Arkansas
AP Decision Notes: What to expect in Arkansas’ primary runoff elections
WASHINGTON — Two Arkansas Republicans with competing visions on how best to implement President Donald Trump’s agenda to overhaul elections and voting will vie for their party’s nomination for the state’s top elections job on Tuesday.
U.S. Army veteran Bryan Norris and state Sen. Kim Hammer were the top two vote-getters in the March 3 GOP primary for Arkansas Secretary of State, but both candidates fell far short of the majority vote needed to avoid Tuesday’s primary runoff election.
The winner will face Democrat Kelly Grappe, who ran unopposed for her nomination.
The duties of the Arkansas Secretary of State include overseeing state business filings and maintaining the state capitol building and its grounds, but the office is probably best known for its administration of federal, state and district elections in Arkansas.
Both Norris and Hammer have touted their support of Trump’s election agenda, but the two disagree on some key points of election administration. For example, Norris supports hand-counting ballots in elections without the use of automated tabulation equipment. Hammer authored a 2023 law that requires hand-counted ballots to be compatible with state tabulation equipment and requires counties that hand-count ballots to bear any associated costs.
The call to fully hand-count ballots has been a popular refrain among many Trump supporters since the president’s failed attempts to overturn the 2020 election. But some attempts at full hand-counts since then have shown the process to be time-consuming, expensive and prone to human error.
Hammer has endorsements from much of the state’s Republican Party establishment, including U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge, Attorney General Tim Griffin and outgoing Secretary of State Cole Jester. Norris’ backers include former national security adviser Michael Flynn and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, both prominent 2020 election deniers and Trump allies.
In his endorsement of Hammer, Jester called on Norris to drop out of the race over the candidate’s past confrontational and expletive-laden social media posts. In an interview with KATV, Norris acknowledged using “some salty language from time to time” but added, “you’re never going to hear me talk or speak that way again.”
Norris edged Hammer in the competitive three-way primary with both candidates receiving about 34% of the vote. Miller County Judge Cathy Hardin Harrison received about 32% of the vote.
Just more than half the primary vote was cast in counties Trump carried with 70% or more of the vote in 2024. Norris performed slightly better than Harrison and Hammer in these areas, while Hammer slightly outperformed the others in the rest of the state.
Pulaski, Benton and Washington counties are the biggest population centers in the state, and they contributed the most votes in the March 3 primary. Pulaski is home to Little Rock and is where former Vice President Kamala Harris posted her best performance in the state in the 2024 presidential election. Although Pulaski is Arkansas’ most populous county, Benton tends to have more influence in Republican contests, as was the case on March 3.
Regardless of who wins, the eventual Republican nominee will have an advantage heading into the general election. It’s been 20 years since Arkansas elected a Democrat as secretary of state and no Democrat has won statewide office since 2010.
Some Arkansas voters in a handful of districts across the state will also choose nominees for state Senate and House. Republicans hold lopsided majorities in both chambers.
The Associated Press does not make projections and will declare a winner only when it’s determined there is no scenario that would allow a trailing candidate to close the gap. If a race has not been called, the AP will continue to cover any newsworthy developments, such as candidate concessions or declarations of victory. In doing so, the AP will make clear that it has not yet declared a winner and explain why.
Arkansas does not have automatic recounts, but candidates may request and pay for one, with the costs refunded if the outcome changes. The AP may declare a winner in a race that is subject to a recount if it can determine the lead is too large for a recount or legal challenge to change the outcome.
Here are some of the key facts about the election and data points the AP Decision Team will monitor as the votes are tallied:
When do polls close?
Polls close at 7:30 p.m. local time, which is 8:30 p.m. ET.
What’s on the ballot?
The AP will provide vote results and declare winners in the Republican primary runoffs for secretary of state and state House Districts 5, 6, 46, 52, and 92, as well as the Democratic primary runoffs for state Senate District 15 and state House District 35.
Who gets to vote?
Voters do not need to have voted in the March 3 primary to participate in the March 31 runoff. But primary voters may only vote in the runoff of the same party as they did in the primary. In other words, Republican primary voters may not vote in a Democratic primary runoff or vice versa. Voters in the non-partisan primary may vote in either party’s runoff.
For voters who did not participate in a party primary, Arkansas Democrats allow any registered voter to vote in Democratic contests, while Republicans bar registered Democrats from voting in Republican contests.
What do turnout and advance vote look like?
There were about 1.8 million registered voters in Arkansas as of the March 3 primary.
More than 266,000 voters participated in the Republican primary for secretary of state. The state Senate District 15 Democratic primary had about 9,300 total votes, while five of the six state House Districts forced to a runoff each had total votes of between 4,400 and 5,200 total votes. The lone exception was the Democratic primary for state House District 35, which had about 1,700 total votes.
In the 2022 primaries for statewide offices, about 52% of Democratic voters and 42% of Republican voters cast their ballots for governor before Election Day.
More than 13,000 statewide Republican runoff ballots had already been cast as of Thursday.
How long does vote-counting usually take?
In the GOP U.S. Senate primary on March 3, the AP first reported results at 8:32 p.m. ET, or two minutes after polls closed. The last vote update of the night was at 2:04 a.m. ET with more than 99% of total votes counted.
When are early and absentee votes released?
County elections officials throughout the state have said they tend to release all or nearly all results from early and absentee voting in the first vote update of the night, before any in-person Election Day results are released.
Are we there yet?
As of Tuesday, there will be 217 days until the 2026 midterm elections.
The Arkansas Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at Sunday, April 19, 2026 results for each game:
Winning Cash 3 numbers from April 19 drawing
Evening: 5-3-2
Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 4 numbers from April 19 drawing
Evening: 7-5-4-8
Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Natural State Jackpot numbers from April 19 drawing
02-07-17-20-23
Check Natural State Jackpot payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from April 19 drawing
32-42-52-53-55, Bonus: 05
Check Millionaire for Life 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.
- Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.
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.
BENTON, Ark. (KATV) — Saline County residents got a fresh boost earlier today when the Central Arkansas Development Council hosted its third Fresh Market event in the county, handing out about 300 bags of fresh produce free of charge.
The council, described as the largest community action agency in Arkansas, said the event is part of its ongoing effort to address food insecurity in the state and expand access to healthy food options.
“What we’re here to do is we’re here to be what our community needs us to be,” Randy Morris, CEO of Central Arkansas Development Council, said. “We are here to serve our mission, which is to alleviate the causes and conditions of poverty, to help vulnerable populations achieve their potential and to build strong communities in Arkansas through community action.”
The council also said it was rewarded funds by the government to host an emergency food drive that will happen soon.
FAYETTEVILL – In a thrilling contest that featured 5.1 impressive innings in the circle from sophomore Payton Burnham and a go-ahead two-run home run from Tianna Bell, the No. 6/8 Arkansas Razorbacks defeated No. 1 Oklahoma, 3-2, on Saturday night at Love’s Field to even the series and set up a winner-take-all series finale on Sunday.
Win the win, Arkansas recorded its third victory in program history over a consensus No. 1-ranked opponent, having previously defeated UCLA (Feb. 18, 2011) and Cal (May 19, 2012).
It also marked the Razorbacks’ third win in program history over a No. 1 opponent in the ESPN/USA Softball Poll and the fifth over a top-ranked team in the NFCA Coaches Poll.
Arkansas (36-7, 11-6 SEC) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning courtesy of an RBI double down the right-field line from Kennedy Miller. The Sooners then tied the game, 1-1, in the bottom of the fifth inning, with a solo home run from Sydney Emerling.
Tianna Bell put the Hogs ahead for good by blasting a two-run homer into the left-center field bleachers in the top of the fifth inning. Oklahoma’s Kendall Wells accounted for the final run of the contest with a solo shot to left field, bringing the score to 3-2.
The Razorbacks’ pitching staff did not allow a walk in the win. Payton Burnham was phenomenal in the circle during her 10th victory of the season, striking out three while allowing two runs on four hits in 5.1 innings of work.
Robyn Herron earned her fourth save of the season by retiring the final five Oklahoma batters in the contest.
In addition to Bell’s two-run blast and Miller’s RBI double, Reagan Johnson and Kailey Wyckoff singled in the victory.
Sydney Berzon fell to 5-2 on the season for Oklahoma (41-6, 14-3 SEC) after allowing two runs on two hits with one strikeout in her 4.2 innings pitched.
QUOTABLES
Arkansas Head Coach Courtney Deifel
On the victory…
“Any win right now is a big one for the program. It was really great in this environment just to see our team stay the course and trust themselves. It is a hostile environment that is very loud. They have a lot of energy. For our team to just lean into each other and find a way to get the win was big. Any win is really big, so it just feels really awesome.”
On Payton Burnham’s performance…
“She was in her element. She loves the big moment. She wants the ball, and she was locked in today. She was dialed, and I am really proud of her.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
Payton Burnham earned her 12th start of the season in the circle for Arkansas, while Oklahoma gave the ball to Miali Guachino.
In the top of the first inning, Guachino retired the Hogs in order courtesy of a pair of groundouts and a lineout. Burnham spun a 1-2-3 bottom of the first courtesy of a groundout, strikeout, and a groundout.
Kailey Wyckoff recorded the first hit of the contest with a two-out single up the middle in the top of the second inning. She would later come around to score a batter later on an RBI double down the right-field line from Kennedy Miller, giving the Hogs a 1-0 lead.
Cam Harrison followed Miller’s double with a walk, but OU would escape without further damage courtesy of OU right fielder Ella Parker taking an extra-base hit away from Karlie Davison with a catch at the wall in right field.
Burnham spun another scoreless frame in the home half of the second inning, highlighted by a 6-4 double play from shortstop Atalyia Rijo, who snagged a line drive and threw to Davison at second base to double off the Sooners’ Gabbie Garcia, who reached on a leadoff single.
Brinli Bain drew a one-out walk in the top of the third inning, prompting Oklahoma to make a pitching change and bring in LSU transfer Sydney Berzon.
Wyckoff made an incredible catch with a leaping grab at the wall in left field for the first out of the bottom of the third. She would then catch a pair of fly balls as Burnham completed a 1-2-3 frame.
Berzon retired the Hogs in order during the top of the fourth inning. Burnham recorded a 1-2-3 bottom of the fourth inning while picking up her second and third strikeouts of the night.
Reagan Johnson reached courtesy of a two-out infield single in the top of the fifth inning. Oklahoma first baseman Isabella Imerling tied the game with a leadoff solo home run to left-center field in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Following the home run, Reagan Johnson made a diving catch in right-center field to take away an extra-base hit from Pickering.
Ella McDowell was hit by a pitch to lead off the top of the sixth inning. Tianna Bell then gave Arkansas a 3-1 lead with a two-run shot into the left-center field bleachers, her 14th of the season, tying Dakota Kennedy for the team-lead.
Oklahoma made it a one-run ballgame with a one-out solo home run off the bat of freshman Kendall Wells. Following the home run, Robyn Herron entered the circle and would retire the next two batters faced by way of a strikeout and a lineout.
Berzon retired the Hogs in order in the top of the seventh inning. Herron trotted out to the circle looking to complete the save in the bottom of the seventh.
Herron fanned Imerling for the first out of the frame before issuing a lineout to Johnson in center field for the second out.
She then got Aliana Agbayani to ground out to Karlie Davison at second for the final out of the win as Arkansas evened the series and improved to 36-7 overall and 11-6 in SEC play.
NOTABLES
- Reagan Johnson registered her 205th start batting leadoff, which tied the career program record set by Devon Wallace, 205 (2012-2015).
- Payton Burnham improved to 10-3 this season after striking out three and allowing just two runs on four hits and no walks in 5.1 innings. Arkansas is now 22-6 when a starting pitcher goes 5+ innings without allowing a walk.
- Tianna Bell blasted her 46th career home run and 14th home run this season with a two-run shot in the top of the sixth inning. Bell is now tied for the team lead in home runs alongside Dakota Kennedy.
- Kyler Del Duca recorded her first collegiate start, batting eighth and playing left field.
- Arkansas had five different outfielders in the victory (Reagan Johnson CF, Kailey Wyckoff RF/LF, Ramsey Walker LF/RF, Kyler Del Duca LF, Brinli Bain RF)
- Kennedy Miller increased her career-high reached base streak to 11 games.
- Arkansas is 148-41 since 2001, when its pitching staff issues no walks in a game. The Razorbacks are 94-18 when issuing no walks under head coach Courtney Deifel (2016-present). Arkansas has won 21 of its last 22 when issuing zero walks dating back to April 6, 2023.
- Arkansas snapped Oklahoma’s 31-game home winning streak, which was the longest active winning streak in the nation entering the contest.
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