Arkansas Republicans Face Off in Secretary of State Runoff

Competing visions on election administration at stake in GOP primary

Mar. 31, 2026 at 7:42pm

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A vibrant, abstract painting featuring a fractured, repeating image of a ballot box or voting machine in shades of red, blue, and yellow, conveying the contested nature of election administration.The heated Republican primary runoff for Arkansas Secretary of State reflects the party's broader divisions over election integrity and voting processes.Benton Today

Two Arkansas Republicans, Bryan Norris and Kim Hammer, are competing in a runoff election for the Republican nomination for Secretary of State. The two candidates have differing views on election administration, with Norris supporting hand-counting of ballots and Hammer backing a law requiring hand-counted ballots to be compatible with state tabulation equipment. The winner will have an advantage heading into the general election in the Republican-leaning state.

Why it matters

The Arkansas Secretary of State oversees elections in the state, making the outcome of this race significant for the future of election administration. The candidates' contrasting positions on issues like ballot-counting methods reflect the broader debate within the Republican party over how to implement former President Trump's agenda to overhaul voting processes.

The details

Norris and Hammer were the top two vote-getters in the March 3 GOP primary, but neither received a majority. Norris has the backing of prominent 2020 election deniers like Michael Flynn and Mike Lindell, while Hammer is supported by much of the state's Republican establishment, including Senator Tom Cotton and Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. The race has drawn attention for the candidates' differing stances, with Norris supporting a full hand-count of ballots and Hammer backing a law requiring hand-counted ballots to be compatible with state tabulation equipment.

  • Polls close at 7:30 p.m. local time (8:30 p.m. ET) on March 31, 2026.
  • As of Monday, nearly 28,000 statewide Republican runoff ballots had already been cast.

The players

Bryan Norris

A U.S. Army veteran running for the Republican nomination for Arkansas Secretary of State. Norris supports hand-counting ballots without the use of automated tabulation equipment.

Kim Hammer

A state senator running for the Republican nomination for Arkansas Secretary of State. Hammer authored a 2023 law requiring hand-counted ballots to be compatible with state tabulation equipment.

Tom Cotton

U.S. Senator from Arkansas who has endorsed Kim Hammer.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders

Governor of Arkansas who has endorsed Kim Hammer.

Michael Flynn

Former national security adviser and prominent 2020 election denier who has endorsed Bryan Norris.

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What they’re saying

“You're never going to hear me talk or speak that way again.”

— Bryan Norris

“Norris should drop out of the race over the candidate's past confrontational and expletive-laden social media posts.”

— Cole Jester, Outgoing Arkansas Secretary of State

What’s next

Arkansas does not have automatic recounts, but candidates may request and pay for one, with the costs refunded if the outcome changes.

The takeaway

This race highlights the ongoing debate within the Republican party over election administration, with the winner of the Secretary of State runoff poised to play a key role in shaping the future of voting processes in Arkansas.