2026 governor races › Arkansas

Arkansas Governor Race 2026: Sanders vs. Love

General election November 3, 2026 · Updated October 19, 2026

Solid RIncumbent: Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R)

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) is seeking a second term.

Candidates

Where the race stands

There is no RealClearPolling average. Polymarket gives Sanders (R) about 97 percent, and Kalshi has Republicans at about 96 percent.
2026 governor races
Alaska: Tilt DAlabama: Very Likely RArkansas: Solid RArizona: Lean DCalifornia: Solid DColorado: Solid DConnecticut: Solid DDE: no governor race in 2026Florida: Lean RGeorgia: Toss-upHawaii: Solid DIowa: Tilt DIdaho: Solid RIllinois: Solid DIN: no governor race in 2026Kansas: Lean RKY: no governor race in 2026LA: no governor race in 2026Massachusetts: Solid DMaryland: Solid DMaine: Very Likely DMichigan: Lean DMinnesota: Very Likely DMO: no governor race in 2026MS: no governor race in 2026MT: no governor race in 2026NC: no governor race in 2026ND: no governor race in 2026Nebraska: Likely RNew Hampshire: Likely RNJ: no governor race in 2026New Mexico: Very Likely DNevada: Tilt RNew York: Solid DOhio: Toss-upOklahoma: Very Likely ROregon: Lean DPennsylvania: Solid DRhode Island: Very Likely DSouth Carolina: Solid RSouth Dakota: Solid RTennessee: Solid RTexas: Likely RUT: no governor race in 2026VA: no governor race in 2026Vermont: Very Likely RWA: no governor race in 2026Wisconsin: Tilt DWV: no governor race in 2026Wyoming: Solid R AKALARAZCACOFLGAIAIDILINKSKYLAMEMIMNMOMSMTNCNDNENMNVNYOHOKORPASCSDTNTXUTVAWAWIWVWY
  • Solid D
  • Very Likely D
  • Lean D
  • Tilt D
  • Toss-up
  • Tilt R
  • Lean R
  • Likely R
  • Very Likely R
  • Solid R
  • No race

Analysis

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) is a heavy favorite for a second term in deep-red Arkansas. At the October 13 debate she ran on her tax cuts and her LEARNS education law and defended new Medicaid work requirements. State Sen. Fred Love (D) of Little Rock pledged to end the school voucher program by executive order and to suspend the state gas tax, while Colt Shelby (L) called LEARNS the administration’s “biggest failure” and backed resuming executions.

The rating is MultiState's consensus, the average of the Cook Political Report, Sabato's Crystal Ball and Pluribus News. Polling is the RealClearPolling average where one exists.

Arkansas governors since 1991

Republicans have held the office since 2015. The last Democrat was Mike Beebe (2007–2015).

19911995200020052010201520202025

Each block is one governor; thin lines mark a reelection. Margins are the winner's lead over the runner-up, in points.

  1. Sarah Huckabee Sanders R · 2023–present · 1 term
    Elected 2022 (+27.8)
  2. Asa Hutchinson R · 2015–2023 · 2 terms
    Elected 2014 (+13.9), reelected 2018 (+33.6)
  3. Mike Beebe D · 2007–2015 · 2 terms
    Elected 2006 (+14.9), reelected 2010 (+30.8)
  4. Mike Huckabee R · 1996–2007 · 2 terms + partial
    Succeeded to office 1996, elected 1998 (+21.1), reelected 2002 (+6.1)
  5. Jim Guy Tucker D · 1992–1996 · 1 term + partial
    Succeeded to office 1992, elected 1994 (+19.2), resigned 1996
  6. Bill Clinton D · 1983–1992 · 4 terms
    Elected 1982 (+9.4), reelected 1984 (+25.2), reelected 1986 (+27.8), reelected 1990 (+15.0), resigned 1992
See the full Arkansas governor timeline and every election since 1954 →

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