a proclamation on September 18 establishing the election schedule along with deadlines for candidates, political parties and election officials.
Under the schedule announced by the governor, the special general election will take place Tuesday, January 5, 2027. Before then, eligible political parties will hold a special primary election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
If no candidate meets the requirements necessary to avoid a runoff, a special primary runoff election will be held Tuesday, December 1.
The proclamation notes that the Arkansas Constitution gives the governor responsibility for issuing election writs and establishing special election dates when a vacancy occurs in the General Assembly. State law also requires the election and related deadlines to be established as soon as possible after a legislative vacancy occurs.
Candidate filing period begins September 21
People seeking the District 18 seat will have a short period to complete the required filing process.
The filing period for party candidates will begin at noon on Monday, September 21, and close at noon on Thursday, September 24.
The same period applies to independent candidates submitting their notices of candidacy, political practices pledges and affidavits of eligibility to the Arkansas Secretary of State’s Office.
Independent candidates will then have an additional process to complete.
Petitions supporting independent candidates may be circulated beginning Monday, September 28. The petition period will continue until noon on Thursday, October 1.
The number of signatures independent candidates must collect will be proportionately reduced as provided under Arkansas law. Any independent candidate seeking a place on the special election ballot must submit the completed petition to the Secretary of State’s Office in Little Rock by noon on October 1.
The drawing that determines ballot positions for the special primary must occur on or before September 28.
Primary and runoff results face certification deadlines
After voters participate in the November 3 special primary, county boards of election commissioners must certify the results on or before Friday, November 13.
If the December 1 runoff is necessary, county election boards will have until Monday, December 7, to certify those results.
Political parties must then issue Certificates of Nomination no later than noon on Tuesday, December 8. Candidates must file those certificates by 5 p.m. that same day.
Another ballot position drawing will follow for the special general election. That drawing must take place on or before Wednesday, December 9.
Under the schedule established in the proclamation, voters will then cast ballots in the special general election on January 5, 2027.
County boards of election commissioners will have until Friday, January 15, to certify the results of that election.
The proclamation also addresses what would happen if a special primary runoff is not necessary. If no runoff is required and proper notice is provided under Arkansas law, another proclamation will be issued establishing a new date for the special general election.
Any deadlines or requirements not specifically covered by Sanders’ proclamation will continue to be governed by Arkansas election law.
The proclamation was formally issued September 18, only three days after Dismang’s resignation.
One apparent inconsistency appears in the proclamation text. While its heading refers to a vacancy for State Senator for District 8, the announcement, the stated reason for the election and the first numbered provision identify the vacant office as State Senator for District 18 following Dismang’s resignation.
The main election schedule established by the proclamation identifies January 5 as the special election date, with the November 3 primary and a possible December 1 runoff serving as the major steps leading up to the vote.
The process gives political parties and independent candidates a limited period to qualify while providing election officials with specific deadlines for ballot placement, certification and nomination documents. Once completed, the special election process will determine who fills the vacant District 18 seat in the Arkansas Senate.
