Sarah Capp

Sarah Capp

Republican Party

Candidate, Arkansas Court of Appeals District 3 Position 1

Prior offices

Arkansas House of Representatives District 82

Successor: Mark Berry

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Elections and appointments

Next election

November 3, 2026

Education

High school

Grayson County High School

Bachelor's

Murray State University, 2001

Law

William H. Bowen School of Law, 2004

Personal

Birthplace

Elizabethtown, Ky.

Religion

Methodist (United)

Profession

Judge

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Instagram

Personal Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Sarah Capp is running for election for the District 3 Position 1 judge of the Arkansas Court of Appeals. She declared candidacy for the 2026 election.^[source]

Capp (Republican Party) was a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives, representing District 82. She assumed office in 2017. She left office on January 11, 2021.

Capp completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Capp was nominated as the replacement candidate for District 82 of the state House after incumbent Bill Gossage resigned in August 2016. Since Capp was nominated less than 76 days before the election, Gossage stayed on the ballot and his votes counted for Capp.

Biography

Sarah Capp was first elected to represent District 82 of the Arkansas House, which includes parts of Franklin, Madison, and Crawford, in 2017.

Capp graduated from Murray State University with a bachelor's degree in political science. She went on to earn her J.D. from the William H. Bowen School of Law. Her work experience includes being the City Attorney for Altus, a Special Justice to the Arkansas Supreme Court in 2015, and a member on the board for the Arkansas Development Finance Authority in 2016. Her volunteer experience includes being a member of the Ozark Area Chamber of Commerce and the Arkansas Bar Association. Capp is also a former president of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters chapter in the River Valley.

Committee assignments

2019-2020

Capp was assigned to the following committees:

• Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs Committee
• House Judiciary Committee

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

Arkansas committee assignments, 2017
• City, County and Local Affairs
• Judiciary

Elections

2026

See also: Arkansas intermediate appellate court elections, 2026

Note: At this time, Ballotpedia is combining all declared candidates for this election into one list under a general election heading. As primary election dates are published, this information will be updated to separate general election candidates from primary candidates as appropriate.

General election

The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.

General election for Arkansas Court of Appeals District 3 Position 1

Sarah Capp is running in the general election for Arkansas Court of Appeals District 3 Position 1 on November 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Sarah Capp (Nonpartisan)

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	There are no incumbents in this race.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

To view Capp's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. To send us an endorsement, click here.

2018

See also: Arkansas House of Representatives elections, 2018

General election

The general election was canceled. Incumbent Sarah Capp won election in the general election for Arkansas House of Representatives District 82.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Arkansas House of Representatives District 82

Incumbent Sarah Capp advanced from the Republican primary for Arkansas House of Representatives District 82 on May 22, 2018.

		Candidate
✔		Sarah Capp

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.
= 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.

2016

See also: Arkansas House of Representatives elections, 2016

Ballotpedia's analysis revealed that only 42 of the 100 seats up for election in 2016 involved competition between Democrats and Republicans. This made it numerically impossible for Democrats to take control of either Arkansas legislative chamber in 2016.

The reason for the low competition was that candidates were in safe districts for their parties. Between 1972 and 2014, an upward trend in uncontested state legislative elections occurred.

The Democratic Party of Arkansas focused its 2016 efforts on the state’s House of Representatives. Without the numbers to win the state Senate, H.L. Moody, communications director for the Democratic Party of Arkansas, told Ballotpedia that the party’s goal was to “start building back where we can,” beginning with the House.

Ballotpedia spoke to political analyst Richard Winger, who said that the early primary deadline for the 2016 elections was a possible factor as well, making it difficult for Democrats to recruit candidates early.

The primary election was held on March 1, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing period began at noon local time on November 2, 2015, and ended at noon local time on November 9, 2015. Incumbent Bill Gossage resigned from the state House in late August. Sarah Capp was named as the replacement candidate for District 82. Since Capp was named less than 76 days before the election, Gossage stayed on the ballot and his votes counted for Capp.

Sarah Capp ran unopposed in the Arkansas House of Representatives District 82 general election.

Arkansas House of Representatives, District 82 General Election, 2016
Party		Candidate
	Republican	Sarah Capp  (unopposed)
Source: Arkansas Secretary of State

Incumbent Bill Gossage ran unopposed in the Arkansas House of Representatives District 82 Republican Primary.

Arkansas House of Representatives, District 82 Republican Primary, 2016
Party		Candidate
	Republican	Bill Gossage Incumbent (unopposed)

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Sarah Capp completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Capp's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Former Small business owner, Arkansas State Legislator, and current State District Court Judge. Judge Sarah Capp is grounded in Arkansas values, where she has drawn on real life experiences to advocate for clients, led meaningful, result driven reforms in the legislature, and addressed root causes of crime with support services, reducing recidivism in her courts.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• I’m a former lawyer/legislator and I understand how laws are made, but most importantly as a Judge I understand how they affect people’s lives.
• The courtroom isn’t a place for politics, it’s a place for accountability, the truth, and getting things right.
• I believe in personal responsibility. Criminals should be held accountable. Victims deserve to be heard. And the courtroom should be a place where justice is more than a word.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Justice reform. We need more community-focused initiatives that help nonviolent offenders avoid jail by completing education, job training, drug and alcohol classes, and community service. With our prisons overcrowded, judges must think creatively about accountability and rehabilitation.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I admire Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. She was known for her pragmatism, fairness, and ability to balance the letter of the law with real-world impact. That’s how I try to approach judging—faithful to the law, but always mindful of how decisions affect people’s lives.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity, honesty, and strong work ethic.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Patience, compassion, and commitment to the rule of law.

What legacy would you like to leave?

For me, legacy isn’t about titles—it’s about service. I hope to be remembered as a servant-leader who used the law not as a weapon but as a tool for justice, healing, and accountability. My goal is to leave behind a system where people know they were treated with respect and where justice was both firm and fair.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Persian Gulf War, 6th Grade.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Radio Station, 2 years in High School.

What is your favorite book? Why?

My favorite book is To Kill a Mockingbird because it reminds me of the importance of justice, empathy, and integrity — values I try to carry into both my personal and professional life.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Atticus Finch, he embodies the courage to stand up for what’s right, even when it’s unpopular. That’s a quality I strive for in my own work and life.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Balancing motherhood and work.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

The Court of Appeals handles the majority of appeals in Arkansas. They need judges who know the law and have a strong work ethic to process the appeals.

How would you describe your legal philosophy?

A respect for the rule of law with human dignity. As both a legislator and a judge, I’ve worked at the intersection of lawmaking and law-application. My background reflects a philosophy rooted in respect for the rule of law, yet tempered by compassion and dignity for individuals. I treat the law not only as a set of rules to enforce, but as a system that should elevate justice, reduce recidivism, and foster safer, healthier communities.

Is there a particular judge, past or present, whom you admire?

Justice Antonin Scalia, Justice Thomas, and Chief Justice Rehnquist

Do you believe that empathy is an important quality for a judge?

Empathy is important for a judge, but it must be properly understood. A judge’s role is not to let personal feelings dictate outcomes, that would undermine the rule of law. However, empathy allows a judge to ensure that every person who comes before the court feels heard, respected, and treated with dignity.

Have you ever been rated by a Bar Association? If so, what was the rating?

N/a.

Why are you running for this particular court seat?

Because I want to keep serving, not by writing laws, but by upholding them with fairness, consistency and common sense. My time in the legislature game me insight into how laws are written. As a judge, I use that experience to apply the laws the right way, not to make excuses, not to bend the rules, but to get it right.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for a judge to have previous experience in government or politics?

I do believe prior experience in government or politics can be beneficial for a judge—when it’s understood the right way. Judges don’t make policy, but having served in the legislature gave me insight into how laws are crafted, why certain language is chosen, and what the people’s representatives intended. That perspective helps me interpret the law more faithfully. It also gives me a strong respect for the separation of powers—because I’ve been on both sides of it. At the end of the day, a judge’s role is not political, but my prior service gives me a fuller understanding of how lawmaking and judging fit together in our system of checks and balances.

What is your primary concern about today's legal system in your state?

Our incarceration and recidivism rates. We have to address the root causes of criminal behavior before we can make progress.

What do you consider the greatest opportunity for the legal system in your state?

To strengthen both trust and effectiveness by expanding problem solving approaches that hold people accountable while also addressing the root causes of crime. We must connect individuals with treatment, job training, and community support instead of relying only on jail. The opportunity is now to build on that model statewide, ensuring that our courts deliver justice that is fair, efficient, and results in safer communities.

Would you be interested in serving on a higher court in the future? If so, which court appeals to you?

I’ll serve wherever God calls me.

Do you believe that Bar Association ratings are an accurate reflection of a judge’s ability?

N/a

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Asa Hutchinson, Susan Hutchinson, Charlene Fite, General Mark Berry, Colonel (USA Ret) Doug House, Charlie Collins, Tim Summers, Herschel Cleveland, Rebecca Petty, Dan Douglas, John Paul Wells, Will Bond, Nate Steel, Ann Henry, Sach Oliver, Bob Edwards, Ernie Witt, Neva Witt, Cheryl Anderson, Craig Cook, Jered Medlock, Chris Hussein, Gentry Wahlmeier, Jimmy Street, Sean Brister, Carrie Jernigan, Presley Engle, Christopher Brockett, Tara Crippen, Sam Eastman, John Van Kleef, Keith Kannett, and Laura Sossoman.

Candidates hear many personal stories from voters. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching or memorable?

I grew up in RURAL KENTUCKY—literally INSIDE the county jail.  My GREAT-GRANDFATHER… my GRANDPARENTS… and my FATHER—all served as the elected jailer in our county. While the sheriff handled things OUTSIDE, our family was responsible for everything that happened INSIDE those jail walls. When my father was elected, we moved into a SMALL APARTMENT in the basement of the jail. My childhood was filled with the SOUNDS and ROUTINES of jail life. We had breakfast and dinner with inmates who were trusted enough to help out. I didn’t see them as CRIMINALS—I saw them as PEOPLE. People who had made MISTAKES, yes…but also people who came from families just like YOURS and MINE.

Living in that jail showed me some HARD TRUTHS. I saw, up close, that there are folks who need to be LOCKED UPfor the safety of others. But I also saw men and women who might have stayed OUT OF JAIL—if they had gotten the RIGHT KIND OF HELP. Education. Job skills. SOMEONE TO BELIEVE IN THEM.
Those early lessons never left me. They inspired me to go to LAW SCHOOL… and later to run for the ARKANSAS LEGISLATURE, where I worked to build PROGRAMS THAT GIVE PEOPLE A SECOND CHANCE.

I also became a JUDGE—and I implemented programs that made a DIFFERENCE. Vocational training. Parenting classes. Family counseling. REAL SOLUTIONS that help people get back on their feet—and stay there.

What is an accomplishment that you are proud of?

Putting myself through law school and my professional accomplishments of getting elected and serving with integrity.

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 finance summary

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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.

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Sarah Capp campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2018	Arkansas House of Representatives District 82	Won general	$35,094	N/A**
Grand total			$35,094	N/A**
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Arkansas

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Arkansas scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.

2020

In 2020, the Arkansas State Legislature was in session from April 8 to April 24.

• National Federation of Independent Business

Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to small business issues.

• The American Conservative Union

Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

2019

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show].

In 2019, the Arkansas State Legislature was in session from January 14 through April 24. Americans for Prosperity Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues. Conduit for Commerce Legislators are scored on whether their votes on bills deliver "more economic freedom for all Arkansans." Family Council Action Committee Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to "promoting, protecting, and strengthening traditional family values." The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

2018

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show].
In 2018, the Arkansas State Legislature was in session from February 12 through March 12. The legislature held a special session from March 13 to March 15. National Federation of Independent Business Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to small business issues. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

2017

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show].

In 2017, the 91st Arkansas State Legislature was in session from January 9 through May 1. The Legislature held a special session from May 1 to May 3. Americans for Prosperity Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues. Conduit for Commerce Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to conservative issues with "a focus on small business." Family Council Action Committee Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to social issues. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

2016

To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show].

In 2016, the 90th Arkansas State Legislature was in session from April 13 through May 9. The Legislature held a three-day special session from April 6 to April 8 over healthcare. The Legislature held a second special session from May 19 to May 23 over transportation. National Federation of Independent Business Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues. The American Conservative Union Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.

See also

2026 Elections

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Candidate

Arkansas Court of Appeals District 3 Position 1

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Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by Bill Gossage (R)	Arkansas House of Representatives District 82 2017–2021	Succeeded by Mark Berry (R)

[show]

Current members of the Arkansas House of Representatives

Leadership

Majority Leader:Howard Beaty

Minority Leader:Andrew Collins

Representatives

District 1

Jeremy Wooldridge (R)

District 2

Trey Steimel (R)

District 3

Stetson Painter (R)

District 4

Jason Nazarenko (R)

District 5

Ron McNair (R)

District 6

Harlan Breaux (R)

District 7

Brit McKenzie (R)

District 8

Austin McCollum (R)

District 9

Diana Gonzales Worthen (D)

District 10

Mindy McAlindon (R)

District 11

Rebecca Burkes (R)

District 12

Hope Hendren Duke (R)

District 13

Scott Richardson (R)

District 14

Nick Burkes (R)

District 15

John Carr (R)

District 16

Kendon Underwood (R)

District 17

Randy Torres (R)

District 18

Robin Lundstrum (R)

District 19

Steven Unger (R)

District 20

Denise Garner (D)

District 21

Nicole Clowney (D)

District 22

David Whitaker (D)

District 23

Kendra Moore (R)

District 24

Brad Hall (R)

District 25

Chad Puryear (R)

District 26

James Eaton (R)

District 27

Steven Walker (R)

District 28

Bart Schulz (R)

District 29

Rick McClure (R)

District 30

Frances Cavenaugh (R)

District 31

Jimmy Gazaway (R)

District 32

Jack Ladyman (R)

District 33

Jon Milligan (R)

District 34

Joey Carr (R)

District 35

Jessie McGruder (D)

District 36

Johnny Rye (R)

District 37

Steve Hollowell (R)

District 38

Dwight Tosh (R)

District 39

Wayne Long (R)

District 40

Shad Pearce (R)

District 41

Alyssa Brown (R)

District 42

Stephen Meeks (R)

District 43

Rick Beck (R)

District 44

Stan Berry (R)

District 45

Aaron Pilkington (R)

District 46

Jon Eubanks (R)

District 47

Lee Johnson (R)

District 48

Ryan Rose (R)

District 49

Jay Richardson (D)

District 50

Zack Gramlich (R)

District 51

Cindy Crawford (R)

District 52

Marcus Richmond (R)

District 53

Matt Duffield (R)

District 54

Mary Bentley (R)

District 55

Matt Brown (R)

District 56

Steve Magie (D)

District 57

Cameron Cooper (R)

District 58

Les Eaves (R)

District 59

Jim Wooten (R)

District 60

Roger Lynch (R)

District 61

Jeremiah Moore (R)

District 62

Mark McElroy (R)

District 63

Lincoln Barnett (D)

District 64

Ken Ferguson (D)

District 65

Glenn Barnes (D)

District 66

Mark Perry (D)

District 67

Karilyn Brown (R)

District 68

Brian Evans (R)

District 69

David Ray (R)

District 70

Vacant

District 71

Brandon Achor (R)

District 72

Tracy Steele (D)

District 73

Andrew Collins (D)

District 74

Tippi McCullough (D)

District 75

Ashley Hudson (D)

District 76

Joy Springer (D)

District 77

Fred Allen (D)

District 78

Keith Brooks (R)

District 79

Tara Shephard (D)

District 80

Denise Ennett (D)

District 81

RJ Hawk (R)

District 82

Tony Furman (R)

District 83

Paul Childress (R)

District 84

Les Warren (R)

District 85

Richard McGrew (R)

District 86

John Maddox (R)

District 87

DeAnn Vaught (R)

District 88

Dolly Henley (R)

District 89

Justin Gonzales (R)

District 90

Richard Womack (R)

District 91

Bruce Cozart (R)

District 92

Julie Mayberry (R)

District 93

Mike Holcomb (R)

District 94

Jeff Wardlaw (R)

District 95

Howard Beaty (R)

District 96

Sonia Barker (R)

District 97

Matthew Shepherd (R)

District 98

Wade Andrews (R)

District 99

Lane Jean (R)

District 100

Carol Dalby (R)

Republican Party (80)

Democratic Party (19)

Vacancies (1)