Who's In the Race

The race for Arkansas's 4th Congressional District pits incumbent Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR) against Democrat James Russell in the Nov. 3 general election. ​

Westerman, an engineer and forester, has represented Arkansas's 4th District since 2015 and spent 22 years at Mid-South Engineering in Hot Springs. He chairs the House Committee on Natural Resources. Russell is a small-business owner with a professional background in health care who previously sought the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in 2022.

Westerman ran unopposed in the Republican primary on March 3. Russell won the Democratic primary that same day, with Steven O'Donnell as the runner-up.

What They Stand For

Westerman has proposed a comprehensive health-care reform plan called the Fair Care Act, which combines more than 75 bipartisan proposals to expand coverage, lower costs, and protect people with preexisting conditions, according to his House website. He's also supported lower taxes, per his campaign website; conservative values, as described on his campaign website; and defending Congress's legislative record, which he highlighted in a recent district debate, according to the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Russell has argued that immigration laws and programs should be enforced while legal immigrants should not be criminalized, according to KHBS. He also criticized the Trump administration's plan to purchase diesel from Russia, according to News From The States; he argued for a change in the country's direction, as he did in the district debate, according to the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

The Money Behind the Race

Westerman raised about $2.6 million through June 30, according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings, and had about $4.7 million in cash on hand. Russell raised about $5,853 through June 30, according to FEC filings, and had about $907 in cash on hand and about $1,052 in debt. Candidates in the race have raised a combined $2,568,827.

Race Outlook: Ratings and Betting Markets

Every major handicapper rates this race as safely in Republican hands. The Cook Political Report rated it "Solid Republican" as of Oct. 9, Sabato's Crystal Ball rated it "Solid Republican" as of Oct. 11, and Inside Elections rated it "Solid Republican" as of Oct. 2. On Kalshi, traders gave Republicans a 97.61 percent chance of winning as of Oct. 13; Democrats stood at 2.39 percent.

Westerman won the 2022 race with about 71 percent of the vote and the 2024 race with about 73 percent. Republicans won all four of Arkansas's U.S. House seats in both 2022 and 2024. Donald Trump carried Arkansas in the 2024 presidential election with about 64 percent of the vote.

Voters in Arkansas's 4th District who want to participate should note the following deadlines, per the Arkansas Secretary of State: the voter-registration deadline was Monday, Oct. 5. Mail or electronic absentee-ballot applications are due Tuesday, Oct. 27; in-person applications are due Friday, Oct. 30, by close of business.

Early voting runs Monday, Oct. 19, through Monday, Nov. 2, with polls open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; early voting ends Nov. 2 at 5 p.m. On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, polls are open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

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