Arkansas Senate Voter Guide: Cotton, Shoffner and Wadlin on Health Care and Taxes
Three candidates are on the ballot for U.S. Senate in Arkansas on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026: Republican Sen. Tom Cotton, who is seeking a third term, Democrat Hallie Shoffner, a sixth-generation farmer, and Libertarian Jeff Wadlin, a business consultant and former Sam's Club executive.
The Digital Free Press voter guide video compares the three candidates on health care and taxes. Here is where each one stands, based on the video and the candidates' own campaign websites.
Cotton won the Republican primary on March 3 with 81.6% of the vote, and Shoffner won the Democratic primary with 78.3% over Lewisville Mayor Ethan Dunbar. Wadlin was nominated at the Libertarian Party convention on Feb. 22. Shoffner and Wadlin met in an Arkansas TV debate on Oct. 12.
Why Health Care and Taxes Are Issues
The 2025 federal tax and spending law, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, extended the 2017 tax cuts and created temporary deductions for tip income and overtime pay and a $6,000 deduction for people 65 and older. The law also changed Medicaid rules, including new work requirements, and set aside $50 billion for rural health care. The enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits expired at the end of 2025.
Tom Cotton (Republican, Incumbent)
Cotton, 49, of Dardanelle, served as an Army infantry officer in Iraq and Afghanistan and served one term in the U.S. House before winning his Senate seat in 2014. He chairs the Senate Republican Conference and the Senate Intelligence Committee.
On health care, the video says Cotton has fought to protect rural hospitals and lower drug costs without a government takeover. His campaign website says he "has fought to protect rural hospitals, expand access to care, and lower prescription drug costs without turning healthcare over to bureaucrats," and that he "opposed one-size-fits-all government takeovers." It also credits him with ending the Obamacare individual mandate penalty.
On taxes, the video says Cotton says he helped pass the largest tax cut in history, including no tax on tips and Social Security. His campaign website says he "helped pass the largest tax cut in American history, cutting taxes for families, workers, and small businesses across Arkansas," and that he "passed no tax on tips, no tax on social security." The 2025 law he voted for created a temporary deduction of up to $25,000 for tip income and a temporary $6,000 deduction for people 65 and older; it did not eliminate federal income tax on Social Security benefits. His website says he has voted "to stop tax hikes" and "oppose IRS expansion."
Hallie Shoffner (Democrat)
Shoffner, 38, is a sixth-generation Arkansas farmer and small business owner. She left a nonprofit career to help run her family's farm, which stopped farming in 2025; she has said rising costs and tariffs were the cause.
On health care, the video says Shoffner would protect hospitals, lower drug prices and strengthen the Affordable Care Act. Her campaign website says: "I will fight to protect our hospitals, lower prescription drug prices, strengthen the Affordable Care Act, protect Medicare and Medicaid, cut red tape, and hold insurance companies accountable."
On taxes, the video says Shoffner would cut taxes for working families. Her campaign website calls for "cutting taxes for working families, lowering the cost of groceries, childcare, housing, and healthcare, and strengthening Arkansas industries." It also lists raising the minimum wage and expanding workforce training among her priorities.
Jeff Wadlin (Libertarian)
Wadlin, 55, of Bentonville, is an engineer and business consultant who ran membership nationwide for Sam's Club and has worked for Caterpillar and Capital One. He describes himself as a centrist running on "principles, not parties."
On health care, the video says Wadlin wants to cover everyone by cutting total health care costs roughly in half over time. His campaign website says: "My goal is straightforward: cover everyone, which requires cutting the total cost of healthcare roughly in half over time." He proposes "a practical public-private partnership" that combines private delivery and consumer choice with universal access, and in the near term supports Medicaid work requirements "without paperwork traps," hub-and-spoke rural care and expanded telehealth.
On taxes, the video says Wadlin supports lower taxes on labor. His campaign website says, "I support lower taxes on labor, gradual and predictable minimum-wage increases," and calls for "a progressive tax system in which those with greater wealth contribute more, while working families are not disproportionately burdened by regressive taxes on wages and basic necessities." He also says he would simplify the tax code.
Where to Follow the Candidates
Tom Cotton: @TomCottonAR on X and @tomcottonar on Instagram. Hallie Shoffner: @HallieShoffner on X and @hallieshoffner on TikTok. Jeff Wadlin: @jeffwadlin on X.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. This guide is for information only; The Digital Free Press does not endorse any candidate.
Yossi Schmidt, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, The Digital Free Press
Hold Everyone Accountable.
Sources: Arkansas Advocate, Voter Guide: 2026 General Election, U.S. Senate: https://arkansasadvocate.com/voter-guides/contests/2026-general-u-s-senate/ ; Ballotpedia, United States Senate election in Arkansas, 2026: https://ballotpedia.org/United_States_Senate_election_in_Arkansas,_2026 ; Tom Cotton campaign, Issues: https://tomcotton.com/issues/ ; Hallie Shoffner campaign, Priorities: https://www.hallieshoffner.com/priorities ; Hallie Shoffner campaign: https://www.hallieshoffner.com/ ; Jeff Wadlin campaign, Issues: https://www.jeffwadlin.com/issues ; Jeff Wadlin campaign, About: https://www.jeffwadlin.com/about ; Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, "Libertarian Jeff Wadlin eager to show Arkansas voters a..." (Oct. 10, 2026): https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2026/oct/10/libertarian-jeff-wadlin-eager-to-show-arkansas/ ; Ms. Magazine, "Hallie Shoffner Lost Her Family Farm. Now She's Running to Unseat Sen. Tom Cotton" (Oct. 13, 2026): https://msmagazine.com/2026/10/13/arkansas-hallie-shoffner-farmer-senate-tom-cotton/ ; Wikipedia, 2026 United States Senate election in Arkansas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_States_Senate_election_in_Arkansas
Comments