State representative wins Democratic runoff for Arkansas state Senate seat in Little Rock

By: Tess Vrbin

Outlets: Arkansas Advocate

Published: April 1, 2026

Words: 749

Last Updated: 2 months, 2 weeks ago

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State Rep. Tara Shephard will be southwest Little Rock’s next state senator after she defeated Charity Smith-Allen in Tuesday’s Democratic primary runoff election.

Shephard won nearly 59% of the vote over Smith-Allen, who won about 41%, according to unofficial results from the Pulaski County Election Commission.

Shephard is a two-term House member, a youth program consultant and an auditor for the American Correctional Association. Her policy priorities include criminal justice reform and improving health …

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