Arkansas Republican Rep. Stan Berry dies at 71

Berry, a four-term Republican from Dover, represented parts of Pope and Van Buren counties.

Mar. 25, 2026 at 12:10am

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Arkansas Rep. Stan Berry, a four-term Republican from Dover, died on Monday at the age of 71. Berry had served in the state House since 2019 and was a solid conservative, patriotic veteran, and faithful Christian. His death leaves Republicans with a 79-20 majority in the state House, and next steps to ensure representation for his district in the 2027 legislative session are to be determined.

Why it matters

Berry's death is a significant loss for the Arkansas Republican Party, as he was a long-serving and well-respected member of the state legislature. His passing will require a special election to fill his seat, which could impact the balance of power in the state House.

The details

Berry first joined the state legislature in 2002, serving three House terms before unsuccessfully running for a state Senate seat. He returned to the House after being elected again in 2018. During his time in office, he co-sponsored several measures that became law, including ones to criminalize unlawful squatting, allow nitrogen gas executions, and withhold funding from state-supported colleges and universities with Confucius Institutes.

  • Berry died on Monday, March 24, 2026.
  • Berry was first elected to the Legislature in 2002 and served three House terms before returning in 2018.
  • The Arkansas Legislature is set to convene next month for its fiscal session.

The players

Stan Berry

A four-term Republican state representative from Dover, Arkansas who died at the age of 71.

Brian Evans

The Republican Speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives, who called Berry a "true friend" and someone he "genuinely enjoyed being around."

Sarah Huckabee Sanders

The Republican Governor of Arkansas, who expressed condolences to Berry's family and friends, calling him a "solid conservative, a patriotic veteran, a faithful Christian, and a loving husband, father and grandfather."

Bart Hester

The Republican President Pro Tempore of the Arkansas Senate, who said Berry "was a friend to everyone he met" and that "his loss will be felt in the Legislature and in his community."

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What they’re saying

“To me, he wasn't just a colleague – he was a true friend and someone I genuinely enjoyed being around. Stan loved Arkansas, and he loved the people of District 44. You could see that in the way he served and the way he treated everyone he met-with kindness, sincerity, and a good sense of humor.”

— Brian Evans, Arkansas House Speaker

“Stan was a solid conservative, a patriotic veteran, a faithful Christian, and a loving husband, father and grandfather. It was a pleasure to serve the people of the River Valley and all of Arkansas alongside him and work to make our state a better place to call home.”

— Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Arkansas Governor

“Stan Berry 'was a friend to everyone he met' and 'his loss will be felt in the Legislature and in his community.”

— Bart Hester, Arkansas Senate President Pro Tempore

What’s next

Next steps to ensure representation for Berry's district in the 2027 legislative session are to be determined.

The takeaway

Berry's passing is a significant loss for the Arkansas Republican Party, as he was a long-serving and well-respected member of the state legislature. His death will require a special election to fill his seat, which could impact the balance of power in the state House.