Process begins to fill vacancy in Senate District 26

Gov. Sarah Sanders on Monday (Sept. 15) declared a vacancy in the Senate District 26 seat and asked Democrat and Republican party chairs to determine within 10 days how they plan to select a nominee.

The move is a first step in holding a special election to fill the Senate seat following the death of Sen. Gary Stubblefield, R-Branch.

Sen. Stubblefield, who has represented parts of the Fort Smith metro in the Arkansas Legislature since 2011, died Sept. 2. Senate District 26 includes parts of Franklin, Johnson, Logan and Sebastian counties. Stubblefield was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives in 2010, and served one term (2011-13) before being elected to the Arkansas Senate in 2012.

Towns in the expansive legislative district include Barling, Booneville, Charleston, Clarksville, Greenwood, Lamar, Lavaca, Ozark, and Paris.

Gov. Sanders’ “certification of vacancy” included a request to Democratic Party of Arkansas Chairman Marcus Jones and Republican Party of Arkansas Chairman Joseph Wood to let her office know within 10 days if they plan to hold a primary election or hold a convention to select a nominee for their respective parties.

If a party chooses a primary election, the governor then issues a proclamation setting the dates for the primary election and a primary runoff election.

Arkansas law requires “a special election to fill the vacancy in office shall be held on a date as soon as possible after the vacancy occurs.”

The annual salary for a senator, not including per diem and other benefits, is $44,356.

On Monday (Sept. 15), former State Rep. Mark Berry, R-Ozark, announced he would seek the Senate seat. Brad Simon of Paris has also announced he will seek the GOP nomination.