Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson announced his run for the 2024 Republican nomination early Sunday morning, becoming the third Republican candidate, and joining Nikki Haley as Former President Donald Trump’s GOP second challenger to run.
Hutchinson, has been a prominent figure in Arkansas politics for many years, serving as a congressman, head of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and as governor since 2015. With his extensive political experience, some saw him as a strong contender for the presidency.
One of the reasons that Hutchinson has been floated as a potential presidential candidate is his popularity in Arkansas. He has been a successful governor, working to lower taxes, cut government spending, and increase job growth in the state. He has also been a vocal advocate for criminal justice reform and has worked to expand access to healthcare for Arkansans.
Hutchinson, however, also needs to contend with his very public feud with President Trump.
The feud began in February 2021, when Hutchinson spoke out against Trump’s false claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election. Hutchinson, who had previously supported Trump’s reelection campaign, said in an interview with CNN that there was no evidence to support Trump’s claims and that they were undermining confidence in the electoral process.
Trump responded with a tweet calling Hutchinson a “lightweight RINO” (Republican In Name Only) and saying that he would not be endorsing him in any future elections. This public rebuke from Trump was a blow to Hutchinson, who had previously been seen as a rising star within the Republican Party.
For Hutchinson, the feud with Trump has put him in a difficult position. On the one hand, he has been a vocal supporter of many of Trump’s policies and has worked to align himself with the former president’s base. On the other hand, he has also shown a willingness to break with Trump on issues where they disagree.
Hutchinson’s likely to market his candidacy as an appeal to more moderate Republicans, who may be looking for a candidate who is able to bridge the divide within the party between Trump loyalists and more centrist conservatives.
While Hutchinson has been a vocal supporter of many of Trump’s policies, he has also shown a willingness to break with the former president on issues where they disagree. As the party looks ahead to the future, the rift between Trump loyalists and more moderate conservatives is likely to remain a defining issue, and could ultimately determine the party’s direction for years to come.