Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has issued an amended proclamation moving up the special election to fill the vacant Arkansas Senate District 18 seat previously held by Jonathan Dismang.
The special election will now be held Tuesday, December 15, 2026.
Dismang resigned from the Arkansas Senate effective September 15, 2026, creating the vacancy in District 18.
Sanders originally issued a proclamation September 18 setting a later election schedule. The amended proclamation was issued October 5 after the candidate filing period closed with only 1 candidate filing for each political party holding a primary.
WHY THE ELECTION DATE WAS CHANGED
According to the governor’s proclamation, Arkansas law requires the governor to issue a new proclamation setting an earlier special election date when only 1 or 2 candidates file for a party nomination in a special legislative election.
The filing period closed at 12 Noon September 24, 2026, with only 1 candidate filing for the nomination of each party holding a primary.
Republican Will Moore and Democrat Camille Feyen filed as their respective parties’ candidates for the Senate District 18 seat.
Independent candidates Steven McClelland and Trevor McGarrah have also filed to run in the special election.
DECEMBER 15 SPECIAL ELECTION
Under the amended proclamation, the special election to fill the Arkansas Senate District 18 vacancy will be held Tuesday, December 15, 2026.
The winner will fill the remainder of Dismang’s Senate term, which runs through January 2029.
Senate District 18 includes White County and portions of Faulkner and Cleburne counties.
ELECTION DEADLINES SET
The amended proclamation also establishes several deadlines leading up to the December election.
County boards of election commissioners must certify the results of the special primary election on or before Wednesday, October 7, 2026.
Political parties must issue Certificates of Nomination no later than 12 Noon Thursday, October 8.
Candidates must file those Certificates of Nomination by 5 PM Thursday, October 8.
The drawing for ballot positions must take place on or before Friday, October 9.
Following the December 15 special election, county boards of election commissioners must certify the election results on or before Monday, December 28.
DISMANG RESIGNED SEPTEMBER 15
Jonathan Dismang had represented Senate District 18 before resigning September 15.
His resignation created the vacancy and triggered the special election process required under Arkansas law.
Under the Arkansas Constitution, the governor is responsible for calling special elections to fill vacancies in the Arkansas General Assembly.
Sanders’ October 5 amended proclamation states that all other deadlines and requirements not specifically included in the proclamation will be governed by Arkansas election law.
IMPORTANT DATES:
SEPTEMBER 15, 2026:
Jonathan Dismang’s resignation became effective.
SEPTEMBER 18, 2026:
Governor Sanders issued the original special election proclamation.
SEPTEMBER 24, 2026:
Candidate filing period closed at 12 Noon.
OCTOBER 5, 2026:
Sanders issued the amended special election proclamation.
OCTOBER 7, 2026:
Deadline for county boards of election commissioners to certify special primary results.
OCTOBER 8, 2026:
Political parties must issue Certificates of Nomination by 12 Noon.
OCTOBER 8, 2026:
Candidates must file Certificates of Nomination by 5 PM.
OCTOBER 9, 2026:
Deadline for drawing ballot positions.
DECEMBER 15, 2026:
SPECIAL ELECTION DAY.
DECEMBER 28, 2026:
Deadline for county boards of election commissioners to certify special election results.
Leave a Reply