2 candidates file for Arkansas House vacancy created by lawmaker’s resignation

Two candidates are seeking to fill the vacancy left by Republican Rep. Austin McCollum’s resignation following domestic violence charges this month. 

Republican Kara Armas of Pea Ridge and Democrat Parker Stohlton of Bella Vista filed by the noon deadline Friday to run for the House District 8 seat in a special election that will coincide with the Nov. 3 general election. 

The winner will serve the remainder of McCollum’s term, which ends in January. His resignation left Republicans with a 79-20 majority in the House.

Arkansas state Rep. Austin McCollum resigns after domestic violence arrest

Kara Armas is the wife of Brian Armas, a Republican seeking a two-year term representing House District 8, which includes a portion of northern Benton County, in November’s general election. Brian Armas, who serves on the Benton County Quorum Court, is running unopposed. 

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders called the special election last week to fill the vacancy left by McCollum’s resignation. The Bentonville Republican stepped down earlier this month, just days after being arrested on charges of aggravated assault against his wife. Sanders and other top Republicans urged him to resign after the arrest. 

McCollum, who served in the House since 2017, was not running for reelection and won the Republican nomination for Benton County judge in March. McCollum, who has not dropped out of the race, is unopposed in November’s election.

McCollum’s vacancy is the fifth that will be filled in 2026. Republican Sen. Brad Simon and Democratic Rep. Alex Holladay won special elections in March to represent Senate District 26 and House District 70, respectively. 

Republican Bill Teeter won the House District 44 special election in August to replace the late Republican Rep. Stan Berry.  

In the Arkansas Senate, Republican Harrell Wilson will face Tomeka Butler, the Democratic mayor of Eudora, for the Senate District 1 seat in a special election that also coincides with the November general election.

The seat became vacant when Republican Sen. Ben Gilmore resigned in June to work for Attorney General Tim Griffin. Republicans hold a 28-6 majority in the Senate with the vacancy.