Sen. Jonathan Dismang, an architect of Arkansas’ Medicaid expansion, stepping down

Republican Sen. Jonathan Dismang, the co-chair of the Joint Budget Committee and an architect of Arkansas’ hybrid Medicaid expansion, resigned from the state Senate Tuesday to take a job at Arkansas Electric Cooperatives. 

Dismang has served nearly two decades in the Arkansas Legislature, including two consecutive terms as Senate president pro tempore. He served one term in the Arkansas House of Representatives before being elected in 2010 to the Arkansas Senate. 

“After much thought, I’ve decided it’s time for me to step away from the Arkansas State Senate,” Dismang said in a press release. “Serving the people of Arkansas has been an opportunity very few people ever get, and I’m grateful for the trust they placed in me.”

Dismang was one of the legislative architects of Arkansas’ hybrid Medicaid expansion, approved in 2013. Arkansas’ first-in-the-nation approach uses federal funds to purchase private insurance for low-income Arkansans. 

The approach was approved by the majority-Republican Legislature and signed into law by Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe as an alternative to the expansion under the Affordable Care Act.

Arkansas has requested a two-year extension of the program after the Trump administration denied its request to renew it through 2031.

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Dismang also sponsored a 2025 law allowing utilities to recoup the cost of new power generation facilities before construction is completed. The measure was aimed at helping the state attract data centers and other energy-intensive businesses. Data centers have faced pushback from communities around Arkansas.

The Republican’s legislative work also included food insecurity and tax cuts. 

“I’ve tried to focus on issues of consequence—work that could make somebody’s life a little better or leave Arkansas better positioned for the future,” Dismang said. “I came here hoping I could make an impact, and I hope that when all is said and done, I helped move the needle a little bit for the better.”

Dismang, whose resignation was effective Tuesday, was named vice president of external affairs for Arkansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. He will join the organization next month and succeed former state Rep. Bill Gossage as chief of external affairs following his retirement in January 2027, according to a press release. 

“Jonathan Dismang has excelled at serving his constituents at the state level, and he will bring that same commitment to the 17 distribution cooperatives and their more than 1 million members,” said Vernon “Buddy” Hasten, president and CEO of Arkansas Electric Cooperatives and Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation. “Bringing a former state senator strengthens our ability to navigate complex policy environments and advocate effectively for the communities and members that we serve.”

Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said she looks forward to continuing to work with Dismang in his new role “to build a better Arkansas for the citizens we serve.”

“There’s a reason Senator Dismang is among the most respected legislators in the Capitol: his hard work, leadership, and policy expertise are legendary,” Sanders said in a statement. “It’s going to be hard to fill his shoes in the legislature, but we’re all excited for this next chapter in his career.”

Sanders’ spokesperson said additional announcements on scheduling a special election will come at a later date. If the special election is scheduled for this year, it will be the sixth legislative vacancy 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.  

Eudora Mayor Tomeka Butler, a Democrat, and Rison Republican Harrell Wilson are vying for the Senate District 1 seat in a special election that coincides with November’s midterms. The winner will replace former Republican Sen. Ben Gilmore who resigned in June to work for Attorney General Tim Griffin.  

Sanders has also scheduled a special election during November’s midterms to fill Rep. Austin McCollum’s seat, which became vacant when the Bentonville Republican resigned in August following domestic violence charges. 

Dismang represented Senate District 18, which includes White County and parts of Faulkner and Cleburne counties. His vacancy leaves Republicans with a 27-6 majority in the Senate.

Will Moore, a Republican and Searcy’s city attorney, announced his intention to run for the seat Tuesday afternoon. Moore said he would focus on economic development, safe communities and addressing the rising cost of living, if elected.

“I appreciate the work and commitment that Jonathan gave our district,” Moore said in a press release. “I have a profound respect [for] the example he set and my goal is to provide the same leadership and dedication to the role.”

Editor-in-chief Andrew DeMillo contributed to this report.