Arkansas just re-elected Gov. Asa Hutchinson, and the state already has a new contender calling dibs on the Governor's Mansion.
How early is too early to declare a run for office? Is 2022 too far away to declare your intentions for? Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin doesn't seem to think so. Mr. Griffin is playing the world's longest game of shotgun, calling the office before his superior is even halfway through his second term.
In Arkansas, 2022 could be an interesting year in politics. The days of Arkansas being a purple state are long gone as Republicans have swept all control from Democrats in the Legislature and constitutional offices. Dems have a super-minority, and it doesn't seem likely that'll change anytime soon. Remember when, in these latitudes, people talked of one party, one crop, and one issue? Them days are long gone.
These days, most attention and speculation turns to the Republican primaries. What'll be interesting is what that primary will look like should both Attorney General Leslie Rutledge and Sarah Huckabee Sanders get into the fray.
Mr. Griffin is in a good position to make his case for the governor's mansion. He's worked closely with Gov. Hutchinson over the last several years. This has allowed him to see the daily ins and outs of this position he'll now seek.
He'll have an advantage on Sarah Huckabee Sanders, if she runs. But his experience will have to compete with the name recognition that Sarah Huckabee Sanders earned while working on President Trump's team.
If Mrs. Rutledge gets into the race, she'll have a long list of legal accomplishments to campaign on, from fighting big government control to joining other attorneys general to do battle with the over-burdensome aspects of Obamacare.
Republican voters are in for an interesting campaign. And meanwhile, Dems will probably use up all their energy finding a sacrificial lamb to go up against the eventual Republican nominee. That's Arkansas these days.
Editorial on 08/06/2019