Secretary of State of Arkansas
Kelly Grappe
CandidateD
- Race
- Secretary of State of Arkansas
- Election
- 2026-11-03
- Opponents
- Kim Hammer (R); Michael Pakko (LIB)
- Research
- Basic
Party linenone
No recorded floor votes — not a current legislator in our records.
Said vs. did0 statements · 0 votes
Kelly Grappe is the Democratic nominee for Arkansas secretary of state, a corporate learning-and-development executive and White County farm owner. She says her key messages are serving the people rather than a political party, transparent election administration and modernizing the Secretary of State's office.[1][2]
On the ballotSecretary of State
2026-11-03
| Kelly Grappe D | challenger |
| Kim Hammer R | challenger |
| Michael Pakko LIB | challenger |
Unopposed in the Democratic primary, which was canceled.
Biography
Kelly Grappe is the Democratic nominee for Arkansas secretary of state, a corporate learning-and-development executive and White County farm owner. She says her key messages are serving the people rather than a political party, transparent election administration and modernizing the Secretary of State's office.[1][2]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
Grappe graduated from Sylvan Hills High School and earned a bachelor's degree from Lyon College in 1993.[3] She has spent more than 30 years leading organizations, beginning at Alltel and later Verizon, where she led an 800-person customer service organization; her campaign says she worked nearly 25 years in operations leadership at the two companies.[1][2]
She is now head of learning and development at a multi-state dental support organization based in Little Rock. She previously owned a small business and operated a farm in Rose Bud, Arkansas.[1][2]
Grappe lives on a family farm in White County and says she has worked with Arkansas's initiative and referendum process and on civic education.[1]
In their own words
Campaign moneyNo FEC filing summary matched — state candidates file with their state, not the FEC.
Profile: /people/kelly-grappe
Compare all 3 candidates side by side ›
Sources cited in this profile
- 1.Arkansas Secretary of State election, 2026 — Candidate Connection survey · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
- 2.Professional experience · Grappe campaign · 2026-10-21 Candidate's own words
- 3.Kelly Grappe · Ballotpedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
- 4.Arkansas Secretary of State election, 2026 — Candidate Connection survey · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words