Copyright Arkansas Online
Courtney King, a Democrat from Elkins, will seek election to the Arkansas House District 25 seat held by state Rep. Chad Puryear, a Republican from Hindsville, in the 2026 elections, King announced Tuesday. House District 25 includes parts of Crawford, Franklin and Washington counties. Puryear, who is a farmer, has served in the House of Representatives since 2023. King is a multimedia artist, educator and nonprofit founder, who is making her first bid for elected office. She also is currently a senior at the University of Arkansas, and said she will graduate with a bachelor's degree in studio arts and minors in STEM education and art history. "I'm running because our communities deserve more than survival -- they deserve joy, opportunity, and a future they can help shape," she said in a news release. "I've spent years building programs that empower people through creativity and connection. Now I'm ready to bring that same energy to the Capitol. I have lived all throughout this district -- from the River Valley to the hills of Northwest Arkansas -- and I know what matters to everyday people. I plan to protect our Natural State and be a voice for those who are too often left out of the conversation." In July, Puryear announced his bid for reelection. He said in a post on Facebook that he would like to continue giving rural Arkansas a voice in Little Rock, and his campaign promises "focused on limited government, lower taxes, property rights and protecting our small town values." Puryear serves on the House Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development Committee and the House Public Transportation Committee. The party filing period in Arkansas will begin Monday and end Nov. 11, according to the secretary of state's office. The primary election will be on March 3, and the general election will be on Nov. 3, 2026. King must collect 200 nomination signatures of registered voters by Halloween to officially appear on the ballot, according to her news release. She added in a written statement that "I'm confident that we will collect all of the signatures needed. "If for some reason we don't reach our goal, then I have committed to pay the filing fee," King said.
