Debate in Arkansas’ US Senate race won’t take place, Cotton and Shoffner campaigns say
Oct 14, 2026 | 5:32 pm ET
Description
Hallie Shoffner (D), candidate for the U.S. Senate in Arkansas, answers questions during the debate against Jeff Wadlin (L) on Monday, October 12, 2026 at the Arkansas TV studios in Conway, Arkansas. (Photo by Katie Adkins/Arkansas Advocate)
Arkansas Republican U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton and Democratic challenger Hallie Shoffner will not debate each other in advance of the Nov. 3 election, both campaigns confirmed Wednesday.
Salem Media Group, a conservative Christian news outlet where the two candidates had agreed to debate, retracted the offer, Cotton campaign spokesperson James Arnold said in an email.
“We offered multiple dates to Salem and are disappointed Salem is no longer offering the debate,” Arnold said.
The debate was the only one Cotton, who was first elected in 2014, had agreed to. The Republican lawmaker declined Arkansas TV’s invitation to debate Shoffner and Libertarian candidate Jeff Wadlin. He instead attended a birthday party for World War II veteran and family friend Jock Davis on Monday, Arnold said.
Cotton’s absence was the main focus of Monday’s debate between the two challengers, and Shoffner said Cotton “either thinks he’s too good or he’s too scared” to face his opponents.
Cotton’s absence takes center stage at debate between Arkansas’ US Senate candidates
Anna-Lee Pittman, Shoffner’s campaign manager, reiterated Shoffner’s statement Wednesday.
“A senator who can’t defend his record in front of Arkansans is a senator Arkansas doesn’t need,” Pittman said.
Wadlin said Monday that Salem Media Group did not invite him to the potential debate between Shoffner and Cotton.
Salem Media did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday afternoon.
The Cook Political Report sees the Senate race as solidly Republican, though local polling found Shoffner with a slight edge over Cotton in August — though still within the margin of error for the poll.
Cotton has repeatedly criticized Shoffner on immigration issues and her past donations to nationally known Democratic candidates. Arnold said Wednesday that Cotton was looking forward to Shoffner answering for those things in the Salem debate.
Cotton also will not be present for an Oct. 22 debate between Shoffner and Wadlin at ASU-TV, Arkansas State University’s student-led broadcast station in Jonesboro.
Little Rock
