Arkansas is represented by two senators in the United States Senate — John Boozman and Tom Cotton, both Republicans — and by 35 members of the Arkansas State Senate in Little Rock. The federal senators write and vote on national legislation in Washington, D.C.; the state senators handle Arkansas-specific law as the upper chamber of the General Assembly. The two jobs run on different term lengths, different eligibility rules, and different pay scales.
Arkansas’s Two U.S. Senators
John Boozman is the senior senator. He first took office in January 2011, won re-election in 2022, and his current term runs through January 2029.1U.S. Senate. States in the Senate – Arkansas
Tom Cotton is the junior senator, in office since January 2015. His current six-year term expires in January 2027, so his seat is on the ballot in November 2026.2GovTrack.us. Sen. Tom Cotton – Senator for Arkansas
Because U.S. Senate terms are staggered into three classes, Arkansas never has both federal seats on the same ballot. Both senators keep in-state offices for constituent casework with federal agencies, and both vote on legislation, confirm judicial and executive nominees, and shape the federal budget.
The Arkansas State Senate
The state senate is the upper chamber of the Arkansas General Assembly, with 35 members elected from single-member districts of roughly equal population. Districts are redrawn every ten years after the census.3Arkansas Board of Apportionment. Home Page
State senators work on Arkansas policy: the biennial state budget, education funding, criminal law, transportation, and local regulation. Bills that clear the state senate go to the Arkansas House (or the reverse) and, if both chambers approve, to the Governor.
The regular session meets every other year, in odd-numbered years, and the Governor can call special sessions when needed.
How the Federal and State Roles Differ
Term Length
U.S. Senators serve six-year terms with no federal term limits.4U.S. Senate. Term Length Arkansas state senators serve four-year terms, staggered so that about half the chamber is up every two years.5Justia Law. Arkansas Constitution Amendment 73 – Arkansas Term Limitation Amendment After redistricting, all 35 state seats appear on one ballot, and some senators draw a shortened two-year term to reset the stagger.
Term Limits
There are no term limits on U.S. Senators. Arkansas legislators are limited. For anyone first elected to the General Assembly on or after January 1, 2021, the cap is 12 consecutive years of combined House and Senate service, followed by a four-year break before running again. Time in both chambers counts, and a shortened two-year term after redistricting counts. A partial term won in a special election does not count. Legislators first elected before 2021 fall under earlier rules.6Arkansas Secretary of State. Issue No. 2 – Term Limits Amendment
Eligibility
The U.S. Constitution requires a senator to be at least 30 years old, a citizen for at least nine years, and a resident of Arkansas at the time of election. Neither Congress nor the state can add to those qualifications.7Congress.gov. Article I Section 3 Clause 3
The Arkansas Constitution sets a lower age but tighter residency: a state senate candidate must be at least 25, a U.S. citizen, an Arkansas resident for two years before the election, and a resident of the district for one year before the election.8Justia Law. Arkansas Constitution Article 5 Section 4 – Qualifications of Senators and Representatives A previous conviction for embezzlement of public money, bribery, or forgery is a permanent bar to any state office.9Justia Law. Arkansas Constitution Article 5 Section 9 – Persons Convicted Ineligible
Pay
U.S. Senators earn $174,000 a year, a rate unchanged since 2009; leadership positions pay slightly more.10U.S. Senate. Senate Salaries Arkansas state legislators earn $45,244 as of 2025, plus per diem for days on legislative business.
The 2026 Election Calendar
Cotton’s federal seat, along with the state senate seats whose four-year cycle ends in 2026, will appear on the November ballot. The Secretary of State’s calendar sets the key dates:11Arkansas Secretary of State. 2026 Election Dates
- Party filing period: November 3–11, 2025 (closed).
- Preferential primary: March 3, 2026; early voting begins February 16.
- General primary: March 31, 2026.
- General election: November 3, 2026; early voting begins October 19.
- General runoff: December 1, 2026.
County boards of election commissioners certify results within 15 days of each election.
How Vacancies Are Filled
If a U.S. Senate seat from Arkansas opens mid-term, the Governor appoints someone to serve temporarily, and the appointee does not need to share the departing senator’s party. A special election then fills the seat permanently: at the next general election if the vacancy occurs four or more months beforehand, otherwise at the second general election after the vacancy.
State senate vacancies work differently. There is no appointment; the Governor sets a date for a special election, and the winner serves the remainder of the original term.