Pluribus AI 2026 Election

2026 Midterms · U.S. House · Arkansas Safe

Arkansas — 3rd District

Portrait of Robb Ryerse

Democratic

Robb Ryerse

Portrait of Steve Womack

Republican

Steve Womack

Incumbent

The 2026 election for Arkansas's 3rd Congressional District features seven-term Republican incumbent Steve Womack against Democratic nominee Robb Ryerse, a pastor and nonprofit leader. Both candidates advanced automatically after their respective party primaries were canceled due to lack of opposition. The matchup hinges on Womack's long legislative record on appropriations, fiscal spending cuts, and defense versus Ryerse's campaign focused on middle-class tax relief, expanding healthcare access, rejecting corporate PAC money, and holding open town halls. Major election handicappers—including The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill—rate the district as Solid or Safe Republican.

01

Economy, Budget, and Taxes

high salience

Ryerse prioritizes raising the minimum wage and cutting taxes for middle-class families, whereas Womack focuses on balancing the budget through federal spending cuts and entitlement reform.

Robb Ryerse

Supports middle-class tax cuts and higher wages

Ryerse advocates for economic policies aimed at supporting working and middle-class families. His platform calls for raising the minimum wage, cutting taxes for working families, expanding paid leave, and supporting local job growth.

  • Raise the minimum wage and support local jobs to help families thrive.
  • Cut taxes for working and middle-class families.
  • Ensure paid leave for new babies, sick loved ones, or personal needs.
  • Expand affordable housing opportunities.

“Cut taxes for working and middle-class families so they can keep more of what they earn.”

Steve Womack

Supports fiscal restraint and tax relief

Womack emphasizes balancing the federal budget through spending reductions and entitlement reform. He signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge and supported major fiscal legislation, including the Limit, Save, Grow Act and the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

  • Signed Americans for Tax Reform's Taxpayer Protection Pledge opposing tax increases.
  • Supported the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023, Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, and Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024.
  • Advocates spending reductions and entitlement reform to balance the budget.
  • Voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) reconciliation bill in 2025.

“We must have a balanced budget to restore our country's fiscal discipline. To achieve this, our government must be willing to reduce spending and produce real and sustainable entitlement reform.”

02

Immigration and Border Security

high salience

Ryerse supports keeping immigrant families together and offering a pathway to citizenship, while Womack advocates for hardline border enforcement legislation and increased detention measures.

Robb Ryerse

Supports fair pathway to citizenship

Ryerse advocates for immigration policies focused on keeping families together and providing immigrants with a fair path to citizenship.

  • Keep immigrant families together.
  • Provide a fair path to citizenship for immigrants.

“Keep families together and give immigrants a fair path to citizenship.”

Steve Womack

Supports strict border enforcement legislation

Womack supports strict border enforcement measures and legislative penalties for unauthorized immigrants. He voted for the Secure the Border Act, the Laken Riley Act, and the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

  • Voted for the Secure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2) and the Laken Riley Act (S. 5).
  • Voted to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in 2024.
  • Voted for H.R. 875 to make driving under the influence grounds for deporting unauthorized immigrants.
03

Healthcare and Entitlement Programs

high salience

Ryerse supports universal healthcare access and safeguarding entitlement safety nets, whereas Womack calls for entitlement reform to reduce federal expenditures.

Robb Ryerse

Supports universal healthcare and protecting entitlement programs

Ryerse advocates for universal healthcare access where medical care is affordable for everyone. He also pledges to protect Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare.

  • Ensure everyone can see a doctor without worrying about cost.
  • Protect Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare to keep them strong for beneficiaries.

“Everyone should be able to see a doctor without worrying about cost.”

“Make sure these programs stay strong for everyone who needs them.”

Steve Womack

Supports entitlement reform and pandemic mandate rollbacks

Womack calls for entitlement reform to achieve a balanced budget and restore fiscal discipline. In Congress, he voted to terminate COVID-19 emergency measures and travel vaccination requirements.

  • Advocates entitlement reform to curb federal deficit spending.
  • Voted for H.J.Res. 7 ending the national coronavirus state of emergency.
  • Voted for H.R. 185 terminating CDC COVID-19 vaccination requirements for foreign travelers.
04

Energy and Climate Policy

medium salience

Ryerse focuses on combating climate change through clean energy investments, while Womack promotes expanding all domestic energy sources, including oil, natural gas, and coal.

Robb Ryerse

Supports clean energy and climate action

Ryerse emphasizes fighting climate change through clean energy investments and environmental protection.

  • Invest in clean energy technologies.
  • Protect air, water, and land resources.

“Invest in clean energy and protect our air, water, and land.”

Steve Womack

Supports expanding all domestic energy production

Womack supports expanding domestic energy production across both fossil fuel and renewable sources to bolster economic growth and national security. He voted for the Lower Energy Costs Act.

  • Voted for the Lower Energy Costs Act (H.R. 1) to expand oil, gas, and mineral production.
  • Advocates developing both finite and renewable energy sources to lower reliance on single sources.
  • Served as Vice-Chairman of the House Energy and Water Appropriations subcommittee.

“domestic energy production is essential to the growth of our economy and the security of our nation. Both finite and renewable sources must be explored and developed to diversify our energy base and lower our reliance on a single source.”

05

Government Reform and Voting Rights

medium salience

Ryerse advocates rejecting corporate PAC money and making voting easier, while Womack supports requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote.

Robb Ryerse

Supports campaign finance reform and voting access

Ryerse calls for reforming political campaigns by refusing corporate PAC money and making voting easier. He pledges to hold open town halls across the district.

  • Refuse corporate PAC money to prioritize regular citizens.
  • Make voting easier and end unfair partisan district mapping.
  • Hold public town halls across district communities.

“Make voting easier, end unfair district maps, and keep our elections safe and fair.”

“Say no to corporate PAC money. Make sure regular people have the biggest voice.”

Steve Womack

Supports stricter voter proof-of-citizenship requirements

Womack supports federal voter eligibility safeguards. He voted for the SAVE Act to mandate proof of citizenship for federal election registration.

  • Voted for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act (H.R. 22).
  • Voted for the No Rogue Rulings Act (NORRA of 2025, H.R. 1526) limiting federal court injunctions.
06

Civil Rights, Gender, and Social Issues

medium salience

Ryerse advocates for LGBTQ+ rights and bodily autonomy, whereas Womack voted for federal restrictions on transgender participation in women's athletics.

Robb Ryerse

Supports LGBTQ+ rights and personal bodily autonomy

Ryerse supports defending LGBTQ+ civil rights, protecting free speech, and maintaining personal bodily choices and religious freedom.

  • Defend LGBTQ+ rights, privacy, and free speech.
  • Protect personal choices regarding bodies and personal lives.
  • Protect religious freedom for believers and non-believers alike.

“Defend LGBTQ+ rights and protect everyone’s privacy and free speech.”

“People should be free to decide about their own bodies and lives.”

Steve Womack

Supports athletic sex restrictions and opposes ESG regulations

Womack supports conservative positions on social policy, including restricting transgender women from women's sports categories and blocking ESG investment factors in federal retirement plans.

  • Voted for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025 (H.R. 28).
  • Voted for H.Con.Res. 9 denouncing the horrors of socialism.
  • Voted for H.J.Res. 30 to overturn Labor Department rules permitting ESG investment considerations.
07

Veterans and National Defense

medium salience

Both candidates support expanded care for military veterans, though Womack highlights his 30-year Army National Guard career and legislative appropriations role.

Robb Ryerse

Supports expanding veteran healthcare and housing

Ryerse supports comprehensive support for military veterans, emphasizing healthcare, affordable housing, and career placement services.

  • Ensure veterans receive necessary healthcare, housing, and job support after service.

“Make sure veterans get the health care, housing, and job support they need after serving our country.”

Steve Womack

Supports robust defense funding and veteran assistance

Womack, a retired Army National Guard Colonel, prioritizes military readiness and veteran services. He consistently supports National Defense Authorization Acts and serves on the Defense Appropriations subcommittee.

  • Served 30 years in the U.S. Army National Guard, retiring as Colonel.
  • Voted for the FY2024 and FY2025 National Defense Authorization Acts.
  • Serves on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.

“As a 30-year veteran of the United States Army National Guard, it is my firm belief that we owe no greater debt than that owed to our veterans, especially those who became disabled in service to our country.”

08

Gun Policy and Criminal Justice Reform

medium salience

Robb Ryerse

Supports gun safety laws and justice reform

Ryerse advocates for gun safety legislation to protect schools and communities, along with justice system reforms that prioritize fairness and second chances.

  • Pass gun laws that protect children at school and families in communities.
  • Reform the criminal justice system to focus on fairness and second chances over punishment.

“Pass gun laws that protect kids at school and families in their communities.”

“Focus on fairness and second chances—not just punishment.”

Steve Womack No documented position in our sources