Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – The filing period for the 2026 election cycle in Arkansas closed Wednesday. The filings reported by Arkansas Secretary of State Cole Jester have set several races that will affect voters in Craighead County.
State House of Representatives
Craighead County is served by five State House districts: Districts 30, 32, 33, 36 and 38.
Fran Cavenaugh is the current District 30 state representative. Cavenaugh was first elected in 2016, serving her first session in 2017. Cavenaugh announced earlier this year she would not seek re-election. Two candidates have filed for the district 30 seat: Josh Longmire (Republican) and Coty Powers (Republican).
The district 32 state representative is Jack Ladyman, who served his first session in 2015. Ladyman is a republican. Two candidates filed for the district 32 position: Joshua Alfano and Erika Askeland, both democrats.
Jon Milligan serves District 33 and will be unopposed in 2026. Milligan was elected in 2020 and served his first session in 2021.
District 36 is currently served by republican Johnny Rye, first elected in 2016 and served his first session in the House in 2017. Democrat Shamal Carter has filed for the district 36 seat.
Dwight Tosh, a republican, has served District 38 since being in 2014. He served his first session in 2015. Tosh will be unopposed for re-election in 2026.
State Senate
Craighead County is served by two State Senate districts, 19 and 20.
Dave Wallace of Leachville is the current district 19 State Senator while Dan Sullivan of Jonesboro serves district 20.
Wallace was elected to the Arkansas Senate in 2016 and served his first session in 2017. Sullivan was elected in 2020 and served his first session in 2021.
Neither Wallace nor Sullivan are up for election – each is in the middle of a four-year term.
Terms
Arkansas legislators are subject to term limits set by the state constitution. Members of the Arkansas House of Representatives may serve up to six years total, typically three two-year terms. State Senators may serve up to eight years total, usually one or two four-year terms depending on district rotation.
However, under Amendment 94 and Issue 2 (2020)—now part of the constitution—lawmakers may serve a combined maximum of 16 years in the General Assembly in any mix of House and Senate service.
These limits reset only if a legislator leaves office for the full amount of time required by law before becoming eligible again.
Election Dates
The Arkansas statewide party primary elections will be Tuesday, March 3, 2026, with any necessary runoffs on Tuesday, March 31. The 2026 general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
