Democrat · Arkansas's 3rd District · 2026
Robb Ryerse
Ryerse and his wife, Vanessa, raised four children and started Vintage Fellowship, a church in northwest Arkansas.
Biography
Robb Ryerse and his wife, Vanessa, raised four children and started Vintage Fellowship, a church in northwest Arkansas.1 They have made Springdale their home for two decades.1 Ryerse also wrote Fundamorphosis: How I Left Fundamentalism but Didn't Lose My Faith, describing his religious journey.2 He also wrote Running for Our Lives, recounting his first congressional campaign and exploring the relationship between religion and politics.2
His work has combined ministry, nonprofit leadership and political organizing.1 He worked with Vote Common Good and helped establish Vortex PAC with Chris Jones.1 He now works in development for a nonprofit addressing chronic homelessness, alongside his role as a pastor.3
Ryerse first sought a congressional seat in 2018 as a Republican challenging Steve Womack.2 After losing that primary, he worked with Vote Common Good in a national effort supporting Democratic congressional candidates.2 This year, he is the Democratic nominee running against Womack in Arkansas's 3rd District.3
He advocates ending the Iran war and returning tariff authority to Congress to reduce economic uncertainty.3 On immigration, he proposes abolishing ICE while retaining customs and border enforcement, hiring more asylum staff and providing a path to legal status for some immigrants.3 The ballot also includes Libertarian Bobby Wilson.3