Sept. 25, 2026
Debates to be held Oct. 12-15 at Arkansas TV studios
CONWAY, Ark. (Arkansas TV) — Eighteen candidates in seven races will participate in “Election 2026: Arkansas TV Debates,” which will air live on Arkansas TV daily Oct. 12-15 and livestream at youtube.com/@arkansastv. Each debate will rebroadcast the evening of the live taping with the exception of the U.S. Congressional District 3, which will rebroadcast the following night at 7 p.m.
Each debate will feature questions from a panel of journalists with moderator Steve Barnes. All debates will be held in the Arkansas TV studios in Conway. More information is available at arkansastv.gov/elections.
The following candidates have committed to participating in Arkansas TV’s debates:
• U.S. Congressional District 4 – James Russell (D) and incumbent Bruce Westerman (R). The debate will livestream and air Monday, Oct. 12, at 10 a.m., and will repeat at 6 p.m.
• U.S. Senate – Hallie Shoffner (D) and Jeff Wadlin (L). The debate will livestream and air Monday, Oct. 12, at 1:30 p.m., and will repeat at 7 p.m.
• Arkansas Governor – Incumbent Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R), Fred Love (D) and Colt Shelby (L). The debate will livestream and air Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 10 a.m., and will repeat at 7 p.m.
• U.S. Congressional District 1 – Incumbent Rick Crawford (R), Steve Parsons (L) and Terri Yarbrough Green (D). The debate will livestream Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 11 a.m., and will repeat at 6 p.m.
• U.S. Congressional District 3 – Robb Ryerse (D), Bobby Wilson (L) and incumbent Steve Womack (R). The debate will livestream Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 2:30 p.m., and will repeat Thursday, Oct. 15, at 7 p.m.
• Secretary of State – Kelly Grappe (D), Kim Hammer (R) and Michael Pakko (L). The debate will livestream and air Thursday, Oct. 15, at 10 a.m., and will repeat at 6 p.m.
• U.S. Congressional District 2 – Incumbent French Hill (R) and Chris Jones (D). The debate will livestream and air Thursday, Oct. 15 at 1:30 p.m., and will repeat at 8 p.m.
Debates will repeat starting Oct. 19. The full schedule of repeats are at arkansastv.gov/schedule.
Arkansas TV makes all debates available free of charge to all commercial and public television and radio stations for simulcast or rebroadcast. Interested networks should contact Andy Robertson at arobertson@arkansastv.gov to make arrangements for receiving the debates.
Funding for “Election 2026: Arkansas TV Debates” is provided by Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce.
About Arkansas TV
Arkansas TV, Arkansas’s only statewide public television network, educates, informs and inspires Arkansans of all ages by exploring our state’s people, places and past, while encouraging lifelong learning through local storytelling, educational resources and meaningful community partnerships. Local programs can be livestreamed at arkansastv.gov/live and accessed on demand at youtube.com/@arkansastv. Arkansas TV also offers five broadcast services: Arkansas TV (main channel), Create, PBS KIDS, WORLD and AIRS on SAP. Arkansas TV depends on the generosity of Arkansans and the State of Arkansas to continue offering locally produced, Arkansas-focused programming. Additional information is available at arkansastv.gov. Arkansas TV is broadcast on KETS (Little Rock), KEMV (Mountain View), KETG (Arkadelphia), KAFT (Fayetteville), KTEJ (Jonesboro), KETZ (El Dorado), KETS (Russellville), KETS (Forrest City), KETS (Yancy) and KETS (Gaither).
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