Austin McCollum

Austin McCollum
Majority Leader of the Arkansas House of Representatives
In office
January 11, 2021 – January 9, 2023
Preceded byMarcus Richmond
Succeeded byMarcus Richmond
Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
In office
January 9, 2017 – August 5, 2026
ConstituencyDistrict 8 (2023–2026)
District 95 (2017–2023)
Personal details
Born1990 or 1991 (age 34–35)
PartyRepublican
EducationUniversity of Tulsa (BS)

Austin McCollum (born 1990/1991) is a former state legislator in Arkansas first elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives in 2016 and served as Majority Leader. He lives in Bentonville, Arkansas where he represented the 8th District.

He declined to seek another term in the state house in 2026, instead choosing to run for Benton County Judge, the county's top executive position. He won the Republican nomination on March 3, 2026, and is currently running in the general election unopposed.

He graduated from the University of Tulsa.

Resignation and Arrest

On August 1, 2026, McCollum was arrested and booked into the Benton County Jail on charges of first-degree false imprisonment, aggravated assault on a family or household member, and third-degree domestic battery. He resigned from the Arkansas House on August 5.

References

  1. ↑ Thompson, Doug (October 18, 2016). "District 95 to Choose New House Member". Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Reining in governor, tort reform among proposed changes". Arkansas Online. 2021-02-14. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  3. ↑ "Arkansas Rep. Austin McCollum (R) | TrackBill". trackbill.com. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  4. ↑ Santos, Monica (3 March 2026). "Austin McCollum wins Benton County Judge race". KNWA-TV. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
  5. ↑ "Austin McCollum". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  6. ↑ "Republican Benton County judge, state Rep. Austin McCollum arrested". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. August 1, 2026. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  7. ↑ Dehaghani, Daniela (August 1, 2026). "Republican Benton County judge candidate arrested on multiple charges". KATV. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  8. ↑ Battles, Miriam (August 5, 2026). "Arkansas State Rep. Austin McCollum resigns following domestic violence arrest". KARK. Retrieved August 5, 2026.