Arkansas
‘America’s best secretary of state’ is ready to be land commissioner – Arkansas Times
Arkansas Secretary of State Cole Jester has had exactly three jobs since graduating from law school in May 2022. He was a law clerk for six months starting in August 2022 and deputy chief attorney for the governor’s office for two years starting in January 2023.
In January of this year, Gov. Sarah Sanders appointed Jester as secretary of state after fellow Republican John Thurston moved down the hall after being elected state treasurer.
Jester’s short track record remains unproven. But he isn’t letting his lack of experience or the poor optics of job-hopping stop him from targeting a new gig. On Wednesday, he announced a 2026 run for land commissioner.
Jester’s announcement was standard Arkansas Republican dreck. He called Arkansas “the best state in the country,” said Arkansas will “keep our tax dollars in state” (which isn’t something the land commissioner has any control over) and that he will “investigate Chinese influence near state lands” (despite the land commissioner having no such authority or law enforcement power).
Despite Jester’s lack of experience, both generally and as a constitutional officer, Sanders offered her “full endorsement” of Jester’s land commissioner run.
“Cole Jester did a fantastic job as my legal counsel, and he has been America’s best secretary of state,” Sanders said.
Seriously? Jester has not accomplished anything of note during his brief tenure as secretary of state, and his public appearances have amounted to little more than regurgitated, false soundbites about election fraud.
In February, just over a month after taking office, Jester held an embarrassing press conference at the Capitol to announce his support for a package of legislation purporting to address fraud in the citizen-led ballot measure process. During that conference — and in the months since — Jester said the initiative process was rife with fraud. When pressed for evidence of these claims, however, he has only pointed to people signing petitions more than once (a common occurrence that is routinely caught by existing verification measures and are not proof of fraud) and unverified anecdotes told by random Republicans during legislative committee hearings.
Jester is the third Republican to throw his hat into the ring for the 2026 land commissioner race. Christian Olson of Little Rock, former chairman of Opportunity Arkansas and former policy advisor to Gov. Asa Hutchinson, announced his candidacy in November. Arkansas Travelers’ executive Lance Restum of Maumelle — the one person in the race less qualified than Jester to run for constitutional office — announced his campaign in January.
Following a change in the law in the recent session, the 2026 preferential primary election will be in March. Candidate filing ends on November 12.
Should Jester win the land commissioner office, he will be following a well-worn, bipartisan Arkansas tradition of making a career out of hopping from one constitutional office to another. Thurston, Jester’s predecessor in the secretary of state office, was state commissioner of lands from 2010 to 2018, then served as secretary of state from 2019 until assuming the treasurer’s office in 2025. Democrat Charlie Daniels spent 16 years as land commissioner, eight as secretary of state and four as auditor from 1985 to 2015.
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The Arkansas Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025 results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from Dec. 16 drawing
20-24-46-59-65, Mega Ball: 07
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 3 numbers from Dec. 16 drawing
Midday: 9-7-4
Evening: 8-4-7
Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 4 numbers from Dec. 16 drawing
Midday: 4-9-2-0
Evening: 0-4-2-7
Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 16 drawing
03-04-19-24-39, Lucky Ball: 11
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Natural State Jackpot numbers from Dec. 16 drawing
03-06-33-34-39
Check Natural State Jackpot payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Arkansas Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Cash 3 Midday: 12:59 p.m. CT daily except Sunday.
- Cash 3 Evening: 6:59 p.m. CT daily.
- Cash 4 Midday: 12:59 p.m. CT daily except Sunday.
- Cash 4 Evening: 6:59 p.m. CT daily.
- Lucky For Life: 9:30 p.m. CT daily.
- Natural State Jackpot: 8 p.m. CT daily except Sunday.
- LOTTO: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.
Where can you buy lottery tickets?
Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Arkansas editor. You can send feedback using this form.
LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — An Arkansas businesswoman who pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud is seeking a downward departure in her sentencing.
Chandler Wilson Carroll’s defense is arguing that while she acknowledges the offense is serious, other factors indicate that a lighter sentencing may be appropriate in this case.
Carroll’s offence level under the guidelines is 20, and her criminal history category is 1.
The defense cited a multitude of reasons, including her family history, mental illness history, lack of criminal history, and being a mother to small children.
The defense argued that under United States v. Chase, United States v. Lamoreaux, and United States v. Davis, she could qualify for a downward variance or departure.
The defendant underwent extensive mental health treatment after a suicide attempt in July 2025. Carroll was prescribed numerous medications and sought intensive treatment at a psychiatric facility in Little Rock.
She is currently anticipating entering into a trauma-centered treatment program, which will take a year to complete.
The defense also argues that the defendant’s need to care for her children is a proper factor to consider in determining this sentence.
Carroll is currently undergoing a divorce from her husband, who she claims was physically abusive to one of the children in August of 2025.
A separate investigation into that incident is ongoing.
The husband no longer lives at the house and Carroll does not want her husband to have custody of the children if she is incarcerated. However, her mother, is disabled and cannot assume care of the children. The defense argues that the children are at a age in particular need of their mother.
Lastly, the defense cited Carroll’s lack of criminal history, and that she is no danger to the public of committing further crimes. They also cite her need for long-term mental health treatment, of which the quality may not be as high in a prison system.
The defense asks for a probationary period, accompanied by a fine or community service in lieu of prison time.
According to federal court documents obtained in April 2024, Carroll was facing 4 counts of wire fraud and 4 counts of money laundering for abusing the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL). Carroll was an owner of 3 different businesses involved in the alleged fraud: WilCarr Ventures, Wilson Carroll Research Services (WCRS), and Brook Haven Lodge.
In total, Carroll was awarded a little over $2 million in small business loans.
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