Former State Representative Mark Berry (R-Ozark) is running for State Senate District 26 to fill the seat vacated by the late Sen. Gary Stubblefield, who passed away earlier this year. Berry served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from January 2021 through January 2025. He is running against Wade Dunn, Brad Simon, Ted Tritt, and Stacie Smith in the special Republican primary election scheduled for January 6, 2026. Early voting is currently underway.
The Stubblefield family has officially endorsed Wade Dunn in this Senate District 26 race.
What should Arkansas voters expect if Mr. Berry is elected to the state Senate? One way to assess this is by reviewing his voting record during his time in the House. Over his two terms, Berry ranked 34th out of 100 legislators with a score of 79% in 2021, followed by a drop to 43rd out of 100 with a score of 55% in 2023.
We hope readers find this information useful as they compare the principles outlined in the Arkansas Republican Platform with Mr. Berry’s actual voting record while in office. The Arkansas Republican Platform was updated at the 2024 Republican State Convention and can be found HERE.i
(You may check our work recited below by going to the home page of the Arkansas Legislature: https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Search )
Taxes / Spending
Arkansas Republican Platform:
- RPA Principle: “Lower taxes to produce economic growth”
- RPA Platform: “We recognize the importance of lower taxes to preserve economic freedom, spur economic growth, and to ensure that individuals reap more of the benefits of their hard work.”
- RPA Platform: “In order to continue moving forward in our economic growth, businesses in Arkansas need to operate freely from overly burdensome regulation and over-taxation.”
- RPA Platform: “We strongly believe Arkansans are best able to spend the money they earn and deserve to be free from the hassle of burdensome taxes and fees.”
Mark Berry’s Votes 2021-2023:
- Did not vote to return COVID-19 government penalties and fines against Arkansas residents – SB301 of 2021
- Voted to increase the tax on every entity registered in Arkansas – SB207 of 2023
- Voted to increase salaries of county government workers – SB290 of 2023
Education
Arkansas Republican Platform:
- RPA Platform: Every opportunity for every family to enroll each child in the school of his/her choice should be secured by government and offered to Arkansas families.
Mark Berry’s Votes 2021-2023:
- Voted against school choice scholarships – HB1371 of 2021
- Voted to hold children down if transferred from a private school – HB1540 of 2023
Welfare / Government Dependency
Arkansas Republican Platform:
- RPA Principle: “Individual responsibility and initiative”
- RPA Platform: “Our primary belief for a strong economy for our state is this: PEOPLE CREATE BUSINESSES; BUSINESSES CREATE JOBS; GOVERNMENT DOES NOT!”
- RPA Platform: “. . . strong belief in being individually responsible for his/her place in society and our compassion by helping our neighbors obtain and secure the rewards of hard work to provide for themselves, their families and those unable to care for themselves.
- RPA Platform: “We are created equally with Individual freedoms and liberties that, through our own exercise of individual responsibility and initiative, can result in great outcomes independent of government.”
- RPA Platform: “We are against Socialism, Communism, and Marxism and the inevitable decline and poverty each has caused in the world. Individual initiative and choice, rather than governmental control, is the key to the success of a free market.”
In 2024, the State Convention of the Arkansas Republican Party specifically removed from the Republican Party platform references to support government corporate welfare programs commonly referred to as “economic development” incentives or efforts.
Mark Berry’s Votes 2021-2023:
- Voted to allow retailers to benefit from government corporate welfare schemes – HB1841 of 2023
Freedom / Regulation
Arkansas Republican Platform:
- RPA Principle: “Individual freedom and liberty secured by a limited government”
- RPA Platform: “We support Arkansans’ rights to use their land in the way they see fit, including the use of diverse production methods and technologies free from burdensome federal regulations.”
- RPA Platform: “In order to continue moving forward in our economic growth, businesses in Arkansas need to operate freely from overly burdensome regulation and over-taxation.”
- RPA Platform: “Without the personal right to own private property, individual rights are diminished.”
Mark Berry’s Votes 2021-2023:
- Voted for increased regulations and costs on ridesharing (UBER/LYFT) – HB1237 of 2023
- Voted to undermine telemedicine for physical therapy – SB1705 of 2023
- Voted to ban the use of all tobacco/vape products – HB1725 of 2023
Transparency / Integrity
Arkansas Republican Platform:
- RPA Platform: “We firmly support transparency and openness at every level of government.”
- RPA Platform: “Those elected, appointed, and employed in government work for the taxpayers of this state and must provide public information when requested, in line with Arkansas’s Freedom of Information Act.
- RPA Platform: “We support the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act as signed on February 14, 1967.” (Added in 2024)
- RPA Platform: “We believe in strong legislative oversight of state government spending and support continued openness and transparency in the spending of appropriated money. Arkansas Republicans recognize the importance of such funding for local projects but believe that all those seeking state funds for special projects should be subject to examination and oversight of the people’s elected representatives through the appropriations process.”
- RPA Platform: “Reform of government begins with the election of trustworthy and qualified Arkansas Republicans to office at every level of government. This will ensure responsible and effective management of our state’s fiscal and natural resources and honor hardworking taxpayers.”
Mark Berry’s Votes 2021-2023:
- Voted to allow secret meetings for economic development projects – HB1280 of 2021
- Voted to undermine the freedom of information law in law enforcement – SB346 of 2021
- Voted for a FOIA exemption on sales tax data – HB1868 of 2021
Elections / Term Limits
Arkansas Republican Platform:
- RPA Platform: “Honest elections are the foundation of our republican form of limited government”
- RPA Platform: “EVERY TIME THAT A FRAUDULENT VOTE IS CAST, IT EFFECTIVELY CANCELS OUT THE VOTE OF A LEGITIMATE VOTER!”
- RPA Platform: “We support the efforts of county election commissioners to protect against voter fraud and implement voting methods that ensure accuracy and increase voter confidence.” (Added 2024)
- RPA Platform: “Regnat Populus: the People Rule”
- RPA Platform: “We are opposed to any effort by special interests who would thwart the will of the people. . .”
Mark Berry’s Votes 2021-2023:
- Voted to increase voter fraud with new electronic voter registrations – HB1517 of 2021
No commentary is offered regarding whether Mark Berry will be the better candidate to serve as state senator. It is assumed that this is sufficient information for voters to draw their own conclusions.
