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Known by friends and family as “Rus,” James Russell is running for US Senate in the upcoming Arkansas election for 2026. James and his wife, Wendy, have lived in the greater central Arkansas region for over 25 years and have owned and operated their outpatient mental health business in Little Rock since 2014. Born in Bossier City, LA, James spent his youth balancing life between urban Louisiana, where his mother’s family lived, and rural Arkansas, where his father’s family has resided since the 1800s. This unique combination of big city and small town exposure was pivotal during his formative years, providing him with insight into the contrasting ways of life.

Regularly ranking at the top of his classes throughout his life, James demonstrated mastery in logic and reasoning, science, math, music, and communication (both written and verbal). He is a proud graduate of the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, where he specialized in a combined Pre-Med/Pre-Law curriculum with an emphasis on Ethics and Political/Legal Theory. In addition to his academic achievements, James is a respected songwriter and musician, with one of his proudest moments being the opportunity to perform at Barton Coliseum in Little Rock, AR, opening for the legendary country band Alabama during the Arkansas State Fair in 2000.

James comes from a family with a rich history of military service. He enlisted in the AR National Guard as a Nuclear, Biological, Radiological, and Chemical Warfare Specialist attached to a TOW missile company as a MOPP (Mission Oriented Protective Posture) gear special quartermaster. His brother served as an MP in the US Army before moving into service with the DEA, while his father is a Vietnam veteran who worked in logistics for the US Army. His paternal grandfather served in the Merchant Marines during WWII, and his maternal grandfather served in both WWII and the Korean War, achieving the rank of Lt Colonel in the US Air Force Signal Corps before transitioning into a political career in Oklahoma.

James's career in public service continued as a Physician Credentialing Specialist for the Arkansas State Medical Board, where he routinely exceeded expectations while also taking on additional roles such as Assistant Director for JCAHO compliance, Assistant Director for HIPAA compliance, Chief Liaison to the IT Department, Co-Facilities Manager, and Director of the Centralized Credentialing Verification Service (CCVS) Trainee Program. Following this, he worked for Arkansas Children's Hospital as a Medical Staff Coordinator, serving on high-level committees including Executive, Bioethics, Emergency Response, and Policies & Procedures.

James officially entered politics in 2021 when he ran for Governor of Arkansas in the Democratic Primary for the 2022 cycle, managing one of the lowest-budget campaigns in history. He made significant waves in the political landscape by overperforming, achieving the highest vote-per-dollar-spent ratio ever. Drawing upon his Big City/Small Town upbringing, he is unapologetically Progressive while also being a Fiscal Realist. He is committed to fighting against the influence of corporations and the ultra-wealthy over our politicians and institutions, advocating for legislation that closes tax loopholes and ensures these entities contribute fairly to the society from which they benefit. He believes in maximizing the value from every dollar spent, demanding full transparency and accountability from all facets of government. James recognizes that many issues focus more on distraction than action, often ignoring the needs of those they are sworn to serve, and instead seeks to strengthen our bonds as a nation.

He is running to unseat Tom Cotton, who James feels has consistently failed the people of Arkansas. Cotton’s record of voting against the interests of Veterans, infrastructure investments, and better education for children, combined with support for a tax plan benefiting the top 1% while burdening low- and middle-income families, has damaged Arkansas's economy. Tom Cotton's refusal to host town halls, opting for high-dollar fundraisers costing between $1,000 and $10,000 per person, and his personal net worth increase to over $7,000,000 on a $174,000 salary, highlights a disconnect from the constituents he represents.

James has a longstanding commitment to working with individuals and groups that support the most vulnerable and marginalized in our community. He is a lifetime member of the Arkansas Democratic Black Caucus and supports various organizations including Arkansas Renters United, Arkansas United, The Prism Foundation, Get Loud Arkansas, and Young Democrats of Arkansas. He has also donated school supplies to numerous rural Arkansas students, particularly those in the Marshallese community. Both James and his wife remain dedicated to assisting those in need through their professional and personal efforts.