Republican Party of Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Republican Party of Arkansas
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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 |
Headquarters | 1201 West 6th Street, Little Rock, Arkansas |
Membership (June 2021) | 117,277 |
Ideology | Conservatism |
National affiliation | Republican Party |
State House |
82 / 100
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State Senate |
29 / 35
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Statewide Executive Offices |
7 / 7
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U.S. House of Representatives |
4 / 4
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U.S. Senate |
2 / 2
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Election symbol | |
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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.
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The History of the Republican Party in Arkansas
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 |
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9 | Powell Clayton (1833–1914) | ![]() |
Jefferson | July 2, 1868 | March 17, 1871 | 2 years, 258 days |
— | Ozra Amander Hadley (1826–1915) | ![]() |
Pulaski | March 17, 1871 | January 6, 1873 | 1 year, 295 days |
10 | Elisha Baxter (1827–1899) | ![]() |
Independence | January 6, 1873 | November 12, 1874 | 1 year, 310 days |
37 | Winthrop Rockefeller (1912–1973) | ![]() |
Conway | January 10, 1967 | January 12, 1971 | 4 years, 2 days |
41 | Frank D. White (1933–2003) | ![]() |
Pulaski | January 19, 1981 | January 11, 1983 | 1 year, 357 days |
44 | Mike Huckabee (born 1955) | ![]() |
Hempstead | July 15, 1996 | January 9, 2007 | 10 years, 359 days |
46 | Asa Hutchinson (born 1950) | ![]() |
Benton | January 13, 2015 | January 10, 2023 | 7 years, 362 days |
47 | Sarah Huckabee Sanders (born 1982) | ![]() |
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.
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Junior U.S. Senator Tom Cotton
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Senior U.S. Senator John Boozman
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 |
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1st | Rick Crawford | |
2nd | French Hill | |
3rd | Steve Womack | |
4th | Bruce Westerman |
Statewide Elected Officials
Republicans hold all seven of the top elected offices in Arkansas. These are important jobs that help run the state government.
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Lieutenant Governor Leslie Rutledge
- 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