The inhabitants of Arkansas, through their votes, have deemed Sarah Huckabee Sanders worthy of occupying the governor’s seat for their state.
The erstwhile Press Secretary for former President, Donald Trump, becomes the premier female governor of Arkansas, adding to the increasing number of women who preside over their respective states.
Sanders, a Republican, undoubtedly defeated Democrat candidate, Chris Jones, a nuclear engineer and ordained Baptist minister. Chris Jones had portrayed himself to the electorate as a more unifying figure than Sanders.
He launched his campaign with a video that went viral where he talked about his family’s history in the state. He ran on promises to expand preschool access and broadband. Speaking to supporters on Tuesday night, Jones did not openly accept defeat.
“We’re going to count every last vote in this race. Why? Because Arkansas deserves it and Arkansas is worth it.” Chris Jones, Democrat Candidate
Sarah Huckabee Sanders becomes successor to Governor Asa Hutchinson who had occupied the prestigious seat since 2015 and was not qualified to contest again.
He, however, endorsed her bid. During her campaign, Sarah Sanders promised to promote income tax reduction, this, she reiterated after she cast her ballot yesterday, Tuesday, November 8, 2022 in Little Rock.
“I don’t think I ran a divisive campaign. I focused on tax cuts as well as other issues that could unite Arkansas residents”. Sarah Huckabee Sanders
In her final pitch to voters, she criticized President Joe Biden and his party, the Democrats, blaming them of “destroying every single thing” they have touched while giving Republicans a positive prediction of what to expect from midterm results.
“Joe Biden and his team, and the House Democrats and the Senate [Democrats], have literally destroyed every single thing they have touched. That is why there is so much excitement to see Republicans take back the House, to see Republicans take back the Senate, and to take over the 36 governor’s races across the country today.”
Sarah Sanders
Former President Donald Trump openly motivated Sanders to run for governorship when she left the White House in 2019. Prior to working for Trump, she was a popular figure in the Arkansas state because she made contributions in her father’s campaign and even appeared in his campaign advertisements.
She also supervised Sen. John Boozman’s election in 2010 and worked as an adviser to Sen. Tom Cotton during the elections in 2014.
She is the daughter of former Arkansas Governor, Mike Huckabee, who served from 1996 to 2007 and was the state’s governor from 1993 to 1996. With her win, she sets a record of being a part of the first father-daughter governor duo in the state.
The Way Forward for Women Governors
Sanders will join other female Republican governors namely; Kristi Noem of South Dakota, Kim Reynolds in Iowa and Kate Ivey of Alabama. Other female governors are Gov. Laura Kelly of Kansas, Gov. Kate Brown of Oregon, Gov.Kathy Hochul of New York, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico, Gov. Janet Mills of Maine and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan.
However, in her acceptance speech on Tuesday (November 8, 2022) night, Sanders didn’t mention either the former or current president and instead shared stories about supporters she met during her campaign bid.
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