Hallie Shoffner

Hallie Shoffner grew up in Shoffner, a small farming community in the Arkansas Delta, raised in the fields alongside her farmer parents and learning to grow soybeans, rice, corn, cotton and wheat, according to her campaign website. She describes herself as a sixth-generation Arkansas farmer.[3][4] She earned a bachelor's degree from Vanderbilt University and a Master of Public Service from the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service.[2][4]

Shoffner operated the family farm for nine years, according to her campaign website, and has worked in conservation, sustainable farming and regional food production. She says she closed the farm after a year of rising costs, poor markets, new tariffs and no Farm Bill relief, to protect her parents' land and retirement.[2][4] Her campaign website describes her as a Presidential Leadership Scholar and a board member of the Arkansas Foodbank, and says she "didn't plan to run for office" and is "not a politician."[4] She won the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate on March 3, 2026, defeating Ethan Dunbar 78.3% to 21.7%.[2] During the campaign, she said she was running on lowering costs for working families, protecting Social Security and Medicare, and strengthening health care and labor protections.[2][3][4] She received 42.4% of the vote to Tom Cotton's 54.3%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[1]