Elected officials, partisans react to Trump guilty verdict

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

Predictably, most Arkansas Republican officials and Democratic leaders had split views on the guilty verdict involving former President Donald Trump, the GOP nominee for President in 2024.

Trump was found guilty Thursday (May 30) by a Manhattan district court jury on all 34 counts in the so-called hush money charges brought against him by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr. The charges related to Trump paying $130,000 to porn star Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 election to prevent her from going public with her story. The payments were facilitated by Trump’s then-attorney, Michael Cohen, and were disguised illegally as attorney expenses versus campaign expenses.

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders, who served as press secretary to Trump in the White House, said the trial was unfair and that Trump would be elected again in November.

Elected officials, partisans react to Trump guilty verdict

Republicans jockeying for leadership positions in Arkansas House

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

Rep. Keith Brooks, R-Little Rock, became the third candidate to declare for House Majority Leader in the next Arkansas General Assembly. There are also three candidates seeking the Speaker of the House post.

Brooks joins Rep. Howard Beaty, R-Crossett, and Rep. Aaron Pilkington, R-Knoxville, in asking colleagues to vote them as the next House Majority Leader, a position held by Rep. Marcus Richmond, R-Harvey.

Beaty and Pilkington joined the race earlier this month.

“I intend to help the caucus speak boldly on the values we hold dear and have a caucus where every member feels heard, valued, and empowered to contribute their unique insights. The next session is going to be one full of change. I want us to embrace this change and lean in, our collective efforts will make our caucus more successful,” Beaty said.

Republicans jockeying for leadership positions in Arkansas House

Contested races set for all Congressional districts; four vie for Supreme Court Chief Justice

by Talk Business & Politics staff (staff2@talkbusiness.net)

Arkansas’ four U.S. House of Representatives members will face either a primary or general election opponent in the 2024 election, although the four are considered safe for re-election. The election cycle will also see four people vie for Arkansas Supreme Court Chief Justice.

The candidate filing deadline for the 2024 election cycle ended at Noon Tuesday (Nov. 14) with the Arkansas Secretary of State website indicating that 351 Arkansans filed to seek an elected federal, state or judicial position. The 2024 statewide primary election is set for March 5, and the general election will be held Nov. 5. (Link here to see the candidate filings.)

In Arkansas’ 1st Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro will not have a primary opponent but will face Democrat Rodney Govens, a 40-year year old Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran from Cabot, in the November general election.

Contested races set for all Congressional districts; four vie for Supreme Court Chief Justice

Gov. Sanders names RPA chair Cody Hiland to Arkansas Supreme Court to replace Justice Robin Wynne

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

Gov. Sarah Sanders appointed Republican Party of Arkansas chairman Cody Hiland to the Arkansas Supreme Court on Monday (July 3) to fill a vacancy left by the death of Justice Robin Wynne. Hiland, a former state and federal prosecutor, will serve until January 2025 after voters choose a new justice in the 2024 election cycle. Hiland will not be eligible to run for the open seat.

Sanders said the appointment would provide the Arkansas Supreme Court with a “conservative majority” for the first time. Judges and justices run for office in Arkansas under an independent label.

Wynne was re-elected to an eight-year term on the state’s highest court in November 2022, but died in June. The law declares the governor fills the term until the next regular election.

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/07/gov-sanders-names-rpa-chair-cody-hiland-to-arkansas-supreme-court-to-replace-justice-robin-wynne/

With GOP taking House majority, Rep. Westerman in line for committee chairmanship

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

With Republicans taking control of the U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Hot Springs, is poised to lead the House Natural Resources Committee.

Westerman, who was first elected to Congress in 2014, is the ranking member on the committee. A forester and engineer by trade, he was re-elected earlier this month to his fifth term.

While there are still a handful of close House races to be called, Republicans have won 218 seats, enough to secure the majority. Democrats have presently been declared victors in 210 House seats. There are still seven races too close to call.

https://talkbusiness.net/2022/11/with-gop-taking-house-majority-rep-westerman-in-line-for-committee-chairmanship/

Defense Focuses On Disgraced Judge’s Credibility As Baker Bribery Case Goes To Jury

By DEBRA HALE-SHELTON/ ARKANSAS NONPROFIT NEWS NETWORK

Jurors in the bribery trial of former lobbyist Gilbert Baker went home for the weekend after hearing closing arguments and deliberating less than two hours Friday afternoon.

Deliberations will resume Monday morning in U.S. District Court in Little Rock. Jurors have endured two weeks of testimony, more than a little legal jargon, and two coronavirus scares that sent one former juror and a prosecutor home with the virus and led to all trial participants being tested for it.

Baker, a former chairman of the Republican Party of Arkansas, is charged with bribery, wire fraud and conspiracy. He is accused of being the middleman in an alleged plot in 2013 to bribe former Faulkner County Circuit Judge Mike Maggio on behalf of Michael Morton, a wealthy nursing-home owner and campaign financier from Fort Smith.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/defense-focuses-disgraced-judge-s-credibility-baker-bribery-case-goes-jury

Defendant Gilbert Baker exits the U.S. courthouse on Friday afternoon.

CREDIT BRIAN CHILSON / ARKANSAS NONPROFIT NEWS NETWORK

Former GOP Chair Doyle Webb Jumps in Lieutenant Governor’s Race

Former Arkansas GOP chairman Doyle Webb announced Tuesday (May 4) he will enter the race for Lt. Governor in 2022.

Webb, a former state senator from Benton, previously worked in the Lt. Governor’s office during Win Rockefeller’s term in office.

Webb was chairman of the Republican Party of Arkansas from 2008-2020, a period of time that saw Republicans become the majority party in the state. Earlier this year, he was named by Attorney General Leslie Rutledge to assist with the legislative redistricting through the Board of Apportionment. Webb said he resigned that position last week.

https://talkbusiness.net/2021/05/former-gop-chair-doyle-webb-jumps-in-lt-governors-race/

Democratic Party of Arkansas Again Lowers Filing Fees

By ANTOINETTE GRAJEDA

Arkansas Democrats are reducing filing fees for candidates for the third time since 2017. A spokesman for the Republican Party of Arkansas says the organization has no plans to follow suit. Arkansas has some of the most expensive filing fees in the country.

https://www.kuaf.com/post/democratic-party-arkansas-again-lowers-filing-fees

Arkansas' New Republican Party Chair Hopes To Expand Its Existing Appeal

By SARAH KELLOGG

The Republican Party of Arkansas elected a new chairperson for the first time in 12 years. In early December, the party elected Jonelle Fulmer to serve as chair. KUAR spoke with Fulmer about her ideas for the future of the Republican Party in Arkansas. Below is the transcript of the aired conversation.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/arkansas-new-republican-party-chair-hopes-expand-its-existing-appeal

The state's republican party selected Fulmer to serve as its chair earlier this month.

CREDIT REPUBLICAN PARTY OF ARKANSAS