Voters across Arkansas Senate District 1 will return to the polls Tuesday, Aug. 18, as the process of selecting a new state senator for southeast Arkansas gets underway.
The special election was called following the resignation of former State Sen. Ben Gilmore of Crossett, who left the Senate at the end of June to accept a position in the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office.
Three party candidates have filed for the seat. Laura “Missy” Wardlaw of Hermitage and Harrell Wilson of Rison are seeking the Republican nomination, while Eudora Mayor Tomeka Butler filed as a Democrat.
Republican primary
The only contested party race on Aug. 18 will be between Wardlaw and Wilson for the Republican nomination.
Wardlaw is the only Bradley County resident among the three party candidates who have filed. She lives in Hermitage and works as a veterans health care coordinator, helping connect veterans and their families with in-home care services.
Wardlaw previously sought the Republican nomination for Arkansas House District 94 during the March primary election.
Wilson is a Cleveland County businessman who operates a family-owned hardwood sawmill and manages pine and hardwood timberland. He also serves as president of the Cleveland County School Board.
The winner of the Republican primary will advance to the special general election in November.
Democratic candidate
Butler is the only Democrat who filed during the party filing period and is currently unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
Butler has served as mayor of Eudora since 2020. Eudora is located in Chicot County, which is included entirely within Senate District 1.
Butler will advance as the Democratic candidate in the special general election.
November election field could still grow
Although the filing period for Republican and Democratic candidates has ended, the final field for the November election has not yet been completely settled.
Independent candidates have until noon Friday, Aug. 7, to submit the required petitions and paperwork to qualify for the special general election ballot.
The special general election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 3, in conjunction with the regular general election.
About Senate District 1
Senate District 1 covers a large portion of southeast Arkansas. It includes all of Ashley, Bradley, Chicot and Cleveland counties, along with portions of Drew, Grant, Jefferson and Lincoln counties.
Gilmore was reelected to a four-year Senate term in 2024. The candidate elected during the special election will serve the remainder of that term, which continues until January 2029.
