By Andrew DeMillo | Editor-in-Chief

The Top 3

 Voters cast their ballots on the first day of early voting at the Hillary Rodham Clinton Children’s Library in Little Rock, Arkansas on Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. (Photo by Ainsley Platt/Arkansas Advocate)

Voters cast their ballots on the first day of early voting at the Hillary Rodham Clinton Children’s Library in Little Rock, Arkansas on Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. (Photo by Ainsley Platt/Arkansas Advocate)

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

By Ainsley Platt, Tess Vrbin and Angie Ramirez

Polls across Arkansas opened for early voting Monday, with thousands of people expected to cast their ballots before Election Day next month.

 Erick Soto (right) walks with a volunteer to put out signs in eastern Springdale, Arkansas on Sept. 19, 2026. (Photo by Phillip Powell/Arkansas Advocate).

Erick Soto (right) walks with a volunteer to put out signs in eastern Springdale, Arkansas on Sept. 19, 2026. (Photo by Phillip Powell/Arkansas Advocate).

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

By Phillip Powell

Once the bastion of Republican support when Arkansas was a blue state, Washington County is key to Arkansas Democrats’ efforts in November.

 The Arkansas State Capitol seen from the northeast on Nov. 11, 2025. (Photo by Sonny Albarado/Arkansas Advocate)

The Arkansas State Capitol seen from the northeast on Nov. 11, 2025. (Photo by Sonny Albarado/Arkansas Advocate)

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

By Tess Vrbin, Antoinette Grajeda and Ainsley Platt

Republicans are all but guaranteed to maintain their majority in both chambers of the Arkansas Legislature in 2027, with most sitting GOP House members and several of the party’s senators unopposed or not on the ballot.

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