Griffen Leads Incumbent Hyde in Early Voting for Pulaski County Judge

Wendell Griffen, a retired circuit judge, is challenging Barry Hyde, the incumbent Pulaski County Judge, in the Democratic primary.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Late Tuesday night, with just early voting totals released, Wendell Griffen led incumbent Barry Hyde in the Democratic primary to be the Pulaski County Judge. The winner will face unopposed Republican candidate Michael Rushin in November. Griffen, a 73-year-old retired circuit judge, is challenging Hyde, 69, who is seeking his fourth term in the office after first being elected in 2014.

Why it matters

The Pulaski County Judge is a powerful position that oversees the county's budget, infrastructure, and land use planning. This race has drawn attention due to Hyde's controversial proposed land use ordinance, which faced pushback from some residents, and Griffen's promise to focus on issues like workforce development and sustainability if elected.

The details

As of 11:30 p.m. on election night, the unofficial early voting results showed Griffen leading Hyde by a margin of 16,942 to 10,040. Hyde cited his work on projects like Providence Park and the Southwest Trail as motivations for seeking reelection, while also highlighting priorities like technology, transportation, and employment. Griffen, a pastor and former circuit judge, said he would focus on land use planning, workforce, public safety, and sustainability if elected.

  • Late Tuesday night, with just early voting totals released
  • As of 11:30 p.m. on election night

The players

Wendell Griffen

A 73-year-old retired Pulaski County circuit judge who is challenging the incumbent county judge. Griffen is a pastor at the New Millennium Church in Little Rock, which he founded in 2009.

Barry Hyde

The 69-year-old incumbent Pulaski County Judge who is seeking his fourth term in office after first being elected in 2014.

Michael Rushin

The unopposed Republican candidate for Pulaski County Judge.

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What they’re saying

“No matter where we live in Pulaski County, how and why we came here, or what we do here, we share the same air, rely on the same bodies of water, walk on the same ground, and live under the same sky. Pulaski County is our Community. We will face the Future together. The job of the Pulaski County Judge is to work with other leaders who will lead us into that Future.”

— Wendell Griffen (arkansasonline.com)

“It's a heated subject in West Pulaski County and because that's where the (Extraterritorial Jurisdictions) were dissolved by the state. That's where we had immediate problems show up and really they identified our vulnerabilities.”

— Barry Hyde, Pulaski County Judge (arkansasonline.com)

“The loudest people that you hear … oftentimes, is not the overall feeling of the community. I understand what their concerns are. … That really drew me to the conclusion that, hey, we're going to have to work with smaller areas and do this in more of a piece.”

— Barry Hyde, Pulaski County Judge (arkansasonline.com)

What’s next

The winner of the Democratic primary between Griffen and Hyde will face the unopposed Republican candidate, Michael Rushin, in the November general election.

The takeaway

This race highlights the importance of local leadership in addressing issues like land use planning, workforce development, and sustainability. Voters in Pulaski County will have a clear choice between the incumbent judge's experience and the challenger's promise of a new approach.