Pope County, Arkansas – Republican Bill Teeter has officially secured the Arkansas House District 44 seat after a decisive victory in the special primary runoff election, marking another successful step in his campaign to represent parts of Pope and Van Buren counties.
Election results posted by the Arkansas Secretary of State show Teeter receiving 279 votes in the special primary runoff, comfortably defeating challenger Nikki Phillips, who finished with 24 votes. The outcome gives Teeter a commanding win in the contest and solidifies his position as the district’s next state representative.
The runoff was the final hurdle in a unique election process triggered earlier this year. District 44 voters were asked to participate in two separate races after a vacancy was created in the Arkansas House of Representatives following the death of Rep. Stan Berry, who passed away on March 23 while serving the district.
With the special election now complete, Teeter will serve out the remainder of the 2026 term, ensuring District 44 has representation in the state legislature following the unexpected vacancy.
His path beyond this year also appears clear. Teeter is set to appear on the November general election ballot without opposition, meaning no challenger has filed to compete for the seat. If that remains unchanged, he will continue representing the district into the next full legislative term.
Arkansas House members are elected to two-year terms and may serve a maximum of 12 years under the state’s term-limit rules. The upcoming general election will therefore determine the beginning of Teeter’s first full term after completing the remainder of the current one.
House District 44 includes communities across portions of Pope and Van Buren counties, making it an important legislative district for residents in the River Valley region. The representative serves as the area’s voice in the Arkansas General Assembly, voting on legislation that affects state funding, education, public safety, infrastructure, and other statewide issues.
The special election process was necessary after the passing of Rep. Stan Berry, whose death left the seat vacant during the legislative term. State law requires a special election to fill such vacancies, allowing voters to choose a replacement rather than leaving the district without representation.
With both the special election and the runoff now behind him, Bill Teeter has successfully emerged as the winner of the District 44 race and is positioned to continue serving the district after November, when he is expected to be elected to a full two-year term without opposition.
