The Ballot Brief
Pulaski County, Arkansas

Pulaski County Judge

Griffen and Rushin are on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Names follow official Pulaski County election filings.

About this race

Democrat Wendell Griffen finished ahead of incumbent County Judge Barry Hyde in the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary, per Arkansas Times ('Griffen defeats Hyde in Democratic primary for Pulaski County judge'). He faces Republican Michael Rushin, a real estate broker, in the November 3, 2026 general election for chief executive of Arkansas's most populous county, per the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

What this office does

County judge (county executive). In Texas and a few other states the county judge is the county's chief executive and presides over the commissioners court, the county's governing board. The office prepares the budget, runs county administration and emergency management and, in smaller counties, still hears some probate and misdemeanor matters. It is an administrative office more than a courtroom one.

This race. Every voter in Pulaski County votes on this seat.

We use AI to research and write election information. Errors are possible. Verify important details with official sources.

Arkansas › Pulaski County › Pulaski County Judge

Wendell Griffen

Democratic

Top priorities

From other published sources

  • A 12-month moratorium on new data center approvals to allow proper county planning, per Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, June 2026 candidate forum
  • Addressing public trust in county government through truthful communication with the Quorum Court, per Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, June 2026 candidate forum
  • Raising county employee compensation, noting workers have gone three years without raises, per Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, June 2026 candidate forum
Biography

Wendell Griffen is a retired circuit court judge and pastor, age 73, per the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. His campaign site describes a background in law, theology, and activism. He has proposed a 12-month moratorium on new data center approvals and stricter permitting requirements for large data centers, per the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and KATV.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Michael Rushin

Republican

Top priorities

From other published sources

  • A 90-day review of county operations, budgetary controls, major contracts, and road priorities, per Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, June 2026 candidate forum
  • Quarterly budget briefings in plain language explaining budget changes and recurring costs, per Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, June 2026 candidate forum
  • Making county contracts and bid awards easily accessible to citizens, per Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, June 2026 candidate forum
Biography

Michael Rushin is a real estate broker, age 53, who owns his own firm offering property management services, per the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. No campaign website was found as of September 9, 2026.

Next on your ballotPulaski County Clerk and Circuit Clerk

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Pulaski County Judge in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Pulaski County Judge on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Wendell Griffen and Michael Rushin. Candidate information follows official Pulaski County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Pulaski County Judge election in Arkansas?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Arkansas are on the Arkansas election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Pulaski County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Pulaski County and state election office filings, last verified October 24, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Arkansas election office, or see the full Pulaski County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Pulaski County ballot

40 tracked races in Pulaski County, Arkansas. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
Pulaski County SheriffPulaski County Collector and TreasurerPulaski County AssessorSee all 40 Pulaski County races
Candidate profiles
Wendell Griffen, full profileMichael Rushin, full profileOfficial Arkansas election office