by Antoinette Grajeda, Arkansas Advocate
April 20, 2026
Four Republicans are seeking their party’s nomination to fill the late Rep. Stan Berry’s seat in a special election this summer.
Brent Boland, Wes Freeman, Nikki Phillips, and Bill Teeter submitted candidate paperwork to the Arkansas Secretary of State’s office by noon Monday, the filing deadline for the June 2 special primary election for the House District 44 seat.
Boland is a farmer and rancher, Freeman is a real estate agent and broker, Phillips is a hairstylist and owner of a spa and salon, and Teeter is a retiree who previously served as a constable and deputy coroner.
No Democrats filed for the special election to fill the vacancy in House District 44, which includes parts of Pope and Van Buren counties. Independent candidates have until noon Friday to submit their petitions to the Secretary of State.
If no candidate earns a majority in the June 2 special primary election, a runoff will be held on June 30. The special general election is scheduled for Aug. 4.
Berry was serving his seventh term in the Arkansas House when he died last month at the age of 71. The Dover Republican was first elected to the Legislature in 2002 and served three House terms before unsuccessfully running for a state Senate seat. He returned to the House after being elected again in 2018.
Berry’s death leaves Republicans with a 79-20 majority in the state House. The Arkansas Legislature convened earlier this month for this year’s session, focused on the budget.
Arkansas Advocate is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Arkansas Advocate maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Andrew DeMillo for questions: info@arkansasadvocate.com.
