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How Arkansas' gubernatorial race is guaranteed to make history
Yuna Lee
Sunrise Anchor and Reporter
Adam Roberts, DMM
Digital Media Manager
How Arkansas' gubernatorial race is guaranteed to make history
VISITED A POPULAR LUNCH SPOT IN FORT SMITH -- AND SHE WAS NOT ALONE. <> "IT WAS STANDING ROOM ONLY TODAY AS SARAH SANDERS TALKED TO SUPPORTERS INSIDE GEORGE'S RESTAURANT HERE IN FORT SMITH AND SHE HAD SOMEONE WITH HER THAT MANY PEOPLE KNOW WELL." <> "people are enthusiastically coming out in every corner of the state because they want to see us defend our freedom and empower Arkansans to live their best life." (NATS...PEOPLE CHEERING AS SANDERS WALKS IN ) GEORGE'S RESTAURANT IS NORMALLY BUSY AT LUNCH, BUT TODAY IT WAS PACKED AS PEOPLE RALLIED FOR SARAH SANDERS. IF ELECTED GOVERNOR, IT WILL BE THE FIRST TIME A WOMAN HAS EVER HELD THE TOP OFFICE IN THE STATE AND THAT'S NOT ALL. <> "it will be the first time in American history that a father and a daughter have both been governor of the same state. There have been a couple of father sons and there was one instance where there was a father daughter, but they were in different states." "I don't think of the it as the historic nature being that she's female as much as I do that she's just going to be stinking good at it." FORMER GOVERNOR, MIKE HUCKABEE, INTRODUCED HIS DAUGHTER TO THE CROWD OF SUPPORTERS. <> "I have really big shoes to fill to follow in his footsteps, but I tell him all the time and there's nobody more supportive in helping me accomplish taking away one of his great titles, which is best governor the state's ever seen." SANDERS SAYS SHE'S HEARING MANY OF THE SAME CONCERNS FROM VOTERS ACROSS THE STATE. <> "from Siloam to Fort Smith, I think at the end of the day, people just want to make sure that their kids are growing up in safe communities, that they have access to a good quality education and frankly they want to keep more of their money in their pocket through things like phasing out the state income tax." <> "I know Sarah has the integrity to make the decisions that she will make, not because they're politically expedient, but beca
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How Arkansas' gubernatorial race is guaranteed to make history
Yuna Lee
Sunrise Anchor and Reporter
Adam Roberts, DMM
Digital Media Manager
No matter who Arkansans elect as governor, the state will have a historic first, as Arkansas will elect a woman or a Black candidate as governor for the first time.Sarah Huckabee SandersThe Republican Party nominated former White House spokesperson Sarah Huckabee Sanders for governor.If Sanders wins in November’s general election, she will become Arkansas’ first woman governor. Arkansas is one of 19 states that have had only men serve as governor.She would also become the first child of a former governor to win that office in Arkansas.Her father, Mike Huckabee, served as governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007."It will be the first time in American history that a father and a daughter have both been governor of the same state," Hutchinson said at a rally Monday."I don't think of it as the historic nature that she's female as much as I do that she's just going to be stinking good at it," he said.Chris Jones & Ricky Dale HarringtonWhen nuclear engineer Chris Jones won the primary, it marked the first time in state history either the Democratic or Republican parties had nominated a Black candidate for governor.Libertarian Ricky Dale Harrington secured his party’s nomination earlier this year, meaning two of the three gubernatorial candidates on November’s ballot will be Black.In 1920, Black businessman Josiah H. Blount attempted to run for governor on the Republican ticket, according to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas. However, the party held its convention at a segregated hotel. Blount and his supporters were unable to attend and started their own party faction known as the “Black and Tans.”The secretary of the state put Blount on the ballot as an independent candidate. He came in third place with 8 percent of the vote.If Jones or Harrington win in November’s general election, they will become the first Black person elected governor in the state. Arkansas would become the 15th state in the country to elect a nonwhite governor.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. —

No matter who Arkansans elect as governor, the state will have a historic first, as Arkansas will elect a woman or a Black candidate as governor for the first time.

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Sarah Huckabee Sanders

The Republican Party nominated former White House spokesperson Sarah Huckabee Sanders for governor.

If Sanders wins in November’s general election, she will become Arkansas’ first woman governor. Arkansas is one of 19 states that have had only men serve as governor.

She would also become the first child of a former governor to win that office in Arkansas.

Her father, Mike Huckabee, served as governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007.

"It will be the first time in American history that a father and a daughter have both been governor of the same state," Hutchinson said at a rally Monday.

"I don't think of it as the historic nature that she's female as much as I do that she's just going to be stinking good at it," he said.

Chris Jones & Ricky Dale Harrington

When nuclear engineer Chris Jones won the primary, it marked the first time in state history either the Democratic or Republican parties had nominated a Black candidate for governor.

Libertarian Ricky Dale Harrington secured his party’s nomination earlier this year, meaning two of the three gubernatorial candidates on November’s ballot will be Black.

In 1920, Black businessman Josiah H. Blount attempted to run for governor on the Republican ticket, according to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas. However, the party held its convention at a segregated hotel. Blount and his supporters were unable to attend and started their own party faction known as the “Black and Tans.”

The secretary of the state put Blount on the ballot as an independent candidate. He came in third place with 8 percent of the vote.

If Jones or Harrington win in November’s general election, they will become the first Black person elected governor in the state. Arkansas would become the 15th state in the country to elect a nonwhite governor.