By Andrew DeMillo | Editor-in-Chief

The Top 3

 Signs for several candidates line the street outside the Pulaski County Regional Building in Little Rock, Arkansas on the first day of early voting on Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. (Photo by Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate)

Signs for several candidates line the street outside the Pulaski County Regional Building in Little Rock, Arkansas on the first day of early voting on Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. (Photo by Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate)

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

By Tess Vrbin

The U.S. Department of Justice will send election monitors to Arkansas’ two most populous counties on Election Day, prompting the counties to vote to not allow them inside polling places.

 Republican U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton faces challenges from Democrat Hallie Shoffner and Libertarian Jeff Wadlin in his bid for reelection. (Courtesy of the Arkansas Secretary of State’s office)

Republican U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton faces challenges from Democrat Hallie Shoffner and Libertarian Jeff Wadlin in his bid for reelection. (Courtesy of the Arkansas Secretary of State’s office)

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

By Tess Vrbin

Twelve years after he was elected in one of the most expensive Senate races in the country, Sen. Tom Cotton has become one of the most prominent Republicans in Washington and a leading defender of President Donald Trump. His rivals say Arkansas has fallen by the wayside as Cotton’s raised his profile.

 Union County residents cast votes during the last days of early voting at the El Dorado Municipal Auditorium on Oct. 30, 2024. (Photo by Antoinette Grajeda/Arkansas Advocate)

Union County residents cast votes during the last days of early voting at the El Dorado Municipal Auditorium on Oct. 30, 2024. (Photo by Antoinette Grajeda/Arkansas Advocate)

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

By Antoinette Grajeda

Sponsors of a proposed constitutional amendment that would only allow United States citizens to vote in Arkansas elections say it’s a preventative measure, but critics argue it’s unnecessary and sends immigrants an unwelcoming message. 

NATIONAL HEADLINES
EXTRA, EXTRA

Thanks for reading Best of the Week. Did you know our daily morning newsletter is also free? Sign up here. And if you enjoyed today’s edition, please forward to a friend. Increasing our readership helps us cover more news.