Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026
Nashville Mayor & City Council Election 2026
2 of 12 council seats are on the ballot, with 7 candidates running. Updated Oct 20, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check
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How to vote · 11 days left
Early voting ends (Nov 2): the election office's noticeThese links go to official state and county election sites. Hours and rules differ by state; your election office has the final word.
The candidates
Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.
Mayor
1 seat- Larry DunawayIncumbentMayor of Nashville since January 1, 202311sourced
- Kelly Rhea WindhamAdministrative secretary to the Howard County judge and a former Nashville recorder-treasurer. She also served as interim mayor at the City Council's request.1sourced
- Denise WoodruffBusiness owner running as an independent candidate for mayor of Nashville.1sourced
City Council Ward 1 Position 2
1 seatThree contests are on the ballot: Mayor (Larry Dunaway, Denise Woodruff and Kelly Rhea Windham), City Council Ward 1, Position 2, and City Council Ward 5, Position 2. The other council seats are unopposed or drew no candidate.
Also on your Nov 3 ballot
We research city races only. For these races, go to the state's official guide or a nonpartisan one.
- Governor
- Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders · Republican
- Colt Shelby · Libertarian
- State Senator Fred Love · Democratic
- U.S. Senate
- Hallie Shoffner · Democratic
- Senator Tom Cotton · Republican
- Jeff Wadlin · Libertarian
- Also statewideLieutenant Governor · Attorney General · Secretary of State · State Treasurer · Auditor of State · Commissioner of State Lands
- Statewide measures4 on the ballot: the state's official explanations
Districts come from 2020 Census blocks and the district maps for this election. Your address decides your districts.
What the next council decides
01Water and sewer projects4 sourced facts
Where it standsThe city is dredging Lake Nichols, building a new clarifier at the wastewater plant, working on the river pump and the Sweet Home Road booster station, and repainting the 7th Street water tower.
What's on the tableContracts and payments for these projects and how to use the money collected since water rates went up.
- Money collected since water rates went up pays the payments on a twelve million dollar loan. City of Nashville · Mar 23, 2026
- In April 2026 the council accepted Kimery Painting's low bid of $411,497 to paint the 7th Street water tank. City of Nashville · Apr 27, 2026
- In June 2026 the public works director reported that the dredging at Lake Nichols was complete. City of Nashville · Jun 22, 2026
- In July 2026 the mayor said he hoped to have the wastewater clarifier back in operation by winter. City of Nashville · Jul 27, 2026
02Turf fields at the city park4 sourced facts
Where it standsThe city applied for a federal grant through the state to put artificial turf on city park fields and expected to hear back in October 2026.
What's on the tableWhether to go ahead with turf fields, and how much city money to spend, depending on the grant and sponsors.
- Bids for the turf fields project were $1,100,000 from Sprintturf and $1,065,500 from GeoSurfaces, Inc. City of Nashville · Apr 27, 2026
- The park director said Tyson would give $100,000, Cantex $25,000 and REA $25,000, and the park commission agreed on $100,000 from the park activity fund. City of Nashville · Apr 27, 2026
- The council voted 11-0 in April 2026 to apply for the grant, which the park director said could be around $1.2 to $1.75 million. City of Nashville · Apr 27, 2026
- In June 2026 the park director said the city would not hear back on the grant until October. City of Nashville · Jun 22, 2026
03Main Street lot and sidewalks4 sourced facts
Where it standsThe city owns an empty lot on Main Street that it cleared, and a pocket park has been proposed there; a sidewalk project on the west side of Main Street is awaiting state highway approval.
What's on the tableWhether to sell, donate or develop the Main Street lot, and when to bid the sidewalk project.
- The lot was appraised at $13,750, and in March 2026 the council tabled selling it until it had more information. City of Nashville · Mar 23, 2026
- In July 2026 the council heard ideas for a pocket park on the empty lot and about an Arkansas Economic Development Commission Community Assistance grant. City of Nashville · Jul 27, 2026
- In August 2026 the council accepted Resolution 2026-06 on the Arkansas Community Assistance Grant Program. City of Nashville · Aug 6, 2026
- About $700,000 from the highway department is going toward the sidewalk project, with the city paying 10%. City of Nashville · Mar 23, 2026
04City reserves and audits3 sourced facts
Where it standsIn March 2026 the council moved $300,000 of water and sewer reserve money into a six-month bank CD to earn more interest.
What's on the tableWhere to keep the city's reserve money and how much to spend on projects.
- The money was in the Capital Reserve fund earning 2% interest; banks quoted 3.75%, 3.91% and 3.94%. City of Nashville · Mar 23, 2026
- The council put $300,000 from Capital Reserve into a six-month CD with Diamond Bank. City of Nashville · Mar 23, 2026
- In July 2026 the council approved the general fund legislative joint audit. City of Nashville · Jul 27, 2026
05Economic development3 sourced facts
Where it standsThe city has passed ordinances giving Cantex a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes program for its move to Nashville and shares sales tax money with economic development.
What's on the tableWhat incentives to offer new employers and how much tax money goes to economic development.
- At a June 2026 public hearing, the mayor said the city had passed ordinances for Cantex to have a payment in lieu of taxes program when it moved to Nashville. City of Nashville · Jun 22, 2026
- In April 2026 the council voted to pay Howard Memorial Hospital and Economic Development 10% of the sales tax extension money. City of Nashville · Apr 27, 2026
- In February 2026 the council heard that the Economic Development Group had several site visits at properties around town. City of Nashville · Feb 23, 2026
3 notes on these statements
Ballotpedia lists one candidate each on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot for the other council seats: Michael Timothy Ponder (Ward 1, Seat 1), Donna Harwell (Ward 2, Seat 1), Tomekia Williamson (Ward 3, Position 1), Khalid Benson (Ward 3, Seat 2), William E. Turley (Ward 4, Seat 1), Sharon K. Gathright (Ward 4, Seat 2), Charles Pinkston (Ward 5, Seat 1), Kathy Combs (Ward 6, Seat 1) and Lynn Dyer (Ward 6, Position 2). Ballotpedia
No candidate filed for City Council Ward 2, Position 2. Southwest Arkansas Radio · Aug 7, 2026
Carol Mitchell was appointed to Ward 5, Position 2 in August 2026 after Herbert Turley vacated the seat. City of Nashville · Aug 24, 2026
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Who matches you?
Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.
1. Should Nashville pursue artificial turf for the city park's ball fields?
2. Should the city move reserve money into bank CDs to earn more interest?
3. What should the city do with its empty lot on Main Street?
Key dates
- Early voting beginsNashville News-Leader · Oct 15, 2026Oct 19, 2026
- Early voting endsNashville News-Leader · Oct 15, 2026Nov 2, 2026
- Election dayNashville News-Leader · Oct 15, 2026Nov 3, 2026
The seat math
0 stay (not up this year): 2 on this ballot
12 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 7-vote majority.
- The City Council has two positions in each of six wards. City of Nashville
- The council meets on the fourth Monday of each month at noon at City Hall. City of Nashville
- The mayor calls City Council meetings to order. City of Nashville · Apr 27, 2026
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