The 2026 Arkansas gubernatorial election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Arkansas. Republican incumbent Sarah Huckabee Sanders is seeking a second term. She is being challenged by Democratic state senator Fredrick Love and Libertarian Colt Shelby.

Primary elections took place on March 3, 2026. Huckabee Sanders secured the Republican nomination unopposed. Love defeated businesswoman Xayprasith-Mays in the Democratic primary with 81.0% of the vote.

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Sarah Huckabee Sanders, incumbent governor (2023–present)

Endorsements

Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Fredrick Love, state senator from SD-15 (2023–present) Eliminated in primary Supha Xayprasith-Mays, businesswoman and candidate for governor in 2022

Results

Results by county County Love Xayprasith-Mays Margin TotalArkansas35590.10% 39 8.90% 31681.20%394Ashley29969.37% 132 30.63% 16738.74%431Baxter40675.89% 129 24.11% 27751.78%535Benton7,41474.24% 2,573 25.76% 4,84148.48%9,987Boone32569.89% 140 30.11% 18539.78%465Bradley19973.16% 73 26.84% 12646.32%272Calhoun8168.07% 38 31.93% 4336.14%119Carroll59570.33% 251 29.67% 34440.66%846Chicot1,09376.27% 340 23.73% 75352.54%1,433Clark84384.64% 153 15.36% 69069.28%996Clay9084.91% 16 15.09% 7469.82%106Cleburne43382.48% 92 17.52% 34164.96%525Cleveland5772.15% 22 27.85% 3544.30%79Columbia54687.78% 76 12.22% 47076.56%622Conway68781.11% 160 18.89% 52762.22%847Craighead2,22377.59% 642 22.41% 1,58155.18%2,865Crawford80476.50% 247 23.50% 55753.00%1,051Crittenden1,86483.51% 368 16.49% 1,49667.02%2,232Cross24580.59% 59 19.41% 18661.18%304Dallas8673.50% 31 26.50% 5547.00%117Desha1,04178.51% 285 21.49% 75657.02%1,326Drew46274.52% 158 25.48% 30449.04%620Faulkner4,28681.04% 1,003 18.96% 3,28362.08%5,289Franklin29280.89% 69 19.11% 22361.78%361Fulton11973.46% 43 26.54% 7646.92%162Garland2,84076.53% 871 23.47% 1,96953.06%3,711Grant24883.22% 50 16.84% 19766.38%298Greene54779.51% 141 20.49% 40659.02%688Hempstead37489.26% 45 10.74% 32978.52%419Hot Spring67079.38% 174 20.62% 49658.76%844Howard26881.46% 61 18.54% 20762.92%329Independence51779.66% 132 20.34% 38559.32%649Izard18576.13% 58 23.87% 12752.26%243Jackson23475.97% 74 24.03% 16051.94%308Jefferson5,59480.22% 1,379 19.78% 4,21560.44%6,973Johnson29376.10% 92 23.90% 20152.20%385Lafayette21181.15% 49 18.85% 16262.30%260Lawrence22286.38% 35 13.62% 18772.76%257Lee1,57286.61% 243 13.39% 1,32973.22%1,815Lincoln12873.14% 47 26.86% 8146.28%175Little River17571.72% 69 28.28% 10643.44%244Logan23977.60% 69 22.40% 17055.20%308Lonoke1,27380.01% 318 19.99% 95560.02%1,591Madison16579.71% 42 20.29% 12359.42%207Marion28175.13% 93 24.87% 18850.26%374Miller78679.64% 201 20.36% 58559.28%987Mississippi51580.47% 125 19.53% 39060.94%640Monroe31384.14% 59 15.86% 25468.28%372Montgomery5867.44% 28 32.56% 3034.88%86Nevada28281.27% 65 18.73% 21762.54%347Newton11980.95% 28 19.05% 9161.90%147Ouachita72879.30% 190 20.70% 53858.60%918Perry22586.54% 35 13.46% 19073.08%260Phillips1,94883.50% 385 16.50% 1,56367.00%2,333Pike13885.71% 23 14.29% 11571.42%161Poinsett21183.40% 42 16.60% 16866.80%253Polk18573.12% 68 26.88% 11746.24%253Pope92775.06% 308 24.94% 61950.12%1,235Prairie5180.95% 12 19.05% 3961.90%63Pulaski33,84184.07% 6,411 15.93% 27,43068.14%40,252Randolph22983.27% 46 16.73% 18366.54%275Saline3,92482.58% 828 17.42% 3,09665.16%4,752Scott5473.97% 19 26.03% 3547.94%73Searcy8381.37% 19 18.63% 6462.74%102Sebastian2,47573.79% 879 26.21% 1,59647.58%3,354Sevier2877.78% 8 22.22% 2055.56%36Sharp21773.81% 77 26.19% 14047.62%294St. Francis77187.22% 113 12.78% 65874.44%884Stone15775.12% 52 24.88% 10550.24%209Union92880.14% 230 19.86% 69860.28%1,158Van Buren30077.92% 85 22.08% 21555.84%385Washington12,87982.96% 2,646 17.04% 10,23365.92%15,525White1,09480.26% 269 19.74% 82560.52%1,363Woodruff20984.96% 37 15.04% 17269.92%246Yell16976.82% 51 23.18% 11853.64%220Totals104,72581.03%24,52018.97%80,20562.06%129,245

Libertarian primary Candidates Nominee Colt Shelby, farmer

General election Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political ReportAugust 27, 2026Decision Desk HQSeptember 23, 2026Fox NewsJuly 23, 2026Inside ElectionsSeptember 3, 2026RealClearPoliticsJune 5, 2026Sabato's Crystal BallSeptember 4, 2025Silver Bulletin August 25, 2026

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin SarahHuckabee Sanders (R) FredrickLove (D) ColtShelby (L) UndecidedHendrix CollegeAugust 11–12, 20261,217 (LV)± 4.7%45%40%7%8%

See also 2026 United States elections 2026 Arkansas elections 2026 United States Senate election in Arkansas 2026 Arkansas Senate election 2026 Arkansas House of Representatives election

Notes

Partisan clients

References

External links Official campaign websites Fredrick Love (D) Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) Colt Shelby (L)