Candidate yard signs are sprouting in neighborhoods and road intersections and soon those oversized postcards will start flooding your mailbox. You’re likely to encounter an uptick in campaign messages in your Facebook feed as well as the local airwaves.

Election season is upon us.

All eyes are immediately trained on Tuesday, March 3rd, the state’s party primaries. Voters will select their nominees for the general election, but in many county races the GOP primary will also determine who gets elected at the local level.

“We’ve been planning for months and now it’s time to implement our campaign tactics and strategies,” said veteran political consultant Linda Napper. She works with legislative, judicial and local candidates across the state.

“There really is a science to reaching voters through different types of outreach like direct mail and Facebook targeting, but don’t underestimate knocking on doors or having volunteers spread the word about a candidate. Voters can expect to hear a lot from the candidates and their campaigns these next few weeks,” she added.

In Dallas County, there are high-profile primary races for County Judge, County Sheriff, County/Circuit Clerk, and one Justice of the Peace seat.

Incumbent Republican County Judge Chris Stanfield is being challenged in the primary by James “Buddy” Medlin. Another incumbent, Sheriff Mike Knoedl, faces Joshua McMullen in the GOP primary on March 3^rd.

There is a three-way race for County Clerk/Circuit Clerk. Dallas County is one of the counties in the state that combines the two positions. In the Republican primary, Shawna May, Carolyn Gamble, and Jean Lexington are seeking the post. There are no Democrats running in the fall.

For Justice of the Peace, there is only one contested race in District 8, which includes some of Sparkman, New Hope, Pine Grove, and Holly Springs. The two Republican candidates in the race are Orville Roy Butler and Lauren Franks. No Democrats filed for the seat, so the primary winner will begin serving in January 2027.

There will be statewide and Congressional political primaries as well.

Incumbent U.S. Senator Tom Cotton, R-Ark., faces two Republican pri- mary challengers. Micah Ashby and Jeb Little both filed against Cotton, who is seeking a third six-year term.

The Democrats who want to challenge Cotton also have a primary. Newport farmer Hallie Shoffner will battle Lewisville Mayor Ethan Dunbar for the Democratic nomination.

For the U.S. House of Representatives, incumbent Republican Fourth District Congressman Bruce Westerman, R-Hot Springs, is unchallenged in the primary; however, two Democrats are seeking their party’s nomination to challenge him. James “Rus” Russell and Steven O’Donnell have filed as Democrats and will be on the primary ballot in March.

In the race for Governor, incumbent Gov. Sarah Sanders is unopposed in her GOP primary. However, two Democrats have filed to seek their party nomination. Term-limited State Senator Fred Love, D-Little Rock, will square off against Northwest Arkansas businesswoman Supha Xayprasith-Mays, who ran for the Democratic nomination four years ago.

State Senator Kim Hammer, R-Benton, Judge Cathy Hardin Harrison, and Bryan Norris are vying for the Republican nomination for Arkansas Secretary of State. The winner of the primary will face Democrat Kelly Grappe in the November election.

Two Republicans are seeking the Commissioner of State Lands post. Cole Jester, who was appointed as Secretary of State by Gov. Sanders, cannot seek that post. Jester and Christian Olson are running as Republicans for the

Land Commissioner office. No Democrat filed for the seat.

There will also be a race between two candidates for Arkansas Supreme Court, Position 3. Justice Nick Bronni and attorney John Adams both filed for the high court seat. Candidates for judicial office run as Independents.

Regardless of which party primary a voter chooses to vote in on March 3rd, they will be allowed a judicial ballot.