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Asa Hutchinson

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Asa Hutchinson
Hutchinson in 2023
46th Governor of Arkansas
In office
January 13, 2015 – January 10, 2023
LieutenantTim Griffin
Preceded byMike Beebe
Succeeded bySarah Huckabee Sanders
Chair of the National Governors Association
In office
July 8, 2021 – July 15, 2022
Vice ChairPhil Murphy
Preceded byAndrew Cuomo
Succeeded byPhil Murphy
Vice Chair of the National Governors Association
In office
August 5, 2020 – July 8, 2021
ChairAndrew Cuomo
Preceded byAndrew Cuomo
Succeeded byPhil Murphy
Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Border and Transportation Security
In office
January 23, 2003 – March 1, 2005
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byRandy Beardsworth (acting)
8th Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration
In office
August 8, 2001 – January 23, 2003
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
DeputyJohn B. Brown III
Preceded byDonnie R. Marshall
Succeeded byKaren Tandy
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Arkansas's 3rd district
In office
January 3, 1997 – August 6, 2001
Preceded byTim Hutchinson
Succeeded byJohn Boozman
Chair of the Arkansas Republican Party
In office
January 1, 1991 – December 31, 1995
Serving with Sheffield Nelson (1991–1992)
Preceded byKen Coon
Succeeded byLloyd Stone
United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas
In office
September 1, 1982 – January 20, 1985
PresidentRonald Reagan
Preceded byLarry McCord
Succeeded byMichael Fitzhugh
Personal details
Born
William Asa Hutchinson II

(1950-12-03) December 3, 1950 (age 74)
Bentonville, Arkansas, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Susan Burrell
(m. 1973)
Children4
RelativesTim Hutchinson (brother)
EducationBob Jones University (BA)
University of Arkansas (JD)
Signature
WebsiteCampaign website

William Asa Hutchinson II (/ˈsə/, AY-sə; born December 3, 1950) is an American attorney, businessman, and politician who served as the 46th governor of Arkansas from 2015 to 2023. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a U.S. attorney, U.S. representative, and in two roles in the George W. Bush administration. He was a candidate for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

In 1982, President Ronald Reagan appointed Hutchinson to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, which covers most of Fort Smith. In 1986, Hutchinson unsuccessfully challenged Democratic U.S. Senator Dale Bumpers, before losing a race for Attorney General of Arkansas to Winston Bryant four years later. He later successfully ran for the House of Representatives in 1996, representing Arkansas's 3rd congressional district until 2001, when president George W. Bush successfully nominated him as Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration. In 2003, Bush appointed Hutchinson as the Under Secretary for border and transportation security at the newly established Department of Homeland Security; Hutchinson retired from the Bush administration in 2005.

In 2006, Hutchinson was the Republican nominee for governor of Arkansas, but lost to Democratic nominee Mike Beebe, the state attorney general. In 2014, Hutchinson was again the Republican nominee for governor, this time defeating the Democratic nominee, U.S. Representative Mike Ross. He was reelected in 2018 with nearly two-thirds of the vote. Due to term limits, he was barred from seeking reelection in 2022, and was succeeded by Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

From 2020 to 2021, Hutchinson served as vice chair of the National Governors Association. He succeeded Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York as chair of the organization for 2021–2022. In 2023 he announced his candidacy in the 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries. He suspended his campaign on January 16, 2024, after a poor performance in the Iowa caucuses. In April 2024, he joined Scripps News as a political contributor.[1]

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Hutchinson was born in Bentonville, Arkansas, the son of Coral Virginia (Mount) Hutchinson (1912–1998) and John Malcolm Hutchinson Sr. (1907–1991).[2] He earned his bachelor's degree in accounting from Bob Jones University in South Carolina in 1972 and received his J.D. from the University of Arkansas School of Law in 1975.[3] He practiced law in Fort Smith for 21 years and handled more than 100 jury trials.

In 1982, President Ronald Reagan appointed Hutchinson U.S. attorney for the Western District of Arkansas. At age 31, Hutchinson was the nation's youngest U.S. attorney. He made national headlines after successfully prosecuting The Covenant, The Sword, and The Arm of the Lord (CSA), a white supremacist organization founded by polygamist James Ellison. The CSA forced a three-day armed standoff with local, state, and federal law enforcement. As U.S. attorney, Hutchinson personally negotiated a peaceful conclusion to the standoff.[4]

Early political career

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Pre-Congress efforts

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In 1986, Hutchinson ran against incumbent Democratic U.S. senator and former governor Dale Bumpers.[5] It was a good year for Democrats, and Hutchinson fared worse than Bumpers's previous Senate challenger, Little Rock investment banker William P. "Bill" Clark.

In 1990, Hutchinson ran against Winston Bryant for attorney general of Arkansas; he lost the race by a margin of 55–45%. Hutchinson then became co-chair, with Sheffield Nelson, of the Arkansas Republican Party, a position he held from 1991 through 1995, the last four years as full chair. He considered a rematch with Bumpers in 1992 before deferring to Mike Huckabee, who lost to Bumpers.

U.S. House of Representatives

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Asa Hutchinson's 105th Congress portrait
Hutchinson during a press conference on campaign finance reform in 1998

In 1992 Hutchinson's brother, Tim, was elected to Congress in Arkansas's third congressional district, when veteran U.S. Representative John Paul Hammerschmidt retired. In 1996, when his brother decided not to run for a third term in the House in order to seek the open Senate seat caused by the retirement of David Pryor, Hutchinson ran for the seat and won.

Hutchinson, who had at first decided to run for an open seat in the Arkansas House of Representatives from Sebastian County, defeated Ann Henry, a longtime friend of Bill and Hillary Clinton, in November 1996. Although Henry outspent Hutchinson during the campaign, the district's heavy Republican tilt and his brother Tim's presence atop the ballot helped Asa win with 52% of the vote. Tim Hutchinson also won his campaign for the U.S. Senate and served one term, losing his reelection bid in 2002.

In 1998, Hutchinson was reelected to the House with far less difficulty, taking 81% of the vote against a third party challenger. He was reelected unopposed in 2000.

Hutchinson served as a house manager (prosecutor) in the impeachment trial of Bill Clinton.[6]

In office, Hutchinson compiled a voting record as conservative as his brother's. He led efforts to crack down on illegal drugs, particularly methamphetamine. Hutchinson also served as one of the managers of the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton in 1998. In 1999, Hutchinson was involved in the effort to reform campaign finance laws and offered an alternative proposal to the bill by Christopher Shays and Marty Meehan, which he opposed on the grounds that it "went too far" by attempting to ban television commercials by legal third-party organizations. Hutchinson did support John McCain's and Russ Feingold's Senate bill.[7]

Hutchinson unsuccessfully tried to modify the civil asset forfeiture reform bill that sought to prevent police abuse of its power to seize private property on mere suspicion of being linked to any criminal investigation. His amendment would allegedly have empowered the police to continue profiting from drug money.[8]

Drug Enforcement Administration

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Hutchinson as Undersecretary for Border and Transportation Security
Hutchinson and U.S. Representative Frank Wolf tour a DEA drug testing facility in Northern Virginia in 2001

In 2001, at the beginning of the George W. Bush administration, Hutchinson was appointed Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). He was confirmed by a 98–1 Senate vote.[9]

Department of Homeland Security

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After the September 11 attacks, Congress created the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). President Bush tapped Hutchinson to lead the Border and Transportation Security Directorate, a division of the DHS. The Senate confirmed Hutchinson by unanimous consent on January 23, 2003.[10] Hutchinson left office as Undersecretary on March 1, 2005.[11]

Post-Bush administration

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Business career

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In early 2005, Hutchinson founded a consulting firm, Hutchinson Group, LLC, with partners Betty Guhman and Kirk Tompkins, in Little Rock, and accepted a contract for a one-year position with Venable LLP in Washington, D.C., as the chair of its Homeland Security practice.[12] Hutchinson ended his contract with Venable LLP in March 2006 to focus on his gubernatorial campaign and his consulting firm in Little Rock. In January 2007, Hutchinson rejoined Venable.[13]

In June 2006, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported that Hutchinson's $2,800 investment in Fortress America Acquisition Corporation, a company that Hutchinson was advising, was worth over $1 million after the company's initial public offering. The news story noted that Hutchinson was unable to touch his stock for another two years. The six founding shareholders in Fortress America, in addition to Hutchinson, included former U.S. Representative Tom McMillen, former U.S. Senator Don Nickles, and a private-equity firm that had former CIA Director James Woolsey among its partners.

On May 4, 2006, Hutchinson had filed a financial disclosure form he was required to submit as a candidate for governor. The form did not list his 200,000 shares in Fortress America, which were trading at about $5 per share. "Just totally an oversight", Hutchinson said when questioned by the media in June.[14] He filed an amended report the next day to correct the error.[15]

Political activities

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Hutchinson agreed to serve on The Constitution Project's Guantanamo Task Force in December 2010.[16][17][18] He told the Associated Press he agreed to join the task force because he believed it was "something important for our national security and our war on terrorism."

In the wake of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the National Rifle Association of America (NRA) assembled a group with backgrounds in homeland security, law enforcement training, and school safety to review school security standards in select areas of the country. Led by Hutchinson, the group's stated goal was to produce a comprehensive plan to address the safety of children in schools and to prevent such shootings in the future. On April 2, 2013, he presented the National School Shield plan during a news conference at the National Press Club.[19][20]

Governor of Arkansas

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2006 election

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Hutchinson campaigning for governor in 2006

Shortly after returning to Arkansas, Hutchinson announced his candidacy for governor in 2006. Initially, he was to face three-term Lieutenant Governor Winthrop Paul Rockefeller, who was favored in most pre-election polls, in the Republican primary. But Rockefeller's withdrawal and death from a blood disorder in early 2006 led to Hutchinson winning the primary. In the general election, he lost to the Democratic nominee, then-Arkansas Attorney General Mike Beebe.[21]

2014 election

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Hutchinson was the Republican nominee for governor of Arkansas in 2014. He was supported by House Speaker Davy Carter.[22] On November 4, 2014, after defeating Tea Party-backed Curtis Coleman in the Republican primary, he defeated the Democratic nominee, Mike Ross, in the general election with 55% of the vote, the best showing for a Republican in an open-seat gubernatorial race since the end of Reconstruction. His victory also gave the GOP complete control of state government for the first time since the end of Reconstruction.

2018 election

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Hutchinson was reelected on November 6, 2018, in a landslide, taking over 65% of the vote and carrying all but eight counties. In a bad year for the GOP nationally, Hutchinson garnered the largest margin of victory for a Republican candidate in Arkansas history.

Tenure

[edit]
Hutchinson greeting Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue in 2017

Hutchinson took office as governor on January 13, 2015.

Hutchinson meeting with President Donald Trump and Laura Kelly in 2020
Hutchinson meeting with President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and a bipartisan group of governors and mayors in 2021

On November 16, 2015, Hutchinson said that he would block all Syrian refugees from entering the state in response to the November 2015 Paris attacks.[23]

Under Hutchinson, Arkansas resumed executions in 2017 after having executed no one since 2005.[24][25][26] In 2021, DNA testing on the murder weapon and a bloody shirt at the scene of the crime did not match Ledell Lee, who was convicted and executed for murder.[27] Hutchinson defended Lee's execution, saying, "the DNA findings released today do not present any conclusive evidence to undermine [Lee's guilty verdict]."[27]

As governor, Hutchinson implemented work requirements for Medicaid enrollees. As a result, by December 2018, almost 17,000 Arkansans had lost their Medicaid health insurance, with reapplication available in the new calendar year.[28]

In February 2019, Hutchinson signed a bill into law that would criminalize abortion in the event Roe v. Wade is overturned.[29] On March 9, 2021, he signed SB6, a near-total abortion bill, into law. He said that the bill was intended "to set the stage for the Supreme Court overturning current case law. I would have preferred the legislation to include the exceptions for rape and incest, which has been my consistent view, and such exceptions would increase the chances for a review by the U.S. Supreme Court."[30] On May 8, 2022, Hutchinson responded to comments by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell about potential passage of a future federal law prohibiting abortions nationwide: "If the court reverses Roe v. Wade, they're saying that the Constitution does not provide that, which returns it to the states. And that's where the vigorous debate is going to be. That is where we're going to face a lot of concerns on the compassion side."[31]

In 2015, Hutchinson signed into law legislation that would prohibit localities from extending civil rights protections to LGBT individuals.[32] At the time, Arkansas was among states that allowed discrimination in the workplace, housing and business on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation.[33] In March 2021, Hutchinson signed into law legislation that would allow doctors to refuse non-emergency medical treatment to LGBT people based on moral objection.[34] In April 2021, he vetoed a bill that would make it illegal for transgender minors to receive gender-affirming medication or surgery,[35] calling it "a vast government overreach".[36] The state legislature later overrode his veto.[37]

In August 2021, Hutchinson signed bills into law that prohibited businesses and government facilities from requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination for staff and customers to enter facilities.[38] While Arkansas was experiencing a wave of COVID-19 cases, he also signed a bill into law that prohibited state and local officials from enacting mask mandates.[39] He later said he regretted doing so.[39] In December 2021, Hutchinson praised President Joe Biden's COVID policies and thanked Biden for his efforts to "get the vaccinations out" and "depoliticizing" the federal COVID response.[40][41] In January 2022, Hutchinson encouraged large businesses to not comply with the Biden administration's vaccine requirements.[42]

Hutchinson demanded that Republicans who tried to overturn the 2020 presidential election and spread Donald Trump's "Big Lie" about mass voter fraud not be put in positions of leadership.[43] He also accused Trump of dividing the party and said his election conspiracies were a "recipe for disaster".[44][45] On February 5, 2022, Hutchinson and U.S. senator Lisa Murkowski condemned the Republican National Committee's censure of representatives Adam Kinzinger and Liz Cheney for their support of and participation on the House Select Committee tasked with investigating the January 6 United States Capitol attack.[46]

Post-gubernatorial career

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2024 presidential campaign

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In May 2022, Hutchinson said he would consider running for president in 2024 even if former President Donald Trump ran again and that Trump's candidacy would not be a factor in his decision.[47][31] He added, "I think he did a lot of good things for our country, but we need to go a different direction".[47] On April 2, 2023, during an interview with ABC News' Jonathan Karl, Hutchinson announced his candidacy for the 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries.[48][49]

Toward the beginning of his campaign Hutchinson distinguished himself as a Trump critic, calling for the former president to drop out of the race after being indicted by a New York grand jury.[50] After Trump was indicted by a federal grand jury for mishandling classified documents, Hutchinson criticized other Republican presidential candidates for saying they would pardon Trump if elected.[51] He also rebuked allegations made by fellow Republicans that the Department of Justice had been "weaponized" against Trump.[52] Hutchinson came out against the decision by the Republican National Committee (RNC) to require candidates wishing to participate in the primary debate to sign a loyalty pledge saying they would support the eventual Republican nominee, stating he would not vote for Trump if convicted on federal charges. Because of the debate conditions, Hutchinson organized a meeting between RNC officials and one of his staffers. The staffer, on behalf of Hutchinson, requested that the RNC amend the debate requirements to accommodate Hutchinson's concerns; the RNC rejected his request.[53] Hutchinson ultimately decided to sign the pledge,[54] but when candidates were asked during the debate to raise their hand if they would still support Trump as the party's nominee if he were convicted, he and Chris Christie were the only ones not to do so.[55]

Hutchinson failed to make any of the other debates, with his poll numbers remaining at around one percent nationally.[56][57][58] He would drop out of the race on January 16,[59] the day after he earned only 191 votes in the Iowa caucuses, fewer votes than every other candidate,[60] including little-known candidate Ryan Binkley.[61] Following Hutchinson's withdrawal, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) issued a statement mocking Hutchinson's campaign, "This news comes as a shock to those of us who could’ve sworn he had already dropped out."[62] The statement elicited condemnation from anti-Trump conservatives who chastised the DNC for attacking someone who shared their opposition to Trump.[63] White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients later called Hutchinson to apologize for the DNC's statement.[62] Days before the New Hampshire primary, Hutchinson endorsed Nikki Haley.[64] After Trump won the primaries, Hutchinson said he planned to write-in a name for president in the general election, refusing to vote for Trump or Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.[65][66]

Personal life

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Hutchinson has four children with his wife, Susan Burrell.[67]

Hutchinson's older brother, Tim, preceded him as U.S. representative from Arkansas' 3rd congressional district and served as a U.S. senator from 1997 to 2003 before being defeated for reelection by Arkansas Attorney General Mark Pryor, a Democrat, in 2002. Asa and Tim Hutchinson are both graduates of Bob Jones University. Tim Hutchinson's identical twin sons, Jeremy and Timothy Chad Hutchinson, were the first twins to serve together in the Arkansas General Assembly, both as members of the House of Representatives. Asa Hutchinson is the brother-in-law of former Arkansas state senator Kim Hendren, who in 1958 married his sister Marylea Hutchinson. Arkansas district 2 state senator Jim Hendren of Sulphur Springs is Hutchinson's nephew.[68]

Electoral history

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2006 Arkansas gubernatorial election[69]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Mike Beebe 430,765 55.61% +8.65%
Republican Asa Hutchinson 315,040 40.67% −12.35%
Independent Rod Bryan 15,767 2.04%
Green Jim Lendall 12,774 1.65%
Write-ins 334 0.04%
Majority 115,725 14.94% +8.88%
Turnout 774,680
Democratic gain from Republican Swing
Republican primary for 2014 Arkansas gubernatorial election[70]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Asa Hutchinson 130,752 72.95
Republican Curtis Coleman 48,473 27.05
Total votes 179,225 100
2014 Arkansas gubernatorial election[71]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Asa Hutchinson 470,429 55.44% +21.81%
Democratic Mike Ross 352,115 41.49% −22.93%
Libertarian Frank Gilbert 16,319 1.92% N/A
Green Josh Drake 9,729 1.15% −0.71%
Total votes 848,592 100.0% N/A
Republican gain from Democratic
Republican primary for 2018 Arkansas gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Asa Hutchinson (incumbent) 145,251 69.7
Republican Jan Morgan 63,009 30.3
Total votes 208,260 100.0
2018 Arkansas gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Asa Hutchinson (incumbent) 582,406 65.33% +9.89%
Democratic Jared Henderson 283,218 31.77% −9.72%
Libertarian Mark West 25,885 2.90% +0.98%
Total votes 891,509 100.0% N/A
Republican hold

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Miossi, Molly (April 22, 2024). "Scripps News adds former presidential candidate, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson as political analyst" (Press release). Scripps News. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  2. ^ Hutchinson, Frederick Mcalpine (1947). The Hutchinson family of Laurens County, South Carolina, and descendants. A. Jones Press. ISBN 9780608320403. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  3. ^ "Asa Hutchison". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  4. ^ Selyukh, Alina (December 21, 2012). "U.S. gun lobby ally to lead NRA plan for armed guards at schools". Reuters. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  5. ^ Eugene Scott (January 2, 2016). "Dale Bumpers dead: Former U.S. senator and Arkansas governor was 90". CNN. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
  6. ^ "List of Individuals Impeached by the House of Representatives | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives". history.house.gov. United States House of Representatives Office of the Historian, Office of Art & Archives, Office of the Clerk. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
  7. ^ Tapper, Jake (October 12, 1999). "The conversion of Asa Hutchinson". Salon. Archived from the original on January 14, 2009. Retrieved December 31, 2013.[better source needed]
  8. ^ NDSN (Summer 1999). "US House Approves Civil Forfeiture Reform Bill". National Drug Strategy Network. Archived from the original on January 18, 2000. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  9. ^ "The Oak Ridger Online – Opinion – David Broder: A needed debate on U..." June 29, 2007. Archived from the original on June 29, 2007. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  10. ^ United States Congress, Committee on Appropriations (2004). 108-2 Hearings: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations for 2005, Part 4, March 18, 2004. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 232.
  11. ^ "Who's at home for DHS -- GCN". GCN. Archived from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  12. ^ "Hutchinson heading homeland security at Venable". The Daily Record. Maryland. March 2, 2005. Archived from the original on May 23, 2022. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  13. ^ "Asa Hutchinson, Former Arkansas Congressman and DHS Under Secretary, Returns to Venable". Venable (Press release). January 4, 2007. Archived from the original on October 17, 2007. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  14. ^ Minton, Mark (June 7, 2006). "Hutchinson's $2,800 outlay, 'sweat' pay off". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Northwest Arkansas ed.). Archived from the original on June 24, 2006.
  15. ^ Blomeley, Seth; Wickline, Michael R. (May 6, 2006). "State candidates detail '05 income, gifts in reports". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Northwest Arkansas ed.). Archived from the original on September 27, 2007.
  16. ^ "Task Force members" (PDF). The Constitution Project. December 17, 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 25, 2011. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  17. ^ "Task Force on Detainee Treatment Launched". The Constitution Project. December 17, 2010. Archived from the original on December 15, 2010.
  18. ^ "Think tank plans study of how US treats detainees". Wall Street Journal. December 17, 2010. Archived from the original on December 19, 2010. Former FBI Director William Sessions, former Arkansas U.S. Rep. Asa Hutchinson, a retired Army general and a retired appeals court judge in Washington are among 11 people selected for a task force that will meet for the first time in early January, said Virginia Sloan, a lawyer and president of The Constitution Project.
  19. ^ Lucy Madison (April 2, 2013). "NRA "school safety" plan calls for trained, armed school staff". CBS News. Archived from the original on April 2, 2013.
  20. ^ TITLE. Associated Press (via Orange County Register). Published: April 2, 2013.[permanent dead link]
  21. ^ Hardy, Benjamin (January 15, 2015). "Arkansan of the Year: Asa Hutchinson". Arkansas Times. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  22. ^ Brantley, Max (May 17, 2013). "Davy Carter won't make race for governor". Arkansas Times. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
  23. ^ Bosman, Julie; Seelye, Katharine Q.; Hauser, Christine (November 16, 2015). "Multiple Republican Governors Say They Oppose the Entry of Syrian Refugees". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  24. ^ "Arkansas' governor opens up about his rapid execution schedule". NBC News. April 29, 2017. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  25. ^ "Arkansas' governor is 'fighting back' to execute five men in 10 days. But why?". The Guardian. April 18, 2017. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  26. ^ Dwyer, Colin (April 14, 2017). "Federal Court Blocks 7 Executions Set For 11-Day Span In Arkansas". NPR. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
  27. ^ a b Farrar, Lara (May 1, 2021). "Advocates report new DNA evidence; kin of executed man behind findings". Arkansas Online. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  28. ^ Hardy, Benjamin (December 17, 2018). "Update: Work requirement ends Medicaid coverage for 4,600 more Arkansans in December". Arkansas Times. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
  29. ^ Gstalter, Morgan (February 19, 2019). "Arkansas governor signs 'trigger' abortion ban bill". The Hill. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  30. ^ "Gov. Hutchinson signs near-total abortion bill, SB6". KSLA. March 9, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  31. ^ a b Dorman, John L. (May 8, 2022). "Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson says a national abortion ban floated by McConnell is 'inconsistent with what we've been fighting for'". Business Insider. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  32. ^ Trager, Kevin; Eady, Alyse (April 2, 2015). "Arkansas governor signs new 'religious freedom' bill". USA TODAY. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  33. ^ Lopez, German (April 1, 2015). "Arkansas's real LGBT problem: discrimination is legal even without a religious freedom law". Vox. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  34. ^ DeMillo, Andrew (March 26, 2021). "Arkansas governor signs bill allowing medical workers to refuse treatment to LGBTQ people". PBS Newshour. Associated Press.
  35. ^ Astor, Maggie (April 5, 2021). "Gov. Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas, a Republican, vetoed an anti-transgender bill". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  36. ^ Yurcaba, Jo (April 5, 2021). "Arkansas governor vetoes ban on gender-affirming care for trans minors". NBC News. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  37. ^ Bryan, Max. "Arkansas lawmakers ban youth transgender treatment and surgeries, overriding governor's veto". USA Today. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  38. ^ "Arkansas governor signs bills banning vaccine requirements". Associated Press. April 29, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  39. ^ a b "Gov. Hutchinson wishes he didn't sign mask mandate ban into law". thv11.com. August 3, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  40. ^ Snodgrass, Eric (December 28, 2021). "Arkansas' Republican governor thanked President Joe Biden for depoliticizing the federal COVID-19 response". Business Insider. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  41. ^ "Biden's Covid response gets praise from Republican governor". MSNBC. December 29, 2021. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  42. ^ Cole, Devan (January 9, 2022). "Arkansas governor says large businesses in state should not comply with Biden administration's 'oppressive vaccine mandate'". CNN. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  43. ^ Mychael Schnell (January 9, 2022). "Hutchinson says 'big lie' supporters 'not demonstrating leadership'". The Hill. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  44. ^ Gstalter, Morgan (May 11, 2021). "Republican governor of Arkansas says 'Trump is dividing our party'". The Hill. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  45. ^ Durkee, Alison (October 17, 2021). "Arkansas GOP Governor Says Trump's Fraud Claims Are 'Recipe For Disaster' In Midterms". Forbes. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  46. ^ Colarossi, Natalie (February 5, 2022). "Republicans Murkowski, Hutchinson Slam RNC's Censure of Cheney, Kinzinger". Newsweek. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  47. ^ a b Cole, Devan (May 1, 2022). "Arkansas GOP governor says he's considering 2024 bid and would run even if Trump does". CNN. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  48. ^ Stracqualursi, Veronica; Iyer, Kaanita (April 2, 2023). "Former Arkansas Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson announces White House bid". CNN. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  49. ^ Wiersema, Alisa (April 2, 2023). "ABC News exclusive: Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson announces 2024 presidential run". ABC News. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  50. ^ Demillo, Andrew (April 2, 2023). "Hutchinson launches GOP 2024 bid, calls on Trump to drop out". AP News. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  51. ^ Cathey, Libby (June 11, 2023). "Asa Hutchinson calls it 'offensive' for GOP candidates to promise they'd pardon Trump". ABC News. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  52. ^ Mueller, Julia (June 18, 2023). "Hutchinson warns Republicans to 'back off' allegations DOJ has been 'weaponized'". The Hill. Nexstar Media Inc. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  53. ^ Allison, Natalie; Shepard, Steven (June 15, 2023). "RNC shuts down Hutchinson's push to amend loyalty pledge amid Trump indictment drama". Politico. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  54. ^ Garrity, Kelly (August 23, 2023). "What happens to candidates who walk back on the RNC loyalty pledge? Well…". Politico. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
  55. ^ Wallace-Wells, Benjamin (August 24, 2023). "A Chaotic Display of Conservatism at the First Republican Debate". The New Yorker. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  56. ^ Frankel, Jillian (November 15, 2023). "Asa Hutchinson has no plans to drop out of presidential race despite low polling". NBC News. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  57. ^ Cathey, Libby (September 26, 2023). "Asa Hutchinson sets new goal for 2024 campaign after missing debate requirement". ABC News. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  58. ^ Menezes, Damita (December 2, 2023). "Where Asa Hutchinson stands on the issues that matter to voters". NewsNation. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  59. ^ Garrity, Kelly (January 16, 2024). "Hutchinson's long road comes to an end". Politico. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  60. ^ "Asa Hutchinson says campaign will 'reevaluate' after Iowa caucuses". KCCI-TV. Hearst Television Inc. January 15, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  61. ^ Stein, Sam (January 15, 2024). "Binkley voter explains why the Texas pastor won him over from Bernie Sanders". Politico. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  62. ^ a b Miller, Zeke (January 17, 2024). "White House apologizes to former 2024 candidate Asa Hutchinson as Biden courts anti-Trump GOP". AP News. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  63. ^ Alafriz, Olivia (January 16, 2024). "Anti-Trump conservatives chafe at DNC statement mocking Asa Hutchinson". Politico. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  64. ^ Irwin, Lauren (January 20, 2024). "Hutchinson throws support behind Haley days before New Hampshire primary". The Hill. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
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[edit]
Legal offices
Preceded by
Larry McCord
United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas
1982–1985
Succeeded by
Michael Fitzhugh
Party political offices
Preceded by
Bill Clark
Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Arkansas
(Class 3)

1986
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Warren Carpenter
Republican nominee for Attorney General of Arkansas
1990
Succeeded by
Dan Ivy
Preceded by
Ken Coon
Chair of the Arkansas Republican Party
1991–1995
Served alongside: Sheffield Nelson (1991–1992)
Succeeded by
Lloyd Stone
Preceded by
Mike Huckabee
Republican nominee for Governor of Arkansas
2006
Succeeded by
Jim Keet
Preceded by Republican nominee for Governor of Arkansas
2014, 2018
Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Arkansas's 3rd congressional district

1997–2001
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by
William Simpkins
Acting
Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration
2001–2003
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Position established
Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Border and Transportation Security
2003–2005
Succeeded by
Randy Beardsworth
Acting
Preceded by Governor of Arkansas
2015–2023
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chair of the National Governors Association
2021–2022
Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas former Governor Order of precedence of the United States
within Arkansas
Succeeded byas Former Governor
Order of precedence of the United States
outside Arkansas
Succeeded byas former Governor