Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders won reelection Tuesday night, defeating Democratic state Sen. Fred Love and Libertarian candidate Colt Shelby to secure a second term as Arkansas governor. The Associated Press called the race at 9:43 p.m.
Sanders, a Republican and the daughter of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, first made history in 2022 as the state’s first female governor. Addressing supporters at a Republican watch party in North Little Rock, Sanders emphasized her commitment to leading Arkansas with what she described as courage and conviction.
“I ran for governor because I believe Arkansas needs a leader with the courage and the conviction to do what’s right, not what’s politically convenient,” she told the crowd. “A leader who will not retreat, not surrender, and not bow down to the radical left. Not now, not ever, and it will not happen on my watch.”
During her first term, Sanders focused heavily on education. She championed and signed the LEARNS Act, a sweeping reform that raised the minimum teacher salary and established a school voucher program using state funds for private school tuition and other education expenses. Although the program is now available to all students in Arkansas, its rising costs—currently funded at $309 million with an additional $70 million set aside from surplus funds—have drawn bipartisan criticism.
Education became a campaign issue, with Love vowing to halt the voucher program through executive action if elected.
Sanders’ tenure as governor has also been noted for her high-profile national presence, bolstered by her time as White House press secretary under President Donald Trump and as a Fox News commentator. Shortly after assuming office in 2023, she delivered the Republican response to President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address.
Her administration has prioritized cultural issues, enacting measures to bar the term “Latinx” in official documents, restrict transgender student rights, and oppose what she called “indoctrination” in Arkansas classrooms.
Looking ahead to her second term, which begins in January, Sanders has identified healthcare access and tax reform as key priorities for the upcoming legislative session. Arkansas’ Medicaid expansion program, which covers nearly 209,000 residents, faces uncertainty after previously failing federal requirements related to cost neutrality. The state has sought a two-year extension to address the issue, and Sanders stated that discussions continue regarding the best path forward.
In addition to addressing healthcare challenges, Sanders aims to advance tax reform. During her first term, lawmakers approved multiple rounds of income tax cuts and eliminated the state’s grocery tax. Sanders has expressed interest in further “responsibly” phasing out the state income tax.
Her first term also saw challenges, including controversies over a proposed 3,000-bed prison in Franklin County and a $19,000 lectern purchase that prompted a legislative audit. While the prison plan was paused amid community and legislative opposition, a local prosecutor declined to pursue charges regarding the lectern audit.
Sanders has been mentioned as a potential 2028 presidential candidate and has written a book scheduled for release next week. Following Tuesday's victory, her administration is set to turn its focus to local and state issues as she embarks on her second term.