Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has scheduled a special election for Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2027, to fill the District 18 state Senate seat vacated by Sen. Jonathan Dismang, who resigned Sept. 15. The proclamation, signed on Friday, Sept. 18, outlines a special primary election on Tuesday, Nov. 3, with a runoff, if necessary, on Dec. 1.
Senate District 18 encompasses White County and portions of Faulkner and Cleburne counties but does not include the Twin Lakes area. Dismang, a Republican from Searcy, stepped down after serving more than 17 years in the Arkansas General Assembly. He will assume the role of vice president of external affairs at Arkansas Electric Cooperatives Inc. in January, succeeding former state Rep. Bill Gossage.
The election calendar is tight. Candidates from political parties and independents must file with the secretary of state’s office between noon on Monday, Sept. 21, and noon on Thursday, Sept. 24. Independent candidates may also circulate petitions between Sept. 28 and noon on Oct. 1, when they are due in Little Rock. The proclamation stipulates that the number of signatures required will be adjusted to fit the shortened timeline.
At least one candidate has already declared. Searcy City Attorney Will Moore, a Republican, announced last week that he intends to run for the seat, according to the Arkansas Advocate.
County election commissions are required to certify the special primary results by Nov. 13 and any runoff by Dec. 7. Certificates of nomination must be issued by political parties by noon on Dec. 8, with candidates required to file those certificates no later than 5 p.m. the same day. Results of the Jan. 5 special election will need to be certified by Jan. 15, four days after the legislature’s 2027 regular session opens on Jan. 11.
If no runoff is needed, the proclamation allows the governor to set a new date for the special general election.
Under the Arkansas Constitution, the governor holds exclusive authority to issue writs of election and establish dates to fill legislative vacancies. North Arkansas Electric Cooperative, a member of Arkansas Electric Cooperatives Inc., serves much of the Twin Lakes area, linking this statewide organization to the region.