U.S. Senate · Arkansas

Statewide, Arkansas.

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

RESULT · UNOFFICIAL UNTIL CERTIFIED

Tom Cotton, projected winner

Candidate	Votes	Share
Tom Cotton	480,627	54.3%
Hallie Shoffner	375,647	42.4%
Jeff Wadlin	29,485	3.3%

About 99% of the expected vote counted. As of November 9. Winners take office next year. Counts can change until states certify. NBC News ↗

Sources re-checked September 25, 2026 · How we research

This is a regularly scheduled election for the Class II Senate seat held by incumbent Tom Cotton (R), who first took office in 2015. Cotton defeated Micah Ashby and Jeb Little 81.6%-9.2%-9.1% in the March 3, 2026 Republican primary. Hallie Shoffner defeated Ethan Dunbar 78.3%-21.7% in the Democratic primary; Dan Whitfield and James Russell withdrew from that primary before the vote. Jeff Wadlin advanced as the Libertarian Party nominee from a February 22, 2026 party convention.[1]

On the November 3 ballot · 3 candidates

Tom CottonRINCUMBENTPROJECTED WINNERU.S. Senator (since 2015)Full profile →Hallie ShoffnerDFull profile →Jeff WadlinLIBFull profile →

Issue evidence — side by side

Recorded votes, documented positions and candidates’ own words are shown with sources. “In their own words” quotes a candidate on the topic without inferring a stance. Votes describe specific bills or motions; they do not establish overall support or opposition to a broad issue. A dash means our research has no evidence on that topic, not that the candidate has no position.

Protect legal access to abortion

Tom Cotton
—
Hallie Shoffner
—
Jeff Wadlin
In their own words[7]
“After the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, abortion policy is governed primarily by the states, and I do not intend to make it the centerpiece of my campaign for federal office.”
On his campaign issues page

Stricter gun laws

Tom Cotton
—
Hallie Shoffner
—
Jeff Wadlin
Mixed[7]
His campaign issues page says he supports secure storage around children and rejects bans and feature-based classifications of firearms.

Expand immigration enforcement and deportations

Tom Cotton
Recorded votes[12][13][14]
Voted yes on Laken Riley Act (S. 5, 2025-01-20). Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-07-01), which funded expanded immigration enforcement, detention and border operations.
Hallie Shoffner
—
Jeff Wadlin
Mixed[7]
His campaign issues page supports prompt removal of people who pose security risks or commit serious crimes, and says enforcement should respect due process and treat families humanely.

Loosen zoning rules to build more housing

Tom Cotton
—
Hallie Shoffner
—
Jeff Wadlin
In their own words[7]
“Federal policy should reduce financing and infrastructure barriers while leaving zoning primarily to state and local governments, encouraging more housing construction.”
On his campaign issues page

Raise taxes on high earners or corporations

Tom Cotton
Recorded votes[13][14]
Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-07-01), which made the 2017 individual tax rates, including the 37% top rate, permanent.
Hallie Shoffner
Supports[3]
Says she would lift the Social Security payroll-tax contribution cap on the "ultra wealthy" and opposes tax cuts she says benefited billionaires.
Jeff Wadlin
In their own words[7]
“I support a progressive tax system in which those with greater wealth contribute more, while working families are not disproportionately burdened by regressive taxes on wages and basic necessities.”
On his campaign issues page

Expand public health coverage

Tom Cotton
Recorded votes[13][14]
Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-07-01), which reduced federal Medicaid spending and added Medicaid work requirements.
Hallie Shoffner
Supports[3]
Says she will fight to strengthen the Affordable Care Act, protect Medicare and Medicaid, and lower prescription drug prices.
Jeff Wadlin
In their own words[7]
“My goal is straightforward: cover everyone, which requires cutting the total cost of healthcare roughly in half over time.”
On his campaign issues page

Faster transition away from fossil fuels

Tom Cotton
Recorded votes[13][14]
Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-07-01), which phased out Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits.
Hallie Shoffner
—
Jeff Wadlin
In their own words[7]
“Climate change is real, human activity contributes to it, and it’s affecting all of us, especially farmers.”
On his campaign issues page

Raise the minimum wage

Tom Cotton
—
Hallie Shoffner
Supports[3]
Campaign platform calls for raising the minimum wage as part of an "Arkansas-first economic plan."
Jeff Wadlin
Supports[7]
His campaign issues page says he supports gradual and predictable minimum-wage increases.

Broad tariffs on imported goods

Tom Cotton
Recorded votes[15][16]
Voted no on Resolution to end the global tariff emergency (S.J. Res. 49, 2025-04-30), which would have ended the emergency used to impose global tariffs. Voted no on Resolution to end the global tariff emergency (S.J. Res. 88, 2025-10-30), which would end the emergency used to impose global tariffs.
Hallie Shoffner
—
Jeff Wadlin
Opposes[7]
His campaign issues page says he opposes broad tariffs and favors eliminating them.

Require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote

Tom Cotton
Supports[5]
In a March 18, 2026 Senate floor speech, urged senators to pass the SAVE America Act and cited public support for requiring proof of citizenship to vote.
Hallie Shoffner
—
Jeff Wadlin
In their own words[7]
“Any new citizenship-documentation requirement must be implemented carefully, with adequate time, funding, and practical assistance for local election officials and individual voters.”
On his campaign issues page, in a passage about the SAVE Act

Require Congress to approve U.S. military action abroad

Tom Cotton
Recorded votes[17][18]
Voted no on War Powers Resolution on Iran (S.J. Res. 59, 2025-06-27), a motion to bring a war powers resolution on Iran to a vote. Voted no on War Powers Resolution on Venezuela (S.J. Res. 90, 2025-11-06), a motion to bring a war powers resolution on Venezuela to a vote.
Hallie Shoffner
—
Jeff Wadlin
Supports[7]
His campaign issues page says he would restore Congress's constitutional war powers and opposes military action Congress has not authorized.

Bar transgender women and girls from women's and girls' school sports

Tom Cotton
Supports[11]
Cosponsored S. 9, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act (119th Congress), which would bar transgender girls and women from girls' and women's school sports programs that receive federal funds.
Hallie Shoffner
—
Jeff Wadlin
—

ISSUE	Tom Cotton R	Hallie Shoffner D	Jeff Wadlin LIB
Protect legal access to abortion	—	—	In their own words[7] “After the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, abortion policy is governed primarily by the states, and I do not intend to make it the centerpiece of my campaign for federal office.” On his campaign issues page
Stricter gun laws	—	—	Mixed[7] His campaign issues page says he supports secure storage around children and rejects bans and feature-based classifications of firearms.
Expand immigration enforcement and deportations	Recorded votes[12][13][14] Voted yes on Laken Riley Act (S. 5, 2025-01-20). Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-07-01), which funded expanded immigration enforcement, detention and border operations.	—	Mixed[7] His campaign issues page supports prompt removal of people who pose security risks or commit serious crimes, and says enforcement should respect due process and treat families humanely.
Loosen zoning rules to build more housing	—	—	In their own words[7] “Federal policy should reduce financing and infrastructure barriers while leaving zoning primarily to state and local governments, encouraging more housing construction.” On his campaign issues page
Raise taxes on high earners or corporations	Recorded votes[13][14] Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-07-01), which made the 2017 individual tax rates, including the 37% top rate, permanent.	Supports[3] Says she would lift the Social Security payroll-tax contribution cap on the "ultra wealthy" and opposes tax cuts she says benefited billionaires.	In their own words[7] “I support a progressive tax system in which those with greater wealth contribute more, while working families are not disproportionately burdened by regressive taxes on wages and basic necessities.” On his campaign issues page
Expand public health coverage	Recorded votes[13][14] Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-07-01), which reduced federal Medicaid spending and added Medicaid work requirements.	Supports[3] Says she will fight to strengthen the Affordable Care Act, protect Medicare and Medicaid, and lower prescription drug prices.	In their own words[7] “My goal is straightforward: cover everyone, which requires cutting the total cost of healthcare roughly in half over time.” On his campaign issues page
Faster transition away from fossil fuels	Recorded votes[13][14] Voted yes on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-07-01), which phased out Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits.	—	In their own words[7] “Climate change is real, human activity contributes to it, and it’s affecting all of us, especially farmers.” On his campaign issues page
Raise the minimum wage	—	Supports[3] Campaign platform calls for raising the minimum wage as part of an "Arkansas-first economic plan."	Supports[7] His campaign issues page says he supports gradual and predictable minimum-wage increases.
Broad tariffs on imported goods	Recorded votes[15][16] Voted no on Resolution to end the global tariff emergency (S.J. Res. 49, 2025-04-30), which would have ended the emergency used to impose global tariffs. Voted no on Resolution to end the global tariff emergency (S.J. Res. 88, 2025-10-30), which would end the emergency used to impose global tariffs.	—	Opposes[7] His campaign issues page says he opposes broad tariffs and favors eliminating them.
Require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote	Supports[5] In a March 18, 2026 Senate floor speech, urged senators to pass the SAVE America Act and cited public support for requiring proof of citizenship to vote.	—	In their own words[7] “Any new citizenship-documentation requirement must be implemented carefully, with adequate time, funding, and practical assistance for local election officials and individual voters.” On his campaign issues page, in a passage about the SAVE Act
Require Congress to approve U.S. military action abroad	Recorded votes[17][18] Voted no on War Powers Resolution on Iran (S.J. Res. 59, 2025-06-27), a motion to bring a war powers resolution on Iran to a vote. Voted no on War Powers Resolution on Venezuela (S.J. Res. 90, 2025-11-06), a motion to bring a war powers resolution on Venezuela to a vote.	—	Supports[7] His campaign issues page says he would restore Congress's constitutional war powers and opposes military action Congress has not authorized.
Bar transgender women and girls from women's and girls' school sports	Supports[11] Cosponsored S. 9, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act (119th Congress), which would bar transgender girls and women from girls' and women's school sports programs that receive federal funds.	—	—

Research notes & limits

Key Senate floor votes and FEC campaign-finance totals for incumbent Tom Cotton are added separately by script and not duplicated here. Biography: Shoffner's and Wadlin's birth years and places (Shoffner) were not found; Shoffner's earlier text that the farm closed 'after the 2024 growing season' was not supported by her campaign pages and was replaced with her own description; Wadlin's biography is self-described from his campaign website.

Sources · 25

Researched 2026-09-25. Green citations are official government records.

1.United States Senate election in Arkansas, 2026 · Ballotpedia Reference
2.Tom Cotton · Ballotpedia Reference
3.Hallie's Priorities: A Plan That Puts Arkansas Families First · Hallie Shoffner campaign website · 2026-01-16 Candidate's own words
4.Cotton Introduces Bill to Protect Arkansans from Criminal Migrants · Office of Senator Tom Cotton · 2026-10-03 Official record
5.Floor Speech on SAVE America Act · Office of Senator Tom Cotton · 2026-10-03 Official record
6.Floor Speech Opposing War Powers Resolution · Office of Senator Tom Cotton · 2026-10-03 Official record
7.Issues | Join the Movement for Change · Jeff Wadlin campaign website Candidate's own words
8.Tom Cotton · Ballotpedia Reference
9.About Tom · Office of Sen. Tom Cotton Official record
10.Arkansas U.S. Senate election results 2026 · NBC News News report
11.S. 9, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act (Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
12.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — Senate passage · U.S. Senate · 2025-01-20 Official record
13.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — Senate passage · U.S. Senate · 2025-07-01 Official record
14.H.R. 1 (119th Congress) — One Big Beautiful Bill Act: text and summary · Congress.gov Official record
15.Roll call: Resolution to end the global tariff emergency · U.S. Senate · 2025-04-30 Official record
16.Roll call: Resolution to end the global tariff emergency · U.S. Senate · 2025-10-30 Official record
17.Roll call: War Powers Resolution on Iran — motion to discharge · U.S. Senate · 2025-06-27 Official record
18.Roll call: War Powers Resolution on Venezuela — motion to discharge · U.S. Senate · 2025-11-06 Official record
19.Hallie Shoffner · Ballotpedia Reference
20.Hallie's Priorities: A Plan That Puts Arkansas Families First · Hallie Shoffner campaign website · 2026-01-16 Candidate's own words
21.Meet Hallie · Hallie Shoffner campaign website Candidate's own words
22.U.S. Senate · Arkansas results 2026 · NBC News News report
23.Jeff Wadlin · Ballotpedia Reference
24.About · Jeff Wadlin for U.S. Senate campaign website Candidate's own words
25.U.S. Senate · Arkansas results 2026 · NBC News News report