Grant Tennille Elected Arkansas Democratic Party Chair

Grant Tennille, seen here in 2014, was elected chair of the Democratic Party of Arkansas on Saturday.

CREDIT MICHAEL HIBBLEN / KUAR NEWS

By STEVE BRAWNER / TALK BUSINESS & POLITICS

Grant Tennille, the former economic development chief under Gov. Mike Beebe who helped bring Big River Steel to Arkansas, was elected chair of the Democratic Party of Arkansas and said he will use his “tons of relationships” to build the party in a solidly red state.

Tennille defeated Jim Wallace of Eureka Springs at the Democrats’ State Committee meeting held Saturday. The previous chair, Michael John Gray, had left to become the executive director of Liberty and Justice for Arkansas, a group whose purpose is to “combat Trumpism” and “defeat Sarah Huckabee Sanders,” a Republican candidate for governor.

Tennille said in an interview he intends to work full-time as Democratic Party chair, an unpaid position. He said his “first order of business” is to raise money, get the headquarters in order, and return the staff to full strength.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/grant-tennille-elected-arkansas-democratic-party-chair

Democratic Party Chair Michael John Gray Leaving Post

by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

Michael John Gray, the former state representative who has served as Democratic Party of Arkansas chairman since 2017, is leaving his position, he announced Monday (Aug. 9).

Gray intends to resign as party chairman effective Sept. 1, 2021. He made the announcement to party leaders during an Executive Committee meeting on Monday night, followed by an informal meeting of the State Committee.

“Our state has been through immense changes since I began serving in public life and the challenges seem to be more important than ever. As Chairman, I’ve met people all across this state, with diverse backgrounds and upbringings, and found that when you turn down the noise from the cable television rhetoric most of us want the same thing. We want a good life for our families and we don’t want to be ignored by the people who claim to be our leaders. I got involved to give voice to my neighbors, the forgotten communities across the Delta, and to build a path for those who haven’t always been engaged. I will continue to do that every day of my life. I am a better person for it and am extremely grateful to the friends that I have made across this state, and I am humbled by the support they’ve given me.

https://talkbusiness.net/2021/08/democratic-party-chair-michael-john-gray-leaving-post/