Sarah Huckabee Sanders wins second term as Arkansas governor

Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders defeated Democratic state Sen. Fred Love and Libertarian Colt Shelby Tuesday night in her bid for a second term as Arkansas governor. 

The Associated Press called the race around 9:43 p.m. 

Sanders, the daughter of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, earned national attention as President Donald Trump’s White House press secretary. She became the first woman elected Arkansas governor in 2022. 

Education was a major focus of Sanders’ first term, which saw the passage of the LEARNS Act, a wide-ranging education bill that increased Arkansas’ minimum teacher salary and created a school voucher program that allows state funds to be used for certain education expenses, including private school tuition. 

The growing cost of the program, which is now open to all Arkansas students, has faced bipartisan pushback. Earlier this year, lawmakers approved a state budget that includes $309 million for the program. They also set aside an additional $70 million in surplus funds to support anticipated growth of the program. 

Love said he would sign an executive order to halt the program if elected. 

Sanders’ time in the White House and as a Fox News commentator elevated her national profile as Arkansas governor. Shortly after taking office in 2023, she delivered Republicans’ response to President Joe Biden’s State of the Union Address. 

During Sanders’ first term as governor, she focused on culture war issues that included efforts to ban “indoctrination” in classrooms, banning the use of the term “Latinx” and signing laws restricting the rights of transgender students.

Sanders will begin her second term in January, which is also when lawmakers will convene for the legislative session. Sanders previously told the Advocate she expects healthcare to dominate the session, and that she wants to ensure access to quality affordable care. 

A major topic of discussion will likely be the future of the state’s Medicaid expansion program, which provides health coverage to nearly 209,000 Arkansans. The state requested a two-year extension after the Trump administration rejected its request to renew the program this summer. 

Arkansas’ program doesn’t meet a provision in a new federal law that requires it to not cost the federal government more than would be projected without the program.  

Sanders has said conversations are underway about “the best path forward” for the program, but has not specified what approach she’d prefer regarding the program’s delivery. 

In addition to healthcare access, Sanders told the Advocate during her campaign that tax cuts would also be a priority during her second term. 

Arkansas lawmakers approve $192M tax cut legislation, end session 

Lawmakers approved four rounds of income tax cuts and eliminated the state’s grocery tax during Sanders’ first term. The governor said she wants to continue “responsibly” phasing out the state’s income tax so people can keep more of their money and spend it how they want.

As governor, Sanders faced pushback from the majority-Republican Legislature over her announced plans for a 3,000-bed prison in Franklin County. The prison project was placed on hold following resistance from the local community and legislators.

Sanders also faced questions from lawmakers in her first term over the purchase of a $19,000 lectern that prompted a legislative audit, though a local prosecutor declined to pursue charges.

During Sanders’ campaign for a second term, the NAACP and some conservative influencers criticized her ad touting new work requirements for Medicaid recipients. The NAACP said the ad unfairly stereotyped the poor, while some GOP commentators complained about a white actor portraying a Medicaid recipient.

The Republican governor has been mentioned as a potential 2028 presidential hopeful, and her gubernatorial victory comes a week before a book she’s written is set to be released.