Democratic Party of Arkansas aims to regain power after primary elections

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

The Democratic Party of Arkansas hosted a watch party Tuesday as results trickled in for primaries across the state. The night is the first step in a year where the Democrats plan to work hard to gain back seats in the state legislature.

Several Democratic incumbents in central Arkansas faced challengers. Like the Republican Party, the Democrats do not take sides in these races, instead preferring to support the political process. Democratic Party of Arkansas Chair Grant Tennille says whoever wins the primary is the best candidate in the general election.

Democrats have become a significant minority in recent years in Arkansas after the state GOP made slow gains to consolidate power. As recently as 2010, Democrats held three national positions representing Arkansas. In early 2015, the governor was a Democrat and the party had decent majorities in both statehouses. Over time, this has changed.

Democratic Party of Arkansas aims to regain power after primary elections

NPR

Grant Tennille re-elected as chair of Arkansas Democrats

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

Grant Tennille was re-elected unanimously as chairman of the Democratic Party of Arkansas on Saturday (Jan. 28). He will serve a four-year term.

The meeting, held at Shorter College in North Little Rock, was a reversal of expectations from December when Tennille said he would not seek re-election as chair. Subsequently, he has said that former State Senators Joyce Elliott and Keith Ingram, and others, persuaded him to stay.

“Friends, two months ago, I was as exhausted as I’ve ever been in my life,” said Tennille in a speech following his nomination. “I felt beaten up and beaten down. I was ready for a break. Fortunately, all of us have good friends who spent time talking to me and working with me. They made me understand that this moment in Arkansas is fraught with danger, and with possibility.”

https://talkbusiness.net/2023/01/grant-tennille-re-elected-as-chair-of-arkansas-democrats/

Democratic Party of Arkansas delays choosing a new chair during emotional meeting

KUAR | By Josie Lenora

The Democratic Party of Arkansas is opting to wait to choose its next chairman. Committee members had originally planned to be select one during a meeting over the weekend.

At its quarterly meeting at the dimly lit Teamsters Union building in southwest Little Rock, Senate Minority Leader Tippi McCullough of Little Rock successfully moved to adjourn the meeting until January. She told KUAR News after the meeting the delay would give interested candidates “time for thoughtful, unhurried consideration.”

“It's hard to consider something that is a four-year term when you only have two or three days,” McCollough said, hoping this will give prospective candidates time to talk to the state committee members.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2022-12-12/democratic-party-of-arkansas-delays-choosing-a-new-chair-during-emotional-meeting

Josie Lenora/KUAR News

Outgoing Democratic Party of Arkansas Chairman Grant Tennille discussed his decision to step down during a meeting on Saturday.

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