November 12, 2025
Update on the House District 70 Lawsuit
There’s been significant movement in the ongoing legal fight over House District 70. The Arkansas Supreme Court has declined a request from the Governor and Secretary of State to combine the House District 70 case with the separate lawsuit involving Senate District 26. By keeping the cases separate, the Court signaled that each challenge will move forward on its own track.
The Court also rejected their attempt to speed up the briefing schedule. However, it did grant expedited consideration of the appeal itself, meaning the justices intend to review the case more quickly than usual.
In the related Senate case, the Court refused to place a temporary hold on the lower court’s ruling—leaving that decision in effect for now.
Justice Wood said she would have supported an expedited schedule, and Justice Webb did not participate.
We’ll continue to follow the progress of the House District 70 case closely and share updates as they develop.
October 31, 2025
A Pulaski County judge ruled that Sarah Huckabee Sanders must set the special election for Arkansas House District 70 to March 3, 2026, rejecting the governor’s June 9, 2026 date as contrary to state law. The court found that while the governor has discretion to declare special elections impracticable or burdensome within 150 days of a vacancy, once that period passes, the election must be held on the “earliest practicable” date, not just the most convenient for the state.