Arkansas Democrats Select Primary Election for Senate District 26 Special Election

LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas Democrats have opted to hold a primary election to select their nominee for the Senate District 26 Special Election following a vote of the Democratic Party of Arkansas Executive Committee this evening.

Arkansas Democrats Chair Col. Marcus Jones released the following statement:

"Nationally, Democrats have overperformed by 18% in Special Elections since Trump took office. This is Arkansas's moment to reject corruption and cronyism and deliver a win for common sense and decency.

Remember that the Franklin County Prison appropriation failed to pass on 5 separate occasions in the Senate. From the roads, to the water infrastructure, to the electrical grid, to the non-existent workforce, to the furious voters of Senate District 26, there's not one good reason to build a brand new billion-dollar prison in Franklin County. That's what this Special Election will be about.

We're looking forward to the mudslinging that we'll see in the crowded Republican primary field as Gov. Sanders desperately attempts to install a pro-prison rubber stamp in the State Senate."

From the Democratic Party of Arkansas Rules:

Section 10.01 Vacancy in Office.

In the event of a vacancy in office, and if a special general election shall have been called, or the Governor shall have indicated that one will be called to fill such vacancy, the State Committee, if the special general election is to elect a Congressman, or a state or district official, shall call a special primary election to nominate a candidate, unless it finds that the holding of a special primary election is impractical by reasons of limitations of time, expense, or any other cause, in which event the State Committee shall call a convention to select the Party's nominee, subject to the laws of the State of Arkansas. If the nominee is to be chosen by convention, a state convention shall be called to select a nominee for a state office; a congressional district convention shall be called to select a nominee for Members of Congress; and a district convention shall be called to select a nominee for a district office.

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