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Republican Party of Arkansas
Abbreviation RPA
Chairman Joseph K. Wood
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders
Lieutenant Governor Leslie Rutledge
Senate President pro tempore Bart Hester
House Speaker Matthew Shepherd
Founded April 2, 1867
(158 years ago)
 (1867-04-02)
Headquarters 1201 West 6th Street, Little Rock, Arkansas
Membership (June 2021) 117,277
Ideology Conservatism
National affiliation Republican Party
State House
82 / 100
State Senate
29 / 35
Statewide Executive Offices
7 / 7
U.S. House of Representatives
4 / 4
U.S. Senate
2 / 2
Election symbol
Republican Disc.svg

The Republican Party of Arkansas (RPA) is the main branch of the Republican Party in Arkansas. Its main office is in Little Rock. This party is very strong in Arkansas today. It holds all four of Arkansas' seats in the U.S. House. It also holds both U.S. Senate seats. Republicans also lead all major state offices, including the governor. They have a large majority in both parts of the state's law-making body, the legislature.

The Republican Party of Arkansas started on April 2, 1867. It was formed by important leaders who supported the Union during the Civil War. Powell Clayton was a key leader during the time after the Civil War, known as Reconstruction (1864–1874). The current leader of the party is Joseph K. Wood.

The History of the Republican Party in Arkansas

Powell Clayton
Powell Clayton, the 9th Governor of Arkansas (1868–1871) and the first Republican to hold this job.

The Republican Party is also called the GOP, which stands for "Grand Old Party." It is the second oldest political party in the United States. Its main rival is the Democratic Party. Both parties are active in all fifty states.

For a long time, the Republican Party was not as strong as the Democratic Party in states that were part of the old Confederacy. This included Arkansas.

The Arkansas Republican Party hired its first full-time manager in 1970. This was Neal Sox Johnson, a businessman from Nashville, Arkansas. He worked during the last year of Winthrop Rockefeller's time as governor of Arkansas. Johnson left his job in 1973 to work in Washington, D.C.

Between 2010 and 2014, the Republican Party in Arkansas became much stronger. They won all four U.S. House seats and both U.S. Senate seats. They also won all statewide offices. Republicans gained a large majority in both parts of the General Assembly.

Groups Connected to the Republican Party

The Republican Party of Arkansas works with several groups. These groups help connect with different people across the state.

Some of these groups include:

  • Arkansas Diversity Alliances Coalition
  • African American Coalition of Arkansas
  • Arkansas African American Trailblazers
  • Arkansas Federation of College Republicans (for college students)
  • Arkansas Federation of Young Republicans (for young adults)
  • Arkansas Federation of Republican Women (for women)
  • Arkansas Federation of Teenage Republicans (for teenagers)

The Tusk Club is another important group that supports the Arkansas Republican Party.

Republican Governors of Arkansas

As of 2023, eight Republican governors have led Arkansas. Here is a list of them:

# Governor Photo County Start date End date Time in office
9 Clayton, PowellPowell Clayton (1833–1914) Powell Clayton.jpg Jefferson July 2, 1868 March 17, 1871 2 years, 258 days
Hadley, Ozra AmanderOzra Amander Hadley (1826–1915) O. A. Hadley (Arkansas Governor) 2.jpg Pulaski March 17, 1871 January 6, 1873 1 year, 295 days
10 Baxter, ElishaElisha Baxter (1827–1899) Elisha Baxter.png Independence January 6, 1873 November 12, 1874 1 year, 310 days
37 Rockefeller, WinthropWinthrop Rockefeller (1912–1973) Winthrop Rockefeller Razorback 1969 (cropped).jpg Conway January 10, 1967 January 12, 1971 4 years, 2 days
41 White, Frank D.Frank D. White (1933–2003) Frank D. White 1995 (cropped).jpg Pulaski January 19, 1981 January 11, 1983 1 year, 357 days
44 Huckabee, MikeMike Huckabee (born 1955) Mike Huckabee, August 2002 (cropped).jpg Hempstead July 15, 1996 January 9, 2007 10 years, 359 days
46 Hutchinson, AsaAsa Hutchinson (born 1950) Asa Hutchinson 2019.jpg Benton January 13, 2015 January 10, 2023 7 years, 362 days
47 Huckabee Sanders, SarahSarah Huckabee Sanders (born 1982) Sarah Huckabee Sanders 2023.jpg Hempstead January 10, 2023 Incumbent 2 years, 174 days

Current Republican Leaders in Arkansas

The Republican Party in Arkansas holds many important elected positions. They control all seven of the state's main executive offices. Republicans also hold both of Arkansas' seats in the U.S. Senate. All four of the state's U.S. House seats are also held by Republicans.

Republicans in the U.S. Congress

U.S. Senators from Arkansas

Republicans have held both of Arkansas' seats in the U.S. Senate since 2015.

U.S. Representatives from Arkansas

Arkansas has four seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. All four of these seats are currently held by Republicans.

District Member Photo
1st Crawford, RickRick Crawford
Rick Crawford 115th Congress (cropped).jpg
2nd Hill, FrenchFrench Hill
Rep. French Hill official photo.jpg
3rd Womack, SteveSteve Womack
Steve Womack 2018.jpg
4th Westerman, BruceBruce Westerman
Bruce Westerman, 115th official photo (cropped).jpg

Statewide Elected Officials

Republicans hold all seven of the top elected offices in Arkansas. These are important jobs that help run the state government.

  • Secretary of State: John Thurston
  • State Auditor: Dennis Milligan
  • State Treasurer: Larry Walther
  • Commissioner of State Lands: Tommy Land

State Legislative Leaders

These are the Republican leaders in Arkansas' state legislature:

  • Senate President Pro Tempore: Bart Hester
    • Senate Majority Leader: Blake Johnson
  • Speaker of the House: Matthew Shepherd
    • Speaker Pro Tempore: Jon Eubanks
    • House Majority Leader: Marcus Richmond

Leaders of the Republican Party of Arkansas

This is a list of the chairmen, or leaders, of the Republican Party of Arkansas over the years:

  • 1932–1955: Osro Cobb
  • 1955–1962: Ben C. Henley
  • 1962–1964: William L. Spicer
  • 1964–1966: John P. Hammerschmidt
  • 1966–1970: Odell Pollard
  • 1970–1972: Charles T. Bernard
  • 1972–1974: Jim Caldwell
  • 1974–1980: A. Lynn Lowe
  • 1980: Jeraldine D. Pruden (temporary leader)
  • 1980–1982: Harlan Holleman
  • 1982: Bob Cohee (temporary leader)
  • 1982–1983: Morris S. Arnold
  • 1983–1984: Bob Leslie
  • 1984–1985: William Kelly
  • 1985: Sharon Trusty (temporary leader)
  • 1985–1986: Len E. Blaylock
  • 1986–1988: Ed Bethune
  • 1988–1990: Dr. Ken Coon (also Executive Director)
  • 1991–1992: Asa Hutchinson (co-chairman)
  • 1991–1992: Sheffield Nelson (co-chairman)
  • 1992–1995: Asa Hutchinson
  • 1995–2002: Lloyd Vance Stone Jr.
  • 2002–2003: John P. Hammerschmidt
  • 2003–2004: Winthrop P. Rockefeller
  • 2004–2007: Gilbert Baker
  • 2007–2008: Dennis Milligan
  • 2008–2020: Doyle Webb
  • 2020–2022: Jonelle Fulmer
  • 2022–2023: Cody Hiland
  • 2023: John Parke
  • 2023-Current: Joseph K. Wood

See also

  • Democratic Party of Arkansas
  • Political party strength in Arkansas
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