Rep. Austin McCollum seeks Benton County judge’s seat; Armas seeks House seat (Updated)

State Rep. Austin McCollum, R-Bentonville, is running for Benton County judge, he announced Thursday (Sept. 4). McCollum enters the race with over $60,000 for his campaign, including his carryover funds from his Arkansas House account.

“As Benton County judge, I’ll lead with fiscal responsibility,” he said. “We will prioritize a solution to the jail overcrowding crisis. I’ll support our law enforcement. We’ll invest in our roads and infrastructure. And using technology, we will create efficiencies and improve services. We need strong, conservative leadership in the county courthouse, and I’m asking my fellow Republicans for their support, their prayers and their votes.”

The Republican primary will take place March 3, 2026. Benton County Judge Barry Moehring has announced he will not seek reelection.

McCollum has served in the Arkansas House of Representatives since 2017. He represents District 8, which includes a portion of Benton County.

“While I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished in Little Rock, I know in my heart that the biggest opportunity to serve the community that raised me is to tackle the challenges that are closest to home,” he said.

Republicans who have endorsed McCollum in his bid for Benton County judge include Gov. Sarah Sanders; U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark.; Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge; and Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin.

After his father’s active duty service in the U.S. Navy, McCollum and his family moved to Bentonville. McCollum attended Bentonville schools. After graduating from the University of Tulsa, he started working for a Bentonville-based retail company in business analytics.

In 2016, McCollum was elected to his first term in the state House of Representatives. He was majority leader in the 93rd General Assembly and worked to lower taxes on small businesses, remove barriers to work for Arkansans, limit government growth and invest in law enforcement, according to a news release.

McCollum and his wife, Ragen, reside in Benton County and have a son and daughter.

ARMAS ANNOUNCEMENT
Benton County Justice of the Peace Brian Armas is running for the Arkansas House of Representatives in District 8, which is now held by Rep. McCollum. Armas is running as a Republican. The Republican primary is March 3, 2026.

“My family and I are honored to be in this race to represent the community we love,” Armas said. “Those who know me know I never set out to be a politician. I saw a need for conservative leadership and representation, for someone who would stand up for our rights and freedoms, so six years ago I stepped up to run for justice of the peace. As a JP, I defended personal property rights, fought government overreach, supported law enforcement, and worked to restore liberty for the people I represent. District 8 voters won’t have to guess if I’ll hold to my conservative convictions — I have a proven record of doing it and delivering results.

Armas is the first Latino elected to the Benton County Quorum Court. He was raised in East Texas and has lived in Northwest Arkansas for more than 25 years. He and his wife, Kara, have eight children, ranging in ages from 2 to 26. They also have three kids-in-law and six grandchildren.

Armas’ business specializes in small business growth and nonprofit communications. He has owned his own small business since 2011.