Thomas Cotton — Republican Candidate for U.S. Senate in Arkansas, 2026

Senator Tom Cotton supports strict immigration enforcement, including mass deportations, and opposes defunding ICE. He introduced the Enforce Immigration or Lose Transportation Act to condition state transportation funding on compliance with federal immigration laws, aiming to prioritize safety. Additionally, he introduced the Welfare Fraud Deterrence and Recovery Act to increase penalties for migrants convicted of fraud schemes. Cotton advocates for ending chain migration and moving to a system that selects immigrants based on valuable skills.

“States that don’t comply with federal immigration laws don’t just endanger their own citizens, they put the whole country at risk. My bill ensures that these states don’t receive another dime of federal transportation funding until they cooperate with federal immigration authorities,” said Senator Cotton. (Source: cotton.senate.gov, February 5, 2026)”

Thomas Cotton advocates for repealing the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), viewing it as a "job-killer" and "assault on liberty," and seeks to replace it with free-market reforms that empower patients and doctors. He plans to combine health care overhauls with extending Trump tax cuts to make health care more affordable and personalized. Additionally, he co-led and voted for the Living Donor Protection Act, which passed the Senate HELP Committee 26-1, aimed at protecting living organ donors from discrimination.

“ObamaCare is a job-killer, a health-care disaster, and an assault on liberty. I will fight to repeal and replace ObamaCare with free-market reforms that empower patients and doctors to make health-care decisions. — Tom Cotton, Ballotpedia”

Thomas Cotton introduced the Decentralized Access to Technology Alternatives (DATA) Act of 2026 to accelerate American energy innovation and lower energy costs by eliminating outdated federal regulations. He also proposed the Ratepayer Affordability and Transparency in Energy (RATE) Act, aiming to prevent states from mandating renewable energy sources, citing a goal to reduce electricity costs and promote grid reliability. Senator Cotton states he views fossil fuels as a valuable asset to be used, not a liability, supporting policies that unleash energy producers for energy independence.

“America has the world’s largest fossil-fuel reserves in the world. I view our fossil fuels as a valuable asset to be used, not an embarrassing liability to be restrained. In Congress, I will support policies that unleash our energy producers, put America on the path to energy independence, and reduce our [...] ”

Senator Tom Cotton is pro-life and believes that life begins at conception, advocating for a culture of life from conception through death. He supports legislative measures such as the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, and the Ultrasound Informed Consent Act. Cotton opposes taxpayer funding of abortion and voted to overturn federal regulations protecting Planned Parenthood from funding cuts. He maintains that Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided as it removed the issue from state legislatures.

“We must re-establish a culture of life in America that reflects the value of every life from conception through birth, life, and death. I am pro-life and I will always vote that way in Congress. I believe Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey were wrongly decided. I oppose taxpayer funding of abortion. I also support measures like the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, and the Ultrasound Informed Consent Act. — Thomas Cotton, 2012 House campaign website, "Issues"”

Senator Thomas Cotton supports a strong U.S. national security posture and assertive foreign policy, including investments in defense and maintaining congressional oversight. He voted to require Senate advice and consent for NATO withdrawal (S. Amdt. 429 to S. 2226) and for the repeal of the 2002 AUMF (S. 316). He advocated for strikes against Iran, stating they are necessary to keep Americans safe and to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, believing the New START treaty expiration benefits America.

“For 47 years, Iran has been waging a campaign of terror and revolutionary violence against the United States. That kind of regime can never be allowed to have nuclear weapons. It can't be allowed to have thousands and thousands of missiles, much more than we have in missile defenses." — Sen. Tom Cotton, 4029tv.com (Mar. 1)”

Senator Tom Cotton introduced the American Workforce Act, aiming to overhaul workforce education by investing in training vouchers for employer-designed programs. He stated that the federal government has over-funded colleges, which he believes have allowed "anti-American ideas flourish," while neglecting the majority of Americans who do not attend college. Additionally, Senator Cotton opposes critical race theory in schools and supports religious liberty in education. He also introduced the Student Loan Reform Act of 2022 to improve higher education.

““For decades, the federal government has spent billions of dollars propping up bloated colleges that serve a minority of our citizens—and recently, have let antisemitic and anti-American ideas flourish. Meanwhile, the majority of Americans who don’t go to college are left behind. My bill will right that wrong by investing heavily in a new workforce education strategy to help working Americans get ahead,” said Senator Cotton. (cotton.senate.gov, October 8, 2025)”

In January 2019, Senator Tom Cotton co-sponsored the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act. This bill aimed to allow individuals with concealed carry privileges in their home state to exercise that right in any other state with concealed carry laws, while adhering to the respective state's regulations. This action reflects his position supporting gun rights.