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Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has called a special election for Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2027, to fill the state Senate District 18 seat left open when Sen. Jonathan Dismang resigned last week.
Sanders signed the proclamation Friday, Sept. 18. It sets a special primary for Tuesday, Nov. 3, the same day as the general election, with a primary runoff on Tuesday, Dec. 1, if one is needed.
District 18 covers White County and parts of Faulkner and Cleburne counties. It does not include any part of the Twin Lakes area.
Dismang, a Searcy Republican, stepped down Sept. 15 after more than 17 years at the Capitol. He has been named vice president of external affairs for Arkansas Electric Cooperatives Inc., the Arkansas Advocate reported, where he will succeed former state Rep. Bill Gossage after Gossage retires in January.
That move carries a local tie. North Arkansas Electric Cooperative, which serves much of the Twin Lakes area, is one of the member cooperatives behind the statewide organization.
The window to run is short. Party candidates and independents can file with the secretary of state’s office from noon Monday, Sept. 21, until noon Thursday, Sept. 24.
Independents may circulate petitions from Monday, Sept. 28, through noon Thursday, Oct. 1, when the petitions are due in Little Rock. The proclamation says the number of signatures required will be reduced to fit the shortened calendar.
Searcy City Attorney Will Moore, a Republican, announced last week that he plans to run, according to the Advocate.
County election commissions must certify the special primary by Nov. 13 and any runoff by Dec. 7. Parties have until noon Dec. 8 to issue certificates of nomination, and candidates must file them by 5 p.m. that day.
Results of the Jan. 5 election must be certified by Jan. 15. The Legislature’s regular session opens Jan. 11.
If no primary runoff is needed, the proclamation allows the governor to issue a new order moving the special general election to a different date.
Under the Arkansas Constitution, only the governor can issue writs of election and set dates to fill vacancies in the General Assembly.
