A judge ripped into Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders' decision to delay a special election until next summer, finding that such an action would deprive citizens of their representation.

Sixth Judicial Circuit Judge Patricia James' eight-page order centers on the special election for the late state Sen. Gary Stubblefield, who represented Arkansas' District 26 until his death last month. After certifying the vacancy of the office, Sanders scheduled a special election for June 9, 2026, to fill the seat.

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The judge maintained that this date is too late — past the 150-day time frame accorded by state law and beyond the state's 2026 fiscal session runn

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