Any Republican seeking to challenge Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders or U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton in next year’s primary should be prepared to write a check for $40,000 to the state party.
On Friday, the Republican Party of Arkansas Executive Committee approved its filing fees for the 2026 election, increasing fees to run for U.S. Senate, governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general in the upcoming primary scheduled for March 3, 2026.
The state’s GOP increased the filing fees to run for governor from $15,000 to $40,000, while the fee to run for U.S. Senate was doubled from $20,000 to $40,000.
Among the top Republicans running in 2026 will be Sanders, running for her second term as governor, and Sen. Tom Cotton, of Little Rock, who will be seeking his 3rd term. Cotton announced he will run for reelection in February.
Sanders was first elected in 2022, succeeding Gov. Asa Hutchinson, also a Republican.
The executive committee also agreed to double filing fees for lieutenant governor and attorney general from $12,500 to $25,000.
To run in the GOP primary for one of the state’s four congressional districts, the fee will remain at $30,000.
No change was made to the fee to run for secretary of state, which remains at $10,000.
The fees to run for state treasurer, land commissioner, auditor and Senate will remain at $7,500.
Fees to run for state representative will remain at $3,000.
In an email, Drew Martin, the executive director of the Republican Party of Arkansas, declined to comment on the filing fees.
Republicans dominate Arkansas government holding every constitutional office, as well as 81 out of 100 seats in the Arkansas House and 29 out of 35 seats in the state Senate.
Additionally, all four of Arkansas U.S. representativess and both U.S. senators are Republicans.
Last month, the Democratic Party of Arkansas set their candidate filing fees at:
* $5,200 for U.S. Senate;
* $5,000 for governor;
* $4,600 for attorney general;
* $2,150 for secretary of state;
* $2,000 for treasurer;
* $2,000 for auditor;
* $2,000 for land commissioner;
* $1,950 for lieutenant governor;
* $1,750 for U.S. House;
* $1,350 for state Senate; and
* $700 for state representative.
