District 70 Up for Grabs as Carlton Wing Leaves the House
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has certified a vacancy in Arkansas House District 70 following the resignation of Republican Carlton Wing, who was appointed CEO of Arkansas PBS.
Arkansas is set for another special election, this time to fill the state House seat vacated by Republican Carlton Wing. Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders officially certified a vacancy in District 70 following Wing’s resignation on September 30, 2025.
In a letter to Republican Party of Arkansas Chairman Joseph Wood and Democratic Party of Arkansas Chairman Col. Marcus Jones, Sanders asked each party to decide whether to select candidates through a special primary or a convention of delegates. She requested that her office be informed within 10 days of their decision, after which official election dates will be announced for what is expected to be a closely contested race.
District 70 Landscape
District 70, located in central Arkansas, covers part of Pulaski County, one of the most Democratic-leaning counties in the South. However, Republicans have carried the district in recent elections, making it a competitive area that offers both parties a closely contested fight.
Carlton Wing won the last two general elections for the seat. In 2022, he secured 54.1 percent of the vote, defeating Democrat Judson Scanlon, who received 43.1 percent. The race tightened in 2024, when Wing narrowly defeated Democrat Alex Holladay by just two percentage points. Out of 14,796 total votes, Wing received 7,541 (51 percent) while Holladay earned 7,255 (49 percent).
These results highlight how competitive District 70 is. For Democrats, now under new leadership, the district represents an opportunity to gain a seat in a state House where Republicans hold a commanding majority.
For Republicans, finding a candidate with the experience and appeal of Carlton Wing will be key. His resignation came after he was appointed to a new leadership role, with the Arkansas PBS Board naming him CEO and executive director on September 17.
Timeline for Special Election
Arkansas law requires governors to call a special election to fill a vacant legislative seat within 150 days, unless doing so is deemed impractical or overly burdensome. Last week, Governor Sanders announced a delayed schedule for a separate special election in Senate District 26, which became vacant following the death of senior Republican leader Gary Stubblefield. The special election for House District 70 could follow a similar timeline, with any delays justified by comparable concerns.
However, the decision to postpone the Senate election drew bipartisan criticism. Sanders set the primary for Stubblefield’s seat in March and the general election in June, changing her earlier November announcement. This schedule leaves District 26 without representation during the Legislature’s fiscal session next spring. Stubblefield’s daughter also expressed opposition to the delayed timeline at a press conference led by Senator Bryan King, R-Green Forest, which could influence the timing of the special election for House District 70.
Candidates Begin to Emerge
So far, only a few potential candidates have stepped forward. On the Republican side, Bo Renshaw has expressed interest, with more expected to join the race.
On the Democratic side, Alex Holladay, who narrowly lost to Wing by just two percentage points in 2024, has announced he plans to run again. Another Democratic contender, Cordelia Smith Johnson, has also signaled her interest.
In the previous election cycle, both parties canceled their primaries and agreed on a single candidate. Observers suggest a similar approach could be used in this race as well.
Broader Election Context
Next year is an election year in Arkansas. The general election will take place on November 3, 2026, when voters will decide all executive offices, all four of the state’s U.S. House of Representatives seats, and one U.S. Senate seat.
The Senate race was added following the death of Senator Gary Stubblefield, creating another contested seat, and the general election for Arkansas House District 70 could potentially be scheduled alongside it. While House elections are generally seen as less consequential due to the Republican supermajority, Democrats will be watching closely for opportunities in competitive districts.
