AMP continues its monthly look at the candidates heading into Arkansas’ May primaries. Arkansans will elect a new governor while all the state’s constitutional and congressional offices, and one of its U.S. Senate seats, will appear on the ballot in ’22.
This month, we feature the two female gubernatorial candidates, Republican Sarah Sanders and Democrat Supha Xayprasith-Mays, and Secretary of State John Thurston.
Governor
SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS (R)
For many in the state, Sarah Sanders became the frontrunner for the 2022 gubernatorial race when she moved back home to Arkansas in 2019 after serving as White House press secretary under former President Donald Trump. She is the daughter of former Gov. Mike Huckabee and grew up working on his campaigns. Her campaign for governor has raised more than $12.8 million.
AMP: Tell us about your background and your move back to Arkansas.
Sanders: I am a proud Arkansan. I was raised in Pine Bluff and Texarkana and graduated from Little Rock Central High School and Ouachita Baptist University.
From 2017 to 2019, I served as White House press secretary for President Donald Trump, advising him on everything from press and communications strategy to personnel and policy. I worked closely with the president and accompanied him on every foreign trip, including dozens of meetings with world leaders. I was only the third woman, and the first mother, to serve as White House press secretary.
My husband, Bryan, and I live in Little Rock with our three kids, Scarlett, Huck and George, and our golden retriever, Traveler. As a family we love exploring Arkansas’ beautiful outdoors, living close to our family and friends and cheering on the Hogs!
AMP: Why are you running? What are some of your goals?
Sanders: I am running for governor because I love our state and care about our people, and I want to unleash our full potential. I want every kid growing up in Arkansas to love this state the way I do and have every opportunity to succeed. As governor, I will begin to responsibly phase out the state income tax; focus on creating thousands of new, high-paying jobs; champion good schools while empowering our parents; and protect our God-given rights from an out-of-control federal government. I truly believe this agenda will create more opportunity for all Arkansans and make our state one of the best places in the nation to live, work and raise a family.
AMP: How does your extensive political experience give you an advantage over your opponents?
Sanders: I have grown up and spent my career in public service, and I know what it takes to win and to lead. From the campaign trail in Arkansas, to the White House situation room, to sitting at the table with Kim Jong Un and back, I have been tested at the highest level of all American government with intense scrutiny and have come out stronger on the other side. Through it all, I have developed a deep love and respect for public service. Having been born and raised here, and now as a parent raising my own kids here, I have heard from thousands of Arkansans from all industries, backgrounds and walks of life. The resulting conversations and experiences have helped me learn what many of our people want and need: less government, more opportunity and a leader who will fight for them.
AMP: What does a normal day look like for you?
Sanders: Most of my days start just like they do for many other moms — me and my husband wrangling our kids out of bed and out the door to school. Beyond the mornings, though, I am not sure a “normal” day truly exists for me, because each day brings new people, events and challenges.
Whether it is campaign rallies, meetings with business and industry leaders across Arkansas or conversations with supporters in a gas station or restaurant, I am constantly focusing on what it takes to make Arkansas even better and stronger.
And amid all of that, there are lots of messes, parent-teacher conferences, kids’ sports and bedtime stories. Our family’s schedule is usually pretty hectic, but we love that no two days are alike, and between the campaign and kids, there is never a dull moment!
SUPHA XAYPRASITH-MAYS (D)
Supha Xayprasith-Mays began her career at Walmart’s corporate headquarters in Bentonville. Her responsibilities included the transition of all hourly and management personnel at all stores in the region. She provided leadership support from corporate direction as it pertained to new hires, job compliances, human resources, payroll supports and people matters in all stores, among other responsibilities.
Now a resident of Little Rock, Xayprasith-Mays has been active in community activities including service on the Student Affairs board at the University of Arkansas, the Martin Luther King Jr. Commission board, the Arkansas Mississippi Supplier Development Council and the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra board. She also was elected president of the League United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Northwest Arkansas chapter.
AMP: Tell us about how you made it to Arkansas.
Xayprasith-Mays: My dad was kidnapped and killed in the communist country, Laos. My dad was in the military, and he went to Thailand to buy a building to expand my mother’s restaurant industry. He never came back. My mom moved my family to Fort Smith. She had a master’s degree, accounting experience and spoke seven languages. She ended up getting a job on the assembly line at Tyson Foods, because she was willing to do whatever she had to in order to rebuild for her children.
Growing up was hard. We were poor, and we were outcasts at school because we looked different. When I was a teenager, I became a single mother and went on welfare. I couldn’t afford to go back to school. But I worked several jobs, and I worked very hard. I was fortunate enough to get a high-ranking job at Walmart, because they were impressed with my work ethic, even if I didn’t have the educational requirements. They helped me so much and got me started in business.
AMP: Why are you running? What are some of your goals?
Xayprasith-Mays: I would have never in a million years thought I would run for governor, but my passion is to serve others and to give back what the state has given me. I survived through community, and some kids don’t have that. Someone gave me a chance and believed in me. There are more people in this state like my mother than there are rich people. I can’t stand on the sidelines and complain if I don’t do anything. This state is a great state, and we have great people here. I want to run for office because I want to serve and be proud of the state I call home. If I don’t run, I don’t want to complain about it — I want to do something about it.
I’ve run companies and helped pull them up. Our state needs leadership that is concerned about children and about people in the state. I’m not concerned about who I’m running against. I don’t care what business you’re in — you have to put people first. My mother and Walmart gave me the training and skill sets as well as the life experience to compete with anyone. How many of the candidates have done what I’ve done and have gone through what I’ve gone through? I’ve had holes in my shoes that my mother could not afford to fix.
AMP: What are the key issues on which you’re running?
Xayprasith-Mays: This is the year of the woman. We’re going to have a woman governor. My major platform is education, and we’re still among the bottom five states in the nation every year. Our teachers should only have one job, and they should be proud to be a teacher. Teachers should have preloaded cards to use for school supplies to incentivize teachers. Our kids should be equipped to compete no matter where they go and make people want to move here because of our school system. I want to make sure lunch is provided for kids whether they’re rich or poor.
Additionally, instead of defunding police, I believe in refunding them. I support Hunter’s Law for body cameras for the safety of police and the community. There should be good pay, proper training and police accountability. I believe in alternative energy. We should be the foundation for green energy. For solar, we’re buying from China. Why aren’t we manufacturing solar panels in cities that need economic stability? I am not a socialist — I am a democratic capitalist, a serial entrepreneur. I’ve opened several companies, and I love retail. I’m a former corporate associate of the most successful company in the world. I want to be the “business governor,” who partners with businesses and provides jobs and feeds Arkansas families.
I want to promote Arkansas around the nation and the world for doing business in the 21st century. I am not a politician, and I don’t spend my time asking for donations. I don’t have that time. My time is spent going around the state and meeting with ordinary people like my mom and like myself and not the rich, because that’s not the majority of people in Arkansas. The governor’s mansion is the people’s mansion. I want to create a state that thrives and is safe, where people want to move to raise a family. We need to create a state that our people deserve.
Secretary of State
JOHN THURSTON, Incumbent (R)
Incumbent Republican John Thurston is running for re-election as Arkansas’ Secretary of State. He was elected to the office in 2018 after serving eight years as Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands. Thurston is the past chairman of the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council and past president of the Western States Land Commissioners Association. He graduated from Sheridan High School in 1991 and attended Henderson State University in Arkadelphia before graduating from Agape College in Little Rock with a diploma in biblical studies. Thurston was a licensed minister and Certified Religious Assistant in the Arkansas state prison system.
AMP: Why are you running for re-election?
Thurston: Serving as Secretary of State has been one of the most challenging and rewarding opportunities of my life.
I am running for my second term to continue to protect our Capitol, family values and the freedoms guaranteed to us by our Constitution. Now more than ever, it is important that Arkansans continue to have a leader to ensure that elections are conducted in a fair and transparent manner.
In addition, I will continue to ensure the establishment of all businesses in Arkansas be as easy and seamless as possible. Overseeing the preservation and protection of our historic Capitol building is an honor, and I am humbled when I walk into our state’s historic landmark.
AMP: What experience and qualities do you bring to the field?
Thurston: I have served two terms as Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands and currently serve as Arkansas Secretary of State. My experience in working with and serving the people of Arkansas in both of these roles has proven my ability and steadfastness in working for our state’s citizens.
The 2020 election brought many challenges due to the pandemic. We were able to secure $1 million in personnel protection equipment that we distributed to all 75 counties to ensure that voting in person was as safe as possible for voters and those Arkansans who served as election workers.
Despite these challenges, the 2020 general election saw the highest voter turnout in state history. Cybersecurity has been one of the top priorities of my administration. My administration created and staffed the Secretary of State’s first full-time cyber security specialist.
I am proud of the partnership my administration has developed with the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI to ensure the cybersecurity aspect of our elections.
The 2020 elections were also the first in state history where the Department of Homeland Security and FBI were on hand to monitor cyberattacks from the outside. My administration finalized the purchase of new election equipment for all 75 counties.
The 2020 general election was the first election in Arkansas history where all 75 counties used the same integrated voting system. In an effort to serve our growing northwest portion of the state, our Business and Commercial Services division opened a new office in Fayetteville. The northwest economic region of Arkansas is responsible for 40 percent of the business transactions handled by my office.
During the pandemic, we assisted over 20,000 companies acquiring Paycheck Protection Program loans by waiving fees on corporate records and waiving late fees on franchise taxes to help companies that were struggling during these difficult times.
Preserving and protecting the Capitol is both an honor to me and a duty to the people of Arkansas. We have increased the number of Capitol Police officers, as well as enhanced their training, standards and equipment. I am proud of our Capitol Police force and the many improvements my administration has made in that area.
AMP: What’s the biggest issue right now pertaining to the Secretary of State’s office?
Thurston: Election integrity. The security and integrity of our elections are of utmost importance to my office. I want to make it easier for Arkansans to vote, but harder to cheat.
There were inconsistencies and issues across the country in the 2020 election. However, as a result of the hard work of my staff and administration, we did not have these issues in Arkansas.
In fact, the Heritage Foundation recently ranked Arkansas fourth in the nation in terms of election of integrity. The Biden administration is currently pushing elections legislation that will forever change our elections. This attempt to federalize our elections and strip away states’ rights would make cheating easier than ever.
I recently sent a letter opposing this legislation to Sens. Schumer and McConnell. The passage of this legislation would undo the great things Arkansas has done to ensure secure elections.
AMP: Where is your favorite travel location in Arkansas?
Thurston: As an avid outdoorsman and hunter, I really enjoy the area around Clark County, and I enjoy spending family time on DeGray Lake both fishing and boating.
AMP: What is your favorite Arkansas restaurant?
Thurston: Papa’s Pizzaria in Fort Smith. We have a lot of great restaurants in Arkansas, but I never miss an opportunity to eat at Papa’s. I highly recommend the combination pizza!
