James Russell (Arkansas)
James Russell (Democratic Party) (also known as Rus) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent Arkansas' 4th Congressional District. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 3, 2026. He advanced from the Democratic primary on March 3, 2026.
Russell also ran for election to the U.S. Senate to represent Arkansas. He did not appear on the ballot for the Democratic primary on March 3, 2026.
Russell completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
James Russell has lived in Little Rock, Arkansas. He served in the U.S. Army National Guard from 1996 to 1996. Russell earned a high school diploma from Captain Shreve High School and a B.S. in philosophy from the University of Central Arkansas in 2012. His career experience includes owning CYA Music, LLC, co-owning New Dawn Counseling, and working as a musician.[1][2][3]
Elections
2026
See also: Arkansas' 4th Congressional District election, 2026
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
General election for U.S. House Arkansas District 4
Incumbent Bruce Westerman (R) and James Russell (D) are running in the general election for U.S. House Arkansas District 4 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Bruce Westerman (R) | |
 | James Russell (D)  | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
Democratic primary for U.S. House Arkansas District 4
James Russell (D) defeated Steven O'Donnell (D) in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Arkansas District 4 on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | James Russell | 53.0 | 13,228 |
 | Steven O'Donnell | 47.0 | 11,740 | |
| Total votes: 24,968 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary
The Republican primary scheduled for March 3, 2026, was canceled. Incumbent Bruce Westerman (R) advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Arkansas District 4 without appearing on the ballot.
Endorsements
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2022
See also: Arkansas gubernatorial election, 2022
General election
General election for Governor of Arkansas
The following candidates ran in the general election for Governor of Arkansas on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) | 63.0 | 571,105 |
 | Chris Jones (D) | 35.2 | 319,242 | |
 | Ricky Dale Harrington Jr. (L) | 1.8 | 16,690 | |
| Jason Tate (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | ||
 | Dan Nelson (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | |
| Michael Woodard (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | ||
 | Elvis Presley (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | |
| Total votes: 907,037 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Governor of Arkansas
Chris Jones defeated Anthony Bland, Jay Martin, James Russell, and Supha Xayprasith-Mays in the Democratic primary for Governor of Arkansas on May 24, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Chris Jones | 70.4 | 66,540 |
 | Anthony Bland | 9.6 | 9,055 | |
 | Jay Martin | 8.2 | 7,731 | |
| James Russell | 6.8 | 6,421 | |
 | Supha Xayprasith-Mays | 5.0 | 4,725 | |
| Total votes: 94,472 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Governor of Arkansas
Sarah Huckabee Sanders defeated Doc Washburn in the Republican primary for Governor of Arkansas on May 24, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Sarah Huckabee Sanders | 83.1 | 289,249 |
 | Doc Washburn | 16.9 | 58,638 | |
| Total votes: 347,887 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Tim Griffin (R)
- Leslie Rutledge (R)
- Leticia Sanders (R)
Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for Governor of Arkansas
Ricky Dale Harrington Jr. advanced from the Libertarian convention for Governor of Arkansas on February 20, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Ricky Dale Harrington Jr. (L) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
James Russell completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Russell's responses.
| Collapse all
James is a husband, father, uncle, and now great-uncle. He studied a joint Pre-Med/Pre-Law curriculum at University of Central Arkansas in Conway, AR that focused on legal, political, and ethical theory. He is an avid lover and creator of music, art, literature, and nature who also has an interest in classic cars.
James is a supporter of 2A rights who believes in responsible gun ownership. He believes in preserving individua rights, including the right to bodily autonomy for everyone.- Putting People First -
Politics today are messed up. Some politicians only care about fame, money, and power. But that’s not what the job is about. Leaders should listen to the people, not hide from them. They should go to town halls, not just big money events.
A good leader stands up for the people, follows the Constitution, and works with others to make life better for everyone—not just the rich or powerful. - Economic Fairness - Big companies are making record profits, but workers' pay hasn’t kept up. That’s not right. The cost of living keeps going up—housing, groceries, and everything else. But the minimum wage hasn’t gone up to match. We need fair laws that raise wages, make sure everyone gets equal pay for equal work, and treat all workers fairly. This will help working families now and build a stronger, more fair economy for the future.
- Fighting Corruption - For years, the rich and powerful have taken more and more, while the rest of us struggle. That’s not fair, and it needs to change. We need to give power back to regular people—not let billionaires and big corporations run everything. That means making taxes fairer. Working people should pay less, and the rich should pay their fair share. We also need to close tax loopholes and stop the games the super-rich use to avoid paying taxes. They made their money off our work. It’s only right they help pay to fix the problems we all face.
Improved economic conditions for working class Americans.
Ensuring that everyone has a safe, stable living environment.
Bringing rationality, reason, and understanding back to public discourse.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign website
Russell's campaign website stated the following:
Putting People First
- Politics today are messed up. Some politicians only care about fame, money, and power. But that’s not what the job is about.
- Leaders should listen to the people, not hide from them. They should go to town halls, not just big money events.
- A good leader stands up for the people, follows the Constitution,
and works with others to make life better for everyone—not just the rich
or powerful.Economic Fairness
- Big companies are making record profits, but workers' pay hasn’t kept up. That’s not right.
- The cost of living keeps going up—housing, groceries, and everything else. But the minimum wage hasn’t gone up to match.
- We need fair laws that raise wages, make sure everyone gets equal pay for equal work, and treat all workers fairly.
- This will help working families now and build a stronger, more fair economy for the future.
Fighting Corruption
- For years, the rich and powerful have taken more and more, while the rest of us struggle. That’s not fair, and it needs to change.
- We need to give power back to regular people—not let billionaires and big corporations run everything.
- That means making taxes fairer. Working people should pay less, and the rich should pay their fair share. We also need to close tax loopholes and stop the games the super-rich use to avoid paying taxes.
- They made their money off our work. It’s only right they help pay to fix the problems we all face.
Better Healthcare and Prescription Coverage
- Americans pay way more for healthcare than people in other countries—but we get worse results.
- Most people get insurance through their jobs, but it’s often expensive, confusing, and doesn’t cover enough.
- We can fix this by expanding Medicare and moving toward healthcare
for everyone. That means lower costs, better care, and fewer people
falling through the cracks.Education and Job Training
- Learning is key to keeping our country free and strong.
- The world is changing fast. People need good information—and the skills to tell facts from lies.
- We need to make sure everyone can get a good, free education. That
includes college or job training, so people can get good jobs and help
lead the future.Equal Rights And Opportunities for All
- America was built on the idea of fairness and justice for all. It’s time we make that real.
- We need strong laws that treat everyone equally—no matter their gender, income, or background.
- That means fair pay, equal rights, bodily autonomy, and protecting people from hate, while still respecting free speech.
Fix the Housing Crisis
- Housing in America has become too expensive. Many young people can’t afford to buy a home, and homelessness keeps growing.
- We need to stop big companies from buying up homes and raising rent too high.
- We should also count rent payments when people apply for a mortgage, so more folks can buy a home.
- And by adding a small tax on the super-rich—the top 0.1%—we can help end homelessness for good.
Protecting Our Environment and Natural Resources
- Arkansas is known as The Natural State because of its rich natural beauty.
- We should lead the country in protecting the environment and growing ecotourism.
- To achieve this, we must protect our natural resources from toxic industrial runoff and harmful chemical use.
- We need to invest in a clean energy future that uses multiple sources to stay safe and strong.
— James Russell's campaign website (January 16, 2026)
2022
James Russell did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign website
Russell's campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
EDUCATION “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” - Nelson Mandela. Education is not childcare. Education is building the foundation that allows our citizens to grow and become informed, active, engaged members of our society. Education is the development of a person into an individual and equipping them with the tools needed to critically assess and interact successfully with the world around them. Arkansas currently ranks 40th in quality of education for Pre-K-12th grades and in higher education. Decades of gradual reduction in funding for our educational programs and school consolidation have left our educators overburdened, underpaid, and under-equipped for the work that they do. There should be NO reason for educators to have to pay out of their own pockets for students to have the materials they need in class. Neither should ANY child be denied nutritious food, safety, and a sense of inclusion while in the care of our public school systems. We have to address the shortcomings of our budgetary practices that have de-prioritized spending on education to repair this egregious failure and dereliction of duties. Education is not about how well a person scores on an exam. Education is about how well a person is prepared to live the best life possible for themselves, whether that be through higher education, trade school, or other programs. As Governor, it would be my priority to work with our industries and educational institutions to build programs designed specifically to give our citizens the tools they need to lead Arkansas into the future in fields like Green Energy, technology, sustainable agriculture, and many more. ECONOMY "It’s the economy, stupid!" - James Carville The economy is not the stock market. The economy can’t be easily defined by any single metric. For most people, the economy is a practical matter of how much money they have on-hand, in the bank, and in savings. Thus, it is better defined as “How much economic freedom do you have?” Arkansas has among the highest rates of poverty in the country and growing economic inequality – inequality that has only been compounded in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. We also have a gender wage gap that has been allowed to endure for far too long. We must address the underlying systemic problems that perpetuate these issues. Restoring and protecting collective bargaining power for employees, ensuring protection for renters, and protecting our citizens from predatory business practices are just a few of the ways in which we can begin addressing these issues. We must also ensure that everyone has good, comprehensive healthcare insurance so that no one in our state faces financial ruin over medical expenses. I believe that we can look to the success of programs like AR Works and build upon them to provide our citizens with the healthcare coverage they deserve at a lower cost, while at the same time freeing them from dependence upon employers for providing or denying insurance coverage. Doing this means both more money in everyone’s pocket and better healthcare simultaneously. Does this sound like a fantasy? Then how during the pandemic, when we were faced with record numbers of unemployment and economic hardship, were insurance companies simultaneously able to both remove restrictions like copays and post record gains on profits? The numbers don’t lie – we CAN have better. EQUITY “An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.” - Martin Luther King, Jr, PhD Our nation was founded on the principle that all people were created equal. Even if our forebearers were blind to the inherent inequities of their original language, it falls to us to continue the pursuit of the more perfect union they envisioned and established for us all. Ensuring the rights, opportunities, and protections of all people, regardless of ethnicity, gender identity, conditions of birth, or other factors is our sworn duty. We must constantly recommit ourselves to this task each day and seek always to have a better understanding of our differences rather than condemning one another for them. It is only through such understanding that we can address those differences with compassion and overcome them with bold and fearless diligence. To this end, we must first be willing to speak the truth. Truth about our history. Truth about our shared experiences. Truth about ourselves. And when speaking those truths makes us uncomfortable, we must face them together as a unified people. A family. Only then can we ensure the freedom, liberty, and justice for all that we stand for. ENVIRONMENT “Lack of awareness of the basic unity of organism and environment is a serious and dangerous hallucination.” - Alan Watts We call ourselves “The Natural State”. We are rich in natural resources and biodiversity. We rely on the environment for the largest portion of our economic power through agriculture. We must take steps to protect these gifts and ensure they are protected for future generations as well as bringing our industries in-line with the best practices recommended by data-driven, scientific research. Sustainable agriculture, investment in multi-faceted clean energy initiatives, improved fuel economy goals, maintaining high air quality standards – all these and more are the responsibility of us all. We must return to the notion of stewardship rather than ownership; always with an eye to the legacy we leave for those that follow. We are not apart from the earth; we are a part of the Earth. As our environment suffers, so too do we. We are inextricably linked to it and, through it, to one another. We now have the knowledge to decide whether or not to continue making our world more hostile for our children. Let us have the courage and foresight to make the right choice to reduce suffering for future generations and ease their burden in our wake. To do so can only benefit us by extension and to do otherwise would be to perpetuate a cycle of cruelty that must end. SUMMARY “You are never too small to make a difference.” - Greta Thunberg These things, the 4Es, are NOT separate issues. Better education leads to better understanding, which leads to more equity and the opportunity for economic empowerment. An economy based on sustainable environmental practices leads to a healthier economy and environment. A stronger economy means more revenue available for education program development. More social equity means a more robust economy as additional opportunities arise for all. These ideas and goals are as interconnected as we are to one another. We must overcome our differences and indifference in order to reassert our will to act. We are both many and one. Massive and miniscule… and never too small to make a difference.[4] |
” |
| —James Russell's campaign website (2022)[5] | ||
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ LinkedIn, "James "Rus" Russell," accessed March 24, 2022
- ↑ Arkansas - Vote 4 Rus, "About," accessed March 24, 2022
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on February 6, 2026
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Arkansas - Vote 4 Rus, “The 4 Es,” accessed March 22, 2022
