Arkansas Congressional Candidates Weigh In on Partial Government Shutdown

Womack, Ryerse, and Hocevar discuss the impasse over Department of Homeland Security funding.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Arkansas Congressman Steve Womack and his challengers, Robb Ryerse and Christopher Hocevar, are weighing in on the partial government shutdown affecting several agencies under the Department of Homeland Security. The shutdown began after congressional Democrats and Republicans failed to reach an agreement on funding legislation tied to DHS, with disagreements over Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the center of the holdup.

Why it matters

The partial government shutdown highlights the ongoing political divide over immigration enforcement and the role of federal agencies like ICE. The outcome of the Arkansas District 3 congressional race could impact how these issues are addressed at the federal level.

The details

Womack, the Republican incumbent, argues that Democrats are "holding the rest of DHS hostage" due to their anger at ICE, while Ryerse, the Democratic challenger, says he wants to "lead the fight to hold the Department of Homeland Security accountable" and even calls for abolishing ICE altogether. Hocevar, the Independent candidate, emphasizes the need for Congressional oversight and accountability in how government funds are spent.

  • The partial government shutdown began in February 2026 after lawmakers failed to reach an agreement on DHS funding legislation.

The players

Steve Womack

The Republican incumbent U.S. Representative for Arkansas's 3rd congressional district, which includes Benton, Carroll, Crawford, Madison and Washington counties, along with part of Sebastian County.

Robb Ryerse

The Democratic challenger running against Womack for the Arkansas's 3rd congressional district seat.

Christopher Hocevar

The Independent candidate running against Womack and Ryerse for the Arkansas's 3rd congressional district seat.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“There's a bit of a flaw in their argument because they're mad at ICE. That's who they're mad at, and ICE is covered. So they are holding the rest of DHS hostage because they're mad at ICE, and they're making demands that no administration would agree to.”

— Steve Womack, U.S. Representative (4029tv.com)

“The American people want the Department of Homeland Security to be held accountable, and what we've seen is stonewalling and refusal to open investigations. If I'm in Congress, I want to lead the fight to hold the Department of Homeland Security accountable. I think we need to just get rid of ICE altogether.”

— Robb Ryerse, Democratic Challenger (4029tv.com)

“I think two of the biggest things that Congress does is manage the wallet and accountability and oversight. I think that when you are talking about keeping funding for something like DHS and continuing to fund things like ICE, I think it's really important with the deficit we're in, to make sure any dollar we spend is held accountable.”

— Christopher Hocevar, Independent Candidate (4029tv.com)

What’s next

The candidates for the Arkansas District 3 congressional race will be on the November ballot, where voters will decide the outcome.

The takeaway

The partial government shutdown over DHS funding has become a key issue in the Arkansas District 3 congressional race, with the candidates taking divergent stances on the role of immigration enforcement agencies like ICE. The election results could significantly impact how these issues are addressed at the federal level.