Meet the candidate
Colt Shelby
Regnat Populus — The People Rule
Restoring trust, transparency, and accountability to the Governor's office.
ABOUT COLT
A Sixth Generation
Arkansan
Colt grew up in Cecil, Arkansas, the son of Ronnie and Lisa Shelby. He attended Cecil Methodist Church for nearly 30 years — a faith that remains the cornerstone of his life.
Soon after graduating high school, Colt went to work on drilling rigs for Thornton Drilling out of Van Buren. He stayed for nearly 16 years, working through two buyouts before moving on to a large Houston-based oil company. Over the last twenty years, Colt has managed hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts and led teams with one shared mission: work safely and work responsibly.
Colt bought his first home in 2003 — where he still lives today — and in 2006 married his longtime best friend, Elizabeth Burt of Charleston. Together, they've raised three children: Riley, Cooper, and Truett. In 2016, the family fulfilled their dream of owning a farm. While Colt worked away from home, the family tended the cattle and worked the fields — the Arkansas dream, built through hard work and faith.
Every morning I wake up thinking about the same question: If Arkansas stays on this path, what will our state look like in 100 years? That question drives me to act.
– Colt Shelby, Candidate for Arkansas Governor
The Issues that matter
Government
Transparency
Too many Arkansans feel like their government is hiding things from the hardworking taxpayers who keep this state running. Colt will restore open, honest government.
Fiscal Responsibility
Colt has managed hundreds of millions in contracts with zero waste. He will bring that same discipline to the state budget — your tax dollars deserve accountability.
Education
Every Arkansas child deserves a quality public education. Colt opposes school voucher schemes that siphon funding away from rural communities and local schools.
Prison & Justice Reform
Colt opposes the proposed 3,000-bed prison in Franklin County — a costly, poorly-planned project that will harm rural communities without making Arkansans safer.
Energy & Utilities
Proposed industrial data center expansion threatens to drive up utility rates for Arkansas families and farms. Colt will put ratepayers first — not corporate interests.
Education
Every Arkansas child deserves a quality public education. Colt opposes school voucher schemes that siphon funding away from rural communities and local schools.
THE Issues that matter
Too many Arkansans feel like their government is hiding things from the hardworking taxpayers who keep this state running. Colt will restore open, honest government.
Government
Transparency
Where Colt Stands
Fiscal Responsibility
Colt has managed hundreds of millions in contracts with zero waste. He will bring that same discipline to the state budget — your tax dollars deserve accountability.
Colt opposes the proposed 3,000-bed prison in Franklin County — a costly, poorly-planned project that will harm rural communities without making Arkansans safer.
Prison & Justice Reform
Proposed industrial data center expansion threatens to drive up utility rates for Arkansas families and farms. Colt will put ratepayers first — not corporate interests.
Energy & UtilitIes
Education
Every Arkansas child deserves a quality public education. Colt opposes school voucher schemes that siphon funding away from rural communities and local schools.
As a working farmer and Franklin County landowner, Colt understands what it takes to keep Arkansas agriculture viable — and he will fight for the people who feed our state.
Farm Economy
Why He’s Running
THe Moment that Changed
Everything
Colt's interest in public service began in 2024 when Governor Sanders announced plans to place a 3,000-bed prison just four miles from his home. As he traveled across multiple counties listening to his neighbors, he realized that many Arkansans shared deeper concerns about the overall direction of our state.
Colt has listened to frustrations about education, fiscal responsibility, government transparency, the farm economy, healthcare, infrastructure, crime rates, food insecurity, infant mortality, women's health, and more. These conversations made one thing clear: Arkansans want common-sense leadership that puts people first.
Our state motto, Regnat Populus — "The People Rule" — should mean something. Colt is running to make sure it does.
Colt hopes to earn your vote on November 3rd, 2026. He believes he's the right person for this job because he's willing to listen, to work, and to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the people of Arkansas. Colt can't fix these issues alone — it will take all of us.
Let’s Build A Better
Your contribution — no matter the size — helps Colt carry this message to every corner of our state. Join thousands of Arkansans who are ready for real change.