Secretary of State Cole Jester to run for Commissioner of State Lands

Arkansas Secretary of State Cole Jester announced Wednesday (April 30) he will seek the Republican nomination for Commissioner of State Lands in 2026. He was appointed to his post by Gov. Sarah Sanders, who endorsed Jester for the Land Commissioner post.

Commissioner of State Lands Tommy Land is term-limited.

“After prayerful consideration, I am excited to announce my campaign for Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands,” said Jester. “Arkansas is the best state in the country, and we are going to work to make it even better. I became a constitutional lawyer to fight for conservative change, and I will continue to do that each and every day. We are going to keep our tax dollars in state; investigate Chinese influence near state lands; and support our natural resources at every turn.”

Prior to becoming Secretary of State, Jester served as Legal Counsel for Sanders.

“Cole Jester did a fantastic job as my legal counsel, and he has been America’s best Secretary of State,” said Gov. Sanders. “He will serve and protect Arkansas well as our Land Commissioner. He has my full endorsement.”

Jester is a Benton native who graduated from Ouachita Baptist University with a bachelor’s degree in Christian studies as well as political science. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law.

He has worked for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. He also was the managing editor of The Journal of Law and Politics.

Others who have announced their intentions to run for Commissioner of State Lands include Lance Restum of Bryant and Christian Olson of Little Rock.