Asa Hutchinson
It has been suggested that Asa Hutchinson 2024 presidential campaign be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since January 2024. |
Asa Hutchinson | |
---|---|
46th Governor of Arkansas | |
In office January 13, 2015 – January 10, 2023 | |
Lieutenant | Tim Griffin |
Preceded by | Mike Beebe |
Succeeded by | Sarah Huckabee Sanders |
Chair of the National Governors Association | |
In office July 8, 2021 – July 15, 2022 | |
Vice Chair | Phil Murphy |
Preceded by | Andrew Cuomo |
Succeeded by | Phil Murphy |
Vice Chair of the National Governors Association | |
In office August 5, 2020 – July 8, 2021 | |
Chair | Andrew Cuomo |
Preceded by | Andrew Cuomo |
Succeeded by | Phil Murphy |
Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Border and Transportation Security | |
In office January 23, 2003 – March 1, 2005 | |
President | George W. Bush |
Preceded by | Position established |
Succeeded by | Randy Beardsworth (acting) |
8th Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration | |
In office August 8, 2001 – January 23, 2003 | |
President | George W. Bush |
Deputy | John B. Brown III |
Preceded by | Donnie R. Marshall |
Succeeded by | Karen Tandy |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Arkansas's 3rd district | |
In office January 3, 1997 – August 6, 2001 | |
Preceded by | Tim Hutchinson |
Succeeded by | John Boozman |
Chair of the Arkansas Republican Party | |
In office January 1, 1991 – December 31, 1995 Serving with Sheffield Nelson (1991–1992) | |
Preceded by | Ken Coon |
Succeeded by | Lloyd Stone |
United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas | |
In office September 1, 1982 – January 20, 1985 | |
President | Ronald Reagan |
Preceded by | Larry McCord |
Succeeded by | Michael Fitzhugh |
Personal details | |
Born | William Asa Hutchinson II December 3, 1950 Bentonville, Arkansas, U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse |
Susan Burrell (m. 1973) |
Children | 4 |
Relatives | Tim Hutchinson (brother) |
Education | Bob Jones University (BA) University of Arkansas (JD) |
Signature | |
Website | Campaign website |
William Asa Hutchinson II (
In 1982, President
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.
Early life and legal career
Hutchinson was born in Bentonville, Arkansas, the son of Coral Virginia (Mount) Hutchinson (1912–1998) and John Malcolm Hutchinson Sr. (1907–1991).[1] 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.[2] He practiced law in Fort Smith for 21 years and handled more than 100 jury trials.
In 1982, President
Early political career
Pre-Congress efforts
In 1986, Hutchinson ran against incumbent Democratic U.S. senator and former governor Dale Bumpers.[4] 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
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
In office, Hutchinson compiled a voting record as
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.[7]
Drug Enforcement Administration
In 2001, at the beginning of the
Department of Homeland Security
After the
Post-Bush administration
Business career
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.[11] 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.[12]
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.[13] He filed an amended report the next day to correct the error.[14]
Political activities
Hutchinson agreed to serve on
In the wake of
Governor of Arkansas
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (March 2015) |
2006 election
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.[20]
2014 election
Hutchinson was the Republican nominee for
2018 election
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
Hutchinson took office as governor on January 13, 2015.
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.[22]
Under Hutchinson, Arkansas resumed executions in 2017 after having executed no one since 2005.[23][24][25] 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.[26] Hutchinson defended Lee's execution, saying, "the DNA findings released today do not present any conclusive evidence to undermine [Lee's guilty verdict]."[26]
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.[27]
In February 2019, Hutchinson signed a
In 2015, Hutchinson signed into law legislation that would prohibit localities from extending civil rights protections to
In August 2021, Hutchinson signed bills into law that prohibited businesses and government facilities from requiring proof of
Hutchinson demanded that Republicans who
Post-gubernatorial career
2024 presidential campaign
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.[46][30] He added, "I think he did a lot of good things for our country, but we need to go a different direction".[46] On April 2, 2023, during an interview with ABC News' Jonathan Karl, Hutchinson announced his candidacy for the 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries.[47][48]
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
Hutchinson failed to make any of the other debates, with his poll numbers remaining at around one percent nationally.[55][56][57] He would drop out of the race on January 16,[58] the day after he earned only 191 votes in the Iowa caucuses, fewer votes than every other candidate,[59] including little-known candidate Ryan Binkley.[60] 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."[61] The statement elicited condemnation from anti-Trump conservatives who chastised the DNC for attacking someone who shared their opposition to Trump.[62] White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients later called Hutchinson to apologize for the DNC's statement.[61] Days before the New Hampshire primary, Hutchinson endorsed Nikki Haley.[63]
Personal life
Hutchinson has four children with his wife, Susan Burrell.[64]
Hutchinson's older brother,
Electoral history
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 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Asa Hutchinson | 130,752 | 72.95 | |
Republican | Curtis Coleman | 48,473 | 27.05 | |
Total votes | 179,225 | 100 |
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 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Asa Hutchinson (incumbent) | 145,251 | 69.7 | |
Republican | Jan Morgan | 63,009 | 30.3 | |
Total votes | 208,260 | 100.0 |
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
- 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Arkansas
References
- ISBN 9780608320403. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
- ^ "Asa Hutchison". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
- ^ Selyukh, Alina (December 21, 2012). "U.S. gun lobby ally to lead NRA plan for armed guards at schools". Reuters. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
- ^ Eugene Scott (January 2, 2016). "Dale Bumpers dead: Former U.S. senator and Arkansas governor was 90". CNN. Retrieved February 13, 2017.
- ^ "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.
- better source needed]
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Who's at home for DHS -- GCN". GCN. Archived from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- The Constitution Project. December 17, 2010. Archived(PDF) from the original on July 25, 2011. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
- The Constitution Project. December 17, 2010. Archivedfrom the original on December 15, 2010.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ TITLE. Associated Press (via Orange County Register). Published: April 2, 2013.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Hardy, Benjamin (January 15, 2015). "Arkansan of the Year: Asa Hutchinson". Arkansas Times. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
- ^ Brantley, Max (May 17, 2013). "Davy Carter won't make race for governor". Arkansas Times. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- ^ "Arkansas' governor opens up about his rapid execution schedule". NBC News. April 29, 2017. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
- ^ "Arkansas' governor is 'fighting back' to execute five men in 10 days. But why?". The Guardian. April 18, 2017. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
- ^ Dwyer, Colin (April 14, 2017). "Federal Court Blocks 7 Executions Set For 11-Day Span In Arkansas". NPR. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
- ^ a b Farrar, Lara (May 1, 2021). "Advocates report new DNA evidence; kin of executed man behind findings". Arkansas Online. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
- ^ Hardy, Benjamin (December 17, 2018). "Update: Work requirement ends Medicaid coverage for 4,600 more Arkansans in December". Arkansas Times. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
- ^ Gstalter, Morgan (February 19, 2019). "Arkansas governor signs 'trigger' abortion ban bill". The Hill. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
- ^ "Gov. Hutchinson signs near-total abortion bill, SB6". KSLA. March 9, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
- ^ 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.
- USA TODAY. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
- Vox. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
- PBS Newshour. Associated Press.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- ^ Yurcaba, Jo (April 5, 2021). "Arkansas governor vetoes ban on gender-affirming care for trans minors". NBC News. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- ^ Bryan, Max. "Arkansas lawmakers ban youth transgender treatment and surgeries, overriding governor's veto". USA Today. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
- ^ "Arkansas governor signs bills banning vaccine requirements". Associated Press. April 29, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
- ^ a b "Gov. Hutchinson wishes he didn't sign mask mandate ban into law". thv11.com. August 3, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Biden's Covid response gets praise from Republican governor". MSNBC. December 29, 2021. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Mychael Schnell (January 9, 2022). "Hutchinson says 'big lie' supporters 'not demonstrating leadership'". The Hill. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
- ^ Gstalter, Morgan (May 11, 2021). "Republican governor of Arkansas says 'Trump is dividing our party'". The Hill. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
- ^ Durkee, Alison (October 17, 2021). "Arkansas GOP Governor Says Trump's Fraud Claims Are 'Recipe For Disaster' In Midterms". Forbes. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
- ^ Colarossi, Natalie (February 5, 2022). "Republicans Murkowski, Hutchinson Slam RNC's Censure of Cheney, Kinzinger". Newsweek. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Stracqualursi, Veronica; Iyer, Kaanita (April 2, 2023). "Former Arkansas Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson announces White House bid". CNN. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
- ^ Wiersema, Alisa (April 2, 2023). "ABC News exclusive: Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson announces 2024 presidential run". ABC News. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
- ^ Demillo, Andrew (April 2, 2023). "Hutchinson launches GOP 2024 bid, calls on Trump to drop out". AP News. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Garrity, Kelly (August 23, 2023). "What happens to candidates who walk back on the RNC loyalty pledge? Well…". Politico. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
- ^ Wallace-Wells, Benjamin (August 24, 2023). "A Chaotic Display of Conservatism at the First Republican Debate". The New Yorker. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Cathey, Libby (September 26, 2023). "Asa Hutchinson sets new goal for 2024 campaign after missing debate requirement". ABC News. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
- ^ Menezes, Damita (December 2, 2023). "Where Asa Hutchinson stands on the issues that matter to voters". NewsNation. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
- ^ Garrity, Kelly (January 16, 2024). "Hutchinson's long road comes to an end". Politico. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- ^ "Asa Hutchinson says campaign will 'reevaluate' after Iowa caucuses". KCCI-TV. Hearst Television Inc. January 15, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- ^ Stein, Sam (January 15, 2024). "Binkley voter explains why the Texas pastor won him over from Bernie Sanders". Politico. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Alafriz, Olivia (January 16, 2024). "Anti-Trump conservatives chafe at DNC statement mocking Asa Hutchinson". Politico. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
- ^ Irwin, Lauren (January 20, 2024). "Hutchinson throws support behind Haley days before New Hampshire primary". The Hill. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
- ^ Edmonds, Revis (July 18, 2019). "Susan Burrell Hitchinson". Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- ^ "Hendren, Jim Paul". ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved November 29, 2013.
- ^ "Voices of Arkansas: A Report on Voting Trends in the Natural State" (PDF). Arkansas Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 21, 2017. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
- ^ "2014 Arkansas Preferential Primary Elections and Nonpartisan Election May 20, 2014". Arkansas Secretary of State. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
- ^ "November 4, 2014 General election and nonpartisan runoff election Official results". Arkansas Secretary of State. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
External links
- Asa Hutchinson at Curlie
- Appearances on C-SPAN