U.S. House · Arkansas's 4th District
James Russell
CandidateD
- Race
- U.S. House · Arkansas's 4th District
- Result
- Bruce Westerman, projected winner
- Opponent
- Bruce Westerman (R)
- Research
- Basic
Party linenone
No recorded floor votes — not a current legislator in our records.
Said vs. did4 statements · 0 votes
By adding a small tax on the super-rich—the top 0.1%—we can help end homelessness for good.
Raise taxes on high earners or corporations
Compare statements with votes ›Said vs. did
Each documented position next to the recorded floor votes we map to the same issue. Votes are compared one at a time; no overall stance is inferred from them.
By adding a small tax on the super-rich—the top 0.1%—we can help end homelessness for good.
Campaign platform proposes a small tax on the wealthiest 0.1% to help fund efforts to end homelessness.[3]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
We need to invest in a clean energy future that uses multiple sources to stay safe and strong.
Campaign website says to invest in a clean energy future that uses multiple sources and to protect natural resources from toxic industrial runoff and harmful chemical use.[3]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
We can fix this by expanding Medicare and moving toward healthcare for everyone.
His campaign website says he supports expanding Medicare and moving toward health care for everyone.[4]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
We need fair laws that raise wages, make sure everyone gets equal pay for equal work, and treat all workers fairly.
His campaign website says the minimum wage has not kept pace with the cost of living and calls for laws that raise wages.[4]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
Biography
James Russell, a Democrat and business owner who has worked in statewide mental healthcare since 2014, lost the November 3, 2026 election for Arkansas's 4th District to Bruce Westerman. He ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2022 and describes deep family ties to Arkansas farming going back to the 1860s.[1][2]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
Russell has lived in Little Rock, according to Ballotpedia. He graduated from Captain Shreve High School and earned bachelor's degrees from the University of Central Arkansas in 2012 (a B.S. in philosophy) and 2021; he says he studied a joint pre-med/pre-law curriculum there.[1] He served in the U.S. Army National Guard in 1996.[1] His career experience includes owning CYA Music, LLC, co-owning New Dawn Counseling, and working as a musician, and he says he has provided statewide mental healthcare services since 2014.[1]
In his Ballotpedia survey, Russell describes his family as having farmed in Lafayette County, Arkansas, since the 1860s, and says he worked with youth groups in Columbia County in the 1990s.[1] He ran in the May 24, 2022 Democratic primary for Arkansas governor, which Chris Jones won.[1] Russell describes himself as a husband, father, uncle and great-uncle.[1] He received 34.5% of the vote to Bruce Westerman's 65.5%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[2]
In their own words
Priorities
- Says leaders should listen to and be accountable to the people rather than to money and power, and calls for following the Constitution.[5][3]
- Supports equal rights and opportunities regardless of gender, income, or background, including fair pay and bodily autonomy.[3]
- Wants to address the housing crisis by curbing large investors' home purchases and letting renters' payment history count toward mortgage qualification.[3]
Campaign money$5,853 raised · 74% from individuals · FEC through 2026-06-30
Totals this cycle
Bars share one scale (raised = full). Cash on hand can include money carried over from earlier cycles.
Who gave
- Individuals $4,353
- PACs & committees $1,500
Largest committee contributions
No direct contributions from PACs or other committees in the FEC’s bulk data.
Direct contributions only; outside spending is not included. Individual donors are itemized in the FEC’s receipts. All itemized receipts ↗ FEC filing ↗
Profile: /people/james-russell
Compare all 2 candidates side by side ›
Sources cited in this profile
- 1.James Russell (Arkansas) · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words
- 2.Arkansas's 4th District results 2026 · NBC News News report
- 3.James Russell's campaign website (quoted via Ballotpedia) · James Russell campaign website · 2026-01-16 Candidate's own words
- 4.James Russell campaign website (via Ballotpedia, Jan. 16, 2026) · Ballotpedia Candidate's own words
- 5.James Russell (Arkansas) · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey Candidate's own words