Elections for county judges will be held in the U.S. State of Arkansas in each of its 75 counties. County judges are the equivalent to county executives.
These elections will take place alongside races for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, governor, state senate, state house, and numerous other state and local offices.
Retirements Republican Benton County: Barry Moehring is retiring. Bradley County: Klay McKinney is retiring.
Democratic Ouachita County: Robert McAdoo is retiring. Phillips County: Clark Hall did not file to run for re-election.
Incumbents defeated Republican Drew County: Jessie L. Griffin lost renomination to Michael L. Owens. Poinsett County: J. C. Carter lost renomination to Randy Mills. Prairie County: Lawrence Holloway lost renomination to Johnny Reidhar. Washington County: Patrick Deakins lost renomination to Tim Shepard.
Democratic Pulaski County: Barry Hyde lost renomination to Wendell Griffen.
Pulaski County Three-term Democratic incumbent judge Barry Hyde ran for re-election but lost renomination in the primary to pastor Wendell Griffen.
Democratic primary Nominee Wendell Griffen, pastor and former circuit judge
Eliminated in primary Barry Hyde, incumbent Judge
Results
Republican primary Only one candidate filed, so the Republican primary was canceled. Nominee Michael Rushin
General election Results
Benton County Three-term Republican incumbent Judge Barry Moehring declined to run for re-election. State representative Austin McCollum won the Republican primary and is running unopposed in the general election.
Republican primary Nominee Austin McCollum, member of the Arkansas House of Representatives and former majority leader (2021–2023) from the 8th (2023–present) and 95th district (2017–2023)
Eliminated in primary Carrie Perrien Smith
Declined Barry Moehring, incumbent Judge Results
General election Results
Washington County One-term incumbent Republican judge Patrick Deakins is running for re-election. He advanced to the Republican runoff election, but trailed by seventeen percentage points to political newcomer Tim Shepard in the first round.
Republican primary Advanced to runoff Patrick Deakins, incumbent Judge Tim Shepard, police administrator
Eliminated in primary Mark Scalise, attorney and businessman Results First round
Runoff
Democratic primary Only one candidate filed, so the Democratic primary was canceled. Nominee Dana Deree
General election Results
Faulkner County Three-term incumbent Republican judge Allen Dodson is running for re-election unopposed.
General election Results
Saline County One-term incumbent Republican judge Matt Brumley is running for re-election unopposed.
General election Results
Sebastian County One-term incumbent Republican judge Steve Hotz is running for re-election.
Republican primary Nominee Steve Hotz, incumbent Judge
Eliminated in primary Ken Blevins Results
General election Results
Other counties (A–W) Every county in Arkansas will hold a county judge election in November 2026. + County Incumbent Candidates Judge Party Status Arkansas Incumbent retired. Eddie Roberson (Republican) Michael Blasengame (Independent) Ashley Incumbent running for re-election. Jim Hudson (Republican) Jim Wells (Independent) Drew Incumbent lost renomination. Michael L. Owens (Republican) Republican primary: Michael L. Owens: 844 votes, 53.69% Jessie L. Griffin: 728 votes, 46.31% Baxter Incumbent running for re-election. Kevin Litty (Republican) Republican primary: Kevin Litty (Republican) 4,467 votes, 62.05% Eric Payne (Republican) 2,732 votes, 37.95% Clay Incumbent running for re-election. Republican runoff: Mike Patterson Todd WatsonGreeneRusty McMillon Republican Incumbent running for re-election.Jerry Shipman (Democrat) Rusty McMillon (Republican) Republican primary: Rusty McMillon: 3,556 votes, 60.81% Kim Reeves: 2,291 votes, 39.19% Lincoln Incumbent running for re-election. Randy Morgan (Independent) J.T. Smith (Independent) Republican runoff: Buddy Earnest John Powell Madison Incumbent running for re-election. Republican runoff: Larry D. Garrett Ted Walker Poinsett Incumbent lost renomination. Kevin W. Caldwell (Independent) John K. Hutchison (Independent) Randy Mill (Republican) Republican primary: Randy Mills: 1,016 votes, 58.19% J. C. Carter: 730 votes, 41.81% Prairie Incumbent lost renomination. Johnny Reidhar (Republican) Republican primary: Johnny Reidhar: 1,211 votes, 74.52% Lawrence Holloway: 414 votes, 25.48% Woodruff Incumbent running for re-election. Michael John Gray (Independent)
See also
Government of Arkansas 2026 United States local elections 2026 Arkansas elections
References