State Rep. Kendon Underwood of Cave Springs faces Democratic challenger Letisha Hinds in the November general election for Arkansas House District 16, marking his first competitive general election race since taking office. The contest will determine who represents a district that encompasses parts of Rogers and stretches northwest toward Gentry, an area experiencing significant demographic and economic shifts over the last decade.
Underwood, a Republican, has represented District 16 since winning the seat in the 2020 general election. His tenure in the Arkansas House has been characterized by alignment with the GOP caucus on fiscal measures and education policy. In the 2026 election cycle, Hinds enters the race with an eye on changing the legislative approach to issues such as education funding and infrastructure development in the region.
District 16’s geographical scope
House District 16 is a geographically sprawling area in Benton County. The district boundaries, revised during the 2022 redistricting process required by Senate Bill 143, now connect the growing subdivisions west of Rogers with the rural communities north of the city limits.
Residents in the district find themselves navigating a range of issues unique to their specific locales. Those living in the eastern precincts near the PinnacleTrail area, where commuting to major employers in the Bentonville/Arkansas Innovation Hub is common, often prioritize infrastructure projects and highway improvements. Conversely, voters in the more western precincts, closer to the Arkansas River and Gentry, tend to focus on agricultural issues and local road conditions in unincorporated areas.
The economic disparity between these two ends of the district is a frequent topic of discussion at town hall meetings. Rep. Underwood has frequently voted on bills regarding state allocations for regional development, including funding for the Northwest Arkansas Council. His challenger, Hinds, has focused her campaign discourse on affordable housing and public school funding equity, arguing that the current funding formula does not adequately serve students in both the suburban and rural exurbs of the county.
Underwood’s campaign has emphasized continued tax relief efforts and school choice vouchers as central themes. In a issued statement last week, his campaign noted that the district requires a representative who understands
Source: NWA Democrat Gazette