Independence Day is a national holiday, but it'll be a workday for candidates across Arkansas.
Politicians will be chasing voters at parades, picnics and fireworks displays all across the state.
Democratic and Republican candidates for U.S. Senate, House and Arkansas governor say they are heading to Clay County in the far northeast corner of the state for events in its two county seats -- Corning and Piggott. Other congressional candidates in the 2nd District in central Arkansas and the 4th District in south and west Arkansas have plans for stops in their districts, campaign spokesmen said Thursday.
The holiday events have drawn would-be office holders for decades.
The day-long events in Corning will kick off with a parade at 9 a.m., where voters can expect to see Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor and his Republican challenger U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton. Opponents for governor -- Republican former U.S. Rep. Asa Hutchinson and Democratic former U.S. Rep. Mike Ross -- also will be working the crowd, along with 1st Congressional District Republican U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford and his Democratic challenger Mayor Jackie McPherson of Heber Springs.
If all goes as planned, those six candidates also will make it to the 86th annual Piggott Fourth of July Picnic in the late morning. Most have planned to return to Corning for more campaigning during its picnic celebration.
From there, the candidates will disperse to different areas of the state or wrap up campaigning to spend time with family.
Both Pryor and Cotton have events scheduled in other parts of the state. Both will head to the Pangburn Fourth of July picnic. Cotton's spokesman said the campaign likely will make some unscheduled stops at local diners and other businesses along the way. Pryor's campaign said he will end his day at the Sherwood Fourth of July Family Celebration.
Hutchinson will head to Jonesboro for the Fourth in the Forest and then to the Cherokee Village Thunderfest, where he will participate in the boat parade, campaign staff said.
McPherson will head to Caraway, try to stop in Jonesboro and then end the day in Heber Springs, his spokesman said.
In central Arkansas' 2nd Congressional District, candidates are vying for the seat that will be left open when current U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin leaves office in January. Griffin is running for the state's open lieutenant governor position.
Jack Sisson, spokesman for Republican nominee French Hill, said his boss plans a "campaign blitz" across the region today.
The candidate has six campaign stops scheduled starting at the Fairfield Bay Parade in Van Buren County, the Pangburn Fourth of July celebration, the Fabulous Fourth celebration at Petit Jean State Park, Fourth Fest in Maumelle and the Benton Fourth of July Festival in Saline County. He'll close out his day at the Pops on the River concert in Little Rock.
Democratic candidate Patrick Henry Hays, the former mayor of North Little Rock, will make stops at the Pangburn Parade in the morning, the Little Rock Pops on the River venue, the Sherwood Fourth of July celebration and end at the Beebe Extravaganza in White County.
In the 4th Congressional District, the candidates have 33 counties to cover before the election in November.
Democratic candidate James Lee Witt, the former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, will start the day with voters and end it at his farm in Dardanelle, where he'll shoot off fireworks with his grandsons. Campaign staff said Witt will make stops throughout the day in Hot Springs, Pine Bluff, Arkadelphia, El Dorado and Camden.
Republican candidate and Arkansas House Rep. Bruce Westerman will be spending the day in Garland County, visiting with voters before attending the Hot Springs Village fireworks event tonight.
"He's been going to the Hot Springs Village fireworks for years," said spokesman Kenneth Ryan James. "He'll be keeping it low key and attending events around the county, spending some time celebrating with his family."
Metro on 07/04/2014