Rep. Mark Berry (R-Ozark) announced Monday that he would run in an upcoming special election to fill the state Senate District 26 seat formerly held by the late Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R-Branch), who died on Sept. 2.

“After prayerful consideration,” Berry said in a press release, “I am announcing my bid for the Senate seat formerly held by my good friend and my senator, Gary Stubblefield.”

Berry, 69, served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 2021 until 2025. He was reelected in 2022, and he announced in May 2023 that he would not seek a third term in the House . He said he was running for Senate, however, because he “find[s] himself uniquely qualified to serve as the senator representing Senate District 26.”

District 26 covers portions of Franklin, Johnson, Logan and Seb

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