Fred
Love
Arkansas State Senator Fred Love is the 2026 Democratic candidate for Governor of Arkansas.
- sources
- 12
- positions
- 7
- endorsements
- 2
Background
Fred Love is an Arkansas Democratic politician currently serving as State Senator for District 15, representing parts of Little Rock and Pulaski County. He was elected to the Arkansas Senate in 2022 and sworn in on January 9, 2023, having previously served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 2011 to 2022. 3
Before his legislative career, Love worked through AmeriCorps and the Arkansas Food Bank, and served as Director of Community Services for Pulaski County. 15
Love holds a bachelor's degree in political science and a master's degree in public administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, as well as a post-baccalaureate certificate in public health from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. He also attended the Harvard Kennedy School's Senior Executives in State and Local Government program. 3
Love is the Democratic nominee for Governor of Arkansas in the November 3, 2026, general election, challenging incumbent Republican Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. His campaign has focused on issues including health, education, and prisons. 21215
At a glance
- Party
- Democratic
- Running for
- Governor, Arkansas
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Current office
- Arkansas State Senator, District 15
- Website
- fredlove.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Oct 13debateGubernatorial debate featuring Love, Sanders, and Shelby scheduled to air on Arkansas TV
An exclusive Arkansas TV debate series announced on Sept. 28 includes a gubernatorial debate with all three candidates. The debate is scheduled to air at 10 a.m. with a repeat at 7 p.m. and was still upcoming as of Oct. 11.
Exclusive Arkansas TV debates series to feature ... · Sep 28, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 4newsLove interviewed on Capitol View with host Roby Brock about his campaign and vision
Love appeared on KARK's Capitol View program alongside Arkansas Democrat-Gazette editor Andrew DeMillo to discuss his gubernatorial campaign. A detailed transcript was not available in the sources reviewed.
Capitol View: Gubernatorial candidate Fred Love, editor Andrew DeMillo · Oct 4, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 1newsLove appears at Blue Porch Brunch, cites rural neglect, food insecurity, and maternal mortality
At a Democratic candidates' Blue Porch Brunch, Love said rural residents feel forgotten and reiterated his intent to end the voucher program. He highlighted food insecurity, maternal mortality, and Medicaid investment as top priorities.
Black Democratic candidates talk politics during first Blue Porch ... · Oct 1, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 30newsLove unveils policy positions on jobs, Medicaid, education vouchers, and prisons
In a reported interview, Love called for recruiting companies offering affordable wages, expanding Medicaid enrollment, ending the Education Freedom Account voucher program by executive order, and opposing the proposed Franklin County prison. Sanders disputed the legality of an executive order to end the voucher program.
Arkansas governor hopefuls focus on health, education ... · Sep 30, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 16newsLove speaks at Capitol rally urging action on disability-services waitlist
Love and Libertarian candidate Colt Shelby spoke at a state Capitol rally pressing Gov. Sanders to address the waitlist for children's supportive-living services under a Medicaid waiver.
Families of Arkansas children with disabilities say more action needed on waitlist · Sep 16, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Aug 12pollPoll shows Sanders at 45%, Love at 40%, Shelby at 7% in Arkansas governor race
A Talk Business & Politics–Hendrix College poll (n=1,217) found Sanders leading Love by 5 points, with Libertarian Colt Shelby at 7%. As of Oct. 7, this was the only poll in the tracker's dataset, with no poll recorded in the 14-day period through Oct. 9.
Arkansas Governor race 2026 | Smarter.Vote · Oct 7, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- Arkansas Democratic Party organizationivoterguide.com
- Democratic Party of Craighead County organizationListed as 'Craigshead County' on iVoterGuide; correct name is Craighead County. ivoterguide.com
Sources 12
- [1] Voter Guide Profile for AR Governor candidate - Fred Love(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
- [2] Arkansas Governor race 2026 | Smarter.Vote(opens in a new tab) Oct 7, 2026
- [3] Capitol View: Gubernatorial candidate Fred Love, editor Andrew DeMillo(opens in a new tab) Oct 4, 2026
- [4] Black Democratic candidates talk politics during first Blue Porch ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 1, 2026
- [5] Arkansas governor hopefuls focus on health, education ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 30, 2026
- [6] Exclusive Arkansas TV debates series to feature ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 28, 2026
- [7] Issues(opens in a new tab) Sep 24, 2026
- [8] Families of Arkansas children with disabilities say more action needed on waitlist(opens in a new tab) Sep 16, 2026
- [9] What's Love got to do with it? A Q&A with Democratic gubernatorial ...(opens in a new tab) Aug 21, 2026
- [10] Love vows order halting school vouchers if elected Arkansas governor(opens in a new tab) Jun 29, 2026
- [11] Gubernatorial challengers talk ideas as Sanders skips debate - Arkansas Times(opens in a new tab) Jun 27, 2026
- [12] [PDF] 2025 General Assembly Report for Sen. Fred Love (Democrat(opens in a new tab) May 14, 2026