Former governor candidate James Russell launches campaign to unseat Sen. Cotton

Written By Apo August 24, 2025 Add Comment

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — James Richard Russell III, former candidate for Arkansas governor, announced that he is running for the U.S. Senate in 2026, seeking to unseat Republican Sen. Tom Cotton.

The official announcement will be made on Aug. 27, 12:00 p.m. in the rotunda of the Arkansas State Capitol, according to a news release.

In his announcement, Russell highlighted accountability and transparency as priorities for his campaign. He said he supports policies addressing economic and social equity, including issues affecting race, gender and sexual orientation, and programs for veterans and working families.

“I am running for U.S. Senate to replace Tom Cotton because Arkansas deserves leaders who are accountable to their constituents, not just to their donors,” Russell said in the release. “We need leaders who push for legislation and tax structures that benefit the working class and increase economic mobility—not more rubber-stamp politicians mired in the past and beholden to the status quo.”

Russell previously ran for governor in 2021, running a campaign largely funded through grassroots contributions.

Russell is a lifetime member of the Democratic Black Caucus and has backed organizations including Arkansas Renters United, PRISM and Young Democrats of Arkansas, as well as programs serving under-resourced students and families in Marshallese and immigrant communities, according to the release.

Russell and his wife, Wendy, run a mental health clinic in Little Rock. He served in the Arkansas Army National Guard and has experience in healthcare credentialing, compliance and disaster preparedness.

Another Democrat, Hallie Shoffner of Newport, has also announced her candidacy against Cotton. Shoffner is a sixth-generation farmer and founder of Delta Harvest, an organization focused on supporting local food infrastructure and Arkansas farmers.

For more information on Russell’s campaign, visit www.russellforar.com.

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