Fort Smith residents will head to the polls again on Dec. 1, 2026, as the city’s mayoral race moves to a runoff election. The runoff is required because no candidate received more than 50 percent of the vote in the initial election, according to 4029tv.com.

The two candidates who earned the most votes and will face each other in the runoff are Christina Catsavis and Daniel Williams. Both candidates are now focusing their campaigns on the upcoming election, seeking to persuade voters who supported other contenders in the first round.

This election cycle carries added significance because voters recently approved a change to the city’s form of government. The amendment, approved in a separate ballot measure, will restructure the mayor’s authority and the overall governance model for Fort Smith. However, the newly elected mayor on Dec. 1, 2026 will not assume the expanded powers outlined in the amendment.

Instead, the city will continue operating under the current system until the next mayoral election in 2028, when the new government structure will take effect. That means the winner of the 2026 runoff will serve a term with the existing mayoral powers, while the city prepares for the transition to the revised system two years later.

Local officials and community leaders have emphasized that the upcoming runoff will determine who guides Fort Smith through this interim period and helps shape the transition to the new government format. Residents are being urged to review the candidates’ platforms, especially on issues such as public safety, economic development, and the upcoming charter changes, to make an informed choice.

What’s next: The runoff election is scheduled for Dec. 1, 2026. After the results are certified, the winning candidate will assume office under the current mayor‑council structure. In 2028, Fort Smith will hold another mayoral election under the newly approved system, at which point the mayor will gain the expanded powers authorized by voters.

Sources: 4029tv.com