BROOKLAND, AR — (BrooklandNews.com) — Mar. 5, 2026 — A new statewide survey of Arkansas voters shows strong approval for President Donald Trump and a sizable early lead for U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton in a potential 2026 Senate matchup against Democrat Hallie Shoffner.
The poll, conducted by GrayHouse from Feb. 7 through Feb. 9, surveyed 550 likely Arkansas voters. The margin of error stands at plus or minus 4.2 percentage points.
Fifty percent of respondents said they strongly approve of Trump’s job performance, while 13 percent said they somewhat approve. Combined approval stands at 63 percent.
Thirty six percent of voters said they disapprove of the president, including 34 percent who strongly disapprove.
Support for Trump breaks sharply along party lines. Among Republicans, 79 percent said they strongly approve of the president’s performance. Ninety four percent of Democrats said they strongly disapprove.
The survey also tested a potential 2026 Senate race between Cotton and Shoffner. Cotton led the matchup with 58 percent support, compared with 36 percent for Shoffner. Seven percent of voters said they remain undecided.
After respondents received biographical information about Shoffner, Cotton’s lead widened slightly. Sixty percent said they would vote for the Republican senator, while 34 percent said they would support Shoffner.
The poll also asked voters about their overall impression of Shoffner. Fifty six percent said they hold a very unfavorable view of the Democrat. Seventeen percent said they view her very favorably.
When asked which issue matters most in deciding their vote in the 2026 elections, voters most often cited lowering inflation and the cost of living, with 24 percent selecting the issue.
Other top concerns included cutting government waste and fraud at 18 percent, lowering health care costs at 12 percent, securing the southern border at 11 percent and addressing what respondents described as woke ideology in schools and government at 11 percent.
The survey also measured views on immigration policy. Eighty four percent of voters said they support deporting immigrants in the country illegally who also have criminal records. Support included 67 percent who strongly support the policy.
A separate question asked about deporting all immigrants in the country illegally. Sixty seven percent of voters said they support the policy, while 32 percent said they oppose it.
The poll sample identified 53 percent of respondents as Republicans, 25 percent as independents and 22 percent as Democrats.
Respondents also reported their vote in the 2024 presidential election. Sixty two percent said they voted for Trump, while 34 percent said they supported Kamala Harris.
Researchers said the survey used a mixed method approach. Sixty percent of interviews occurred through text message invitations to online surveys, while 40 percent occurred through live phone interviews. The sample came from the Arkansas voter file and was weighted to reflect demographics, geography and past voting behavior.