Arkansas voters in State House District 8 will see the ballot twice on Nov. 3, 2026 – once for the regular general election and again for a special election to fill the remainder of the term left vacant when former Rep. Austin McCollum resigned following domestic‑violence charges in August.
General Election
Republican Brian Armas is the sole candidate and thus the party’s nominee for the full‑term seat. Armas told 40/29 News On the Record that his top priority is to curb the size and scope of government. He said, “We are constantly spending every dollar that we have, which I understand we want to be good stewards, but if we can limit what government does, have to sans the get‑tos, and really drill them down to the have‑tos, we can do that very well. And to me, government should be very strategic and focused on what we have to do.”
If elected, Armas is expected to be sworn in January 2027.
Special Election
The special election will determine who serves the District 8 seat from the time the results are certified in November until the new term begins in January 2027. The race pits Republican Kara Armas, the wife of Brian Armas, against Democrat Palmer Stohlton.
Stohlton emphasized constituent services as his primary focus. In an interview with 40/29 News On the Record he said, “My number one priority are those constituent services, so I will be available to everyone, so my promises would be to listen to every request, respond so the constituent knows I got the request, I will connect to the proper state resource to solve that problem, and I will follow up and communicate with the constituents to let them know their problem has been solved.”
Kara Armas declined to be interviewed for this story.
What Voters Need to Know
Both elections will appear on the same ballot, so voters should be prepared to select a candidate for each race. The general election decides who will hold the seat for the full two‑year term beginning in 2027, while the special election fills the vacancy for the remaining months of the current term.
Polling locations, early‑voting hours, and absentee‑ballot procedures remain unchanged from previous elections. Voters can verify their precinct and voting options on the Arkansas Secretary of State’s website.
Background
Rep. Austin McCollum resigned after being charged with domestic‑violence offenses, prompting the need for a special election. The district, which includes parts of Washington County, has historically leaned Republican, but the presence of a Democratic candidate in the special race adds a competitive element for the short‑term seat.
Local party organizations have encouraged their supporters to turn out for both contests, emphasizing the importance of representation in the state legislature for issues ranging from education funding to infrastructure projects that affect the district’s families and businesses.
Voters are urged to review each candidate’s platform, consider how their priorities align with community values, and cast their votes on Nov. 3.
Original reporting: 40/29 News KHBS Fort Smith (local) — read the source article.
