Arkansas governor 2026

Compare candidates running in this Arkansas federal race. Review their positions, voting records, campaign promises, and donor information.

Colt Shelby

Party: Libertarian

Fredrick Love

Party: Democrat

Sarah Elizabeth Huckabee Sanders

Party: Republican

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governor

Arkansas governor

Election: Nov 3, 2026Updated: Apr 10, 2026
safe r— Cook Political Report - January 23, 2025

Arkansas is a deeply red state that has consistently voted Republican in presidential elections since 2000 and Republicans hold supermajorities in both legislative chambers. Sanders won her first term by 28 points in 2022. The 2026 race is rated 'Solid Republican' by Cook Political Report, indicating minimal Democratic pickup potential despite nationwide polarization.

Colt ShelbyL
Fredrick LoveD
Sarah Elizabeth Huckabee SandersR

Summary

Colt Shelby is a Franklin County resident and Libertarian Party nominee for Governor of Arkansas in 2026. He was nominated by the Libertarian Party convention on February 22, 2026. Shelby has become known as an outspoken opponent of Governor Sanders' proposed 3,000-bed state prison project in Franklin County and has taken legal action to advance special elections for the Senate District 26 seat.

Fredrick J. Love is a State Senator from Arkansas State Senate District 15 (Little Rock area), representing southeast portions of Little Rock. He has served in the Arkansas Legislature since 2011, first in the House of Representatives (2011-2023) and then as State Senator (2023-present). He is term-limited from serving in the General Assembly and is running for governor in 2026. Love earned his bachelor's degree in political science and master's degree in public administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and holds a postbaccalaureate certificate in public health from UAMS Medical Center.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders is the 47th Governor of Arkansas and the first woman to hold the office. Born August 13, 1982, in Hope, Arkansas, she is the daughter of former Governor Mike Huckabee and has extensive experience in Republican politics, having served as White House Press Secretary for President Donald Trump from 2017 to 2019. She is a former Fox News contributor and author. Currently 43 years old, Sanders is the youngest governor in the country and is running for her second term in 2026.

View Colt Shelby's Full Profile →View Fredrick Love's Full Profile →View Sarah Elizabeth Huckabee Sanders's Full Profile →

Campaign Promises

Public Safety
  • Oppose the proposed 3,000-bed Franklin County prison
Education
  • Protect and strengthen public schools
Economy
  • Create regional economic development hubs
  • Support small businesses and inclusive economic growth
Healthcare
  • Protect Arkansas' Medicaid expansion
Infrastructure
  • Invest in rural broadband, water, and utilities infrastructure
Public Safety
  • Oppose Sanders' proposed 3,000-bed Franklin County prison
Economy
  • Continue income tax phase-out responsibly
  • Grow the economy and keep costs of living low
Education
  • Expand education freedom and school choice
Public Safety
  • Strengthen public safety and law enforcement

Key Issue Positions

Opposition to Large Government Projects
Against the proposed Franklin County prison
Shelby has consistently opposed the governor's 3,000-bed prison proposal, including through legal action to ensure constituents had representation during its consideration.
Education
Opposes school voucher program; wants to strengthen public education
Calls for repealing the LEARNS Act and ending the voucher program that allows families to use taxpayer dollars for private school tuition.
Rural Economic Development
Focus on empowering rural and underserved communities
Campaign emphasizes that prosperity should be visible in Delta towns and Main Streets, not just in spreadsheets.
Medicaid Expansion
Strong supporter of maintaining Medicaid expansion
Campaign platform includes explicit promise to protect Arkansas' Medicaid expansion.
Education Reform
Strong supporter of school choice and parental empowerment
Signed LEARNS Act creating Education Freedom Accounts (vouchers) giving families up to $7,413 per student for private/charter school or homeschooling.
Tax Policy
Committed to cutting income taxes and phasing them out long-term
Has cut individual income tax rate from 4.9% to 3.9% in first three years and promised fourth cut in 2026.
Law and Order
Strong law-and-order approach with increased law enforcement funding
Expanded prison capacity, created Board of Corrections majority focused on law and order, implemented recidivism programs.

Top Donors

No donor data available.

No donor data available.

No donor data available.

Contradictions

No contradictions documented.

No contradictions documented.

No contradictions documented.

What Opponents Say

No opponent claims documented.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders

Love's education proposals would undermine school choice and parental empowerment

Sanders argues that the LEARNS Act has successfully provided families with educational options and that Love's promise to dismantle it would harm Arkansas students

Fredrick Love (Democratic Nominee)

Sanders' education policies are dismantling public schools through voucher program

Love's campaign platform calls for stopping the state's school voucher program (LEARNS Act) and protecting Arkansas' Medicaid expansion

Fredrick Love (Democratic Nominee)

Sanders has mismanaged state resources and failed to address rural economic development

Love's campaign emphasizes creating regional economic hubs, protecting public schools, and driving inclusive economic growth in rural and underserved areas

Colt Shelby (Libertarian Nominee)

Sanders' proposed 3,000-bed prison in Franklin County is unneeded and fiscally irresponsible

Shelby has opposed the Franklin County prison project and even sued to move up special elections for the Senate District 26 seat whose occupant opposed the prison

Endorsements

No endorsements listed.

No endorsements listed.

Donald Trumpindividual