Here’s why the Arkansas primaries are crucial for November’s ballot
As primary elections approach in Arkansas, they hold critical weight in shaping November’s ballot, especially amid a Republican supermajority.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark — Primary election day is now less than 24 hours away.
For many, this is the first step before November. And for some county and state races, the primaries will determine who will be on the ballot come November.
“These primaries are critical. Most of the action takes place in these primaries. But come November, you have to show up as well,” explained Rob Steinbuch, who is the Arkansas Bar Foundation Professor of Law at the UA Little Rock William H. Bowen School.
On March 3, 2026, the polls will open bright and early at 7:30 a.m.
“Actually, they are the most important because that’s where you decide, based on your party affiliation or non-party affiliation, just who your candidate will be for the general election in Arkansas,” described Charles King, who is the Executive Director of Southeast Arkansas College Office of Development.
On Monday, ahead of the primary election, lines started to wrap around the corner at a polling site in Pulaski County.
Many officials say that the primary race might be the most crucial for those running for state, county, or federal office.
“In Arkansas, it’s the most important vote overall. I’m not saying in every election, but overwhelmingly in our House and Senate elections for the State House and State Senate, of course, those elections are determined in the primaries, because most areas are actually most areas are Republican,” said Steinbuch. “The vast majority of districts are Republican, and there is little or no chance that in those areas the Democrat will win. So the whole fight, the whole battle, takes place in that primary election.”
Steinbuch explained why the primary has changed to be the key race.
“I would say that we’ve been seeing over the set the last several elections in the Republican Party, challengers from the right. And that’s a relatively new phenomenon, because, after all, Republicans being in the super majority is a relatively new phenomenon. It’s 2008ish or so. Think about that in the grand scheme of things. That’s a very short time,” he described.
Currently, Republicans hold the supermajority in the state House, Senate, and all the constitutional offices in the state.
But could the state see a flip in House or Senate districts? King said that’s not a likely scenario.
“There may be one or two State House seats that may flip, and that would be a good thing. It seems like from the last election or two, the Democrats have made a slow return, but it’s going to take a while for that to even out, I believe. But for the most part, the control will remain the same,” he explained.
Professor Steinbuch also said that on a federal level, with the six members of the Arkansas delegation, it’s likely it could stay the same.
“In the state races, we haven’t had a Democratic member of the federal of the US Congress in quite a number of years. And the same for the Senate. Both of our US senators are Republican, and all four of our congressmen are Republican. So it seems unlikely that it will flip. But by the way, never say never, and that includes in the state elections too,” Steinbuch said.
Polls officially come to a close at 7:30 p.m. on March 3. It is important to note that in order to vote, you must be in line before that time.