The Arkansas Governor’s race is officially on.
Current Arkansas Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin has announced that he will be seeking the Governor’s office in 2022. Griffin is serving his second four-year term, which he started in January; the state Constitution prevents lawmakers from seeking a third term.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette first reported Griffin’s intention to run for Governor in the Saturday, Aug. 3 issue of the paper. Griffin told the newspaper, “To the question of am I running. My quote is ‘Absolutely.'”
Arkansas Money & Politics has reached out to Griffin’s office for comment.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson will be unable to seek re-election in 2022; he is serving his second four-year term now.
With the vacancy left by Hutchinson, the Republican gubernatorial race could get crowded. Potential candidates include Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, state Sen. Jim Hendren and former White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
Griffin’s plan to run comes on the heels of state Sen. Jason Rapert’s announcement that he will seek the Lieutenant Governor’s office in 2022. Rapert told Arkansas Money & Politics on Friday that “it’s time” and that he is “ready to contribute and help [on] that level.”
READ MORE: Sen. Jason Rapert Plans Lieutenant Governor Run
Image courtesy of Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin