From the Desk of the Chairman

Hello John,

KUDOS to our counties and auxiliary groups who have been engaging with the voters through tailgating, fair booths, events, and voter registration efforts. It is exciting to see the enthusiasm of Arkansas Republicans for keeping our state the REDDEST state in the nation. We look forward to electing more Republicans in our counties, holding all seven constitutional offices, building our super majority in the General Assembly, and holding our federal offices while the GOP takes back the House and Senate in 2022. We'd love to visit your county if we can be of service. The RPA is here for you, and we look forward to being your resource when you need us.

Jonelle Fulmer, Chairman

Republican Party of Arkansas

Counties Visited/Events

• Third Congressional District Committee Meeting -- October 9
• Martin Luther King Commission Community Building Event (Batesville) -- October 12
• Martin Luther King Commission "Rebirth of a City" (Harrison) -- October 14
• Second Congressional District Committee Meeting -- October 16
• Union County Lincoln Day Dinner -- October 26
• Saline County Retire Pelosi Dinner -- October 29

10-Part Op-ed Series on RPA Principles

The RPA has launched op-eds for the party's first three principles.

• RPA Chairman Jonelle Fulmer: The power of faith in God Almighty
• RPA African American Coalition Chairman Iverson Jackson: The sanctity of life
• Arkansas Federation of College Republicans Chairman Gabrielle Harvey: Individual responsibility and initiative

Be on the lookout for the next op-ed!

The RPA in the News

Executive Director Sarah Jo Reynolds

KATV-TV (ABC-Little Rock, AR): Activist call Arkansas redistricting maps racial gerrymandering; GOP disagrees

“We do share the concern of the governor in the legislature about ensuring the minority populations are going to be granted fair and equal representation in Congress,” Reynolds said.

KATV asked Reynolds if she believed the map negatively impacts minority populations in Arkansas.

“No, I know our legislature worked day in and day out tirelessly to ensure that all communities of interest were being represented,” Reynolds said. “The way Pulaski County will be split into three districts gives them even more representation than they do have right now.”

Reynolds said other states are looking into doing the same thing.

“In Oregon, which is a Democrat-run state, they’re looking at doing that in Portland and splitting it up and having more representation,” Reynolds said.

She also said that Tennessee was looking at splitting up Nashville.

Reynolds said the Arkansas Republican Party has full faith that the legislators took everything into consideration. Reynolds also said that if these maps are challenges in the judicial system, she believes they will hold up in the supreme court.

Chairman Jonelle Fulmer

Associated Press: Arkansas Governor Oks House Map Splitting Little Rock Area

“The new congressional districts are compact and keep community interests together,” Republican Party of Arkansas Chair Jonelle Fulmer said in a statement. “These lines are largely consistent with the existing lines, which were drawn by Democrats in 2010.” Democrats have said the plan unnecessarily moves predominantly Black and Hispanic precincts out of Pulaski County, making a Republican leaning district even redder.

PBS (WATCH): Arkansas Week

"If you want to talk about racial divides, I'd look at the map that the Democrats gave us in 2010 which divided Jefferson County, which per capita, has the highest number of African Americans."

"Pulaski County is one of the most populous central regions, so it made sense to divide it."

"The way it (Pulaski County) is divided, I think they (Legislature) gave very significant consideration to making sure that while they could not keep the county intact, they could keep areas of economic interest and industry together."

Talk Business & Politics: Interview with Roby Brock

• Roby: Tell me a little bit about your track record with the Republican Party and tell me why you're a Republican?
• Chairman Fulmer: I was raised by two hardworking Democrat parents, but they were very conservative. By the time I was old enough to vote, there was just really no question which party represented me and my values, and that was the Republican Party. I believe very strongly in individual rights and opportunities and individual responsibility. I believe very strongly in protecting life before birth and after birth. I believe very strongly that government should be limited in its roles in our lives, that we need a strong national defense, that we need to be fiscally responsible.

• Roby: There is likely going to be a legal challenge to the map that was created by the Republican-controlled Legislature for the first time since Reconstruction. The biggest concern is dividing up some communities in Pulaski County. Tell me how you would defend that.
• Chairman Fulmer: I think our Republicans in the Legislature gave some very careful consideration to that, and we prefer, of course, to keep communities together where we can. If you'll remember, ten years ago the Democrats divided five counties. This map divides two. But those two areas that are carved out....they were very careful to pay attention to natural boundaries like the interstate and the river. They were also very careful to ensure that areas that have common interests economically and areas of industry, are kept together, and I think that is very important, because we do have two Congressmen in those districts who sit on the Transportation Committee. So for areas of industry and that sector being so dependent on our transportation--whether it's the port, the airport, the interstates, I think it's important that they have both of those voices at the national level, and I think it gives them a competitive edge as well.

93rd General Assembly Reconvenes

Governor Asa Hutchinson reconvened the Arkansas Legislature of the 93rd General Assembly on September 29 to redraw Arkansas' four congressional districts. The Legislature passed SB 743 and HB 1982. As required by law, each district has an equal population and preservation of demographics with shared interests.

The 93rd General Assembly recently released Congressional map has two divided counties, Sebastian and Pulaski. Sebastian remains split into Third and Fourth Districts. While the largest populated area of Pulaski County remains in the Second District, there are now two smaller portions of Pulaski in the First and Fourth. These two areas share common economic interests and industry, which rely heavily on transportation. They will now be represented by Congressmen who sit on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and therefore will have more representation and a larger voice in DC.

The Republican Legislature also passed SB 739 to protect employees against Biden's vaccine mandate. Republicans have fought against Biden's federal overreach so Arkansans can decide what is best for their health and that of their families.

The Board of Apportionment

The Republican-led Board of Apportionment recently released proposed State House and Senate district maps. Proposed District 9 in Springdale would become the state's first majority-Latino district. The number of majority-minority House districts would increase from 11 to 13, and the total number of majority-minority Senate districts would remain at four.

For the first time ever, the Board of Apportionment is inviting the public’s feedback for 30 days.The redistricting process was the most transparent in state history because of the board's unprecedented efforts to seek the public’s feedback.

News Stories of Note

Arkansas Democrat Gazette: New Bank Reports To IRS Opposed

U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, the Arkansas Republican who is ranking member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, called the administration's proposal "IRS surveillance on Americans' bank accounts and financial transactions."

Talk Business & Politics: Board of Apportionment advances legislative maps featuring Arkansas’ first majority Latino district

Arkansas would have its first majority Latino House district, while its total number of majority-minority House districts would increase from 11 to 13 under House and Senate maps approved by the three-member Board of Apportionment Oct. 29.The board, consisting of Gov. Asa Hutchinson, Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, and Secretary of State John Thurston, advanced the new district maps during a meeting at the State Capitol. The Board will reconvene Nov. 29 after 30 days of public comment.

Arkansas Democrat Gazette: Sebastian County Passes 'Pro Life' Resolution

The Sebastian County Quorum Court voted 9-4 to approve a resolution declaring its jurisdiction a "Pro Life County" at its meeting Tuesday. Justices of the Peace James Butler, John Spradlin, Danny Aldridge, Jim Medley, Rebekah Schwartz, Lorrie Runion, Johnny Hobbs, Jackie Davis and Shawn Looper voted in favor of the resolution while JPs Valeria Robinson, Rhonda Royal, Dickie Robertson and Linda Murry voted against it.

KNWA-TV (NBC-Fayetteville, AR): Sen. Boozman Aims To Address Arkansas Physician Shortage Through Legislation

Sen. John Boozman (R-AR) hopes to address Arkansas’ physician shortage through bipartisan legislation that would raise an arbitrary cap limiting the number of Medicare-funded new doctors. In a column posted by Modern Healthcare, Boozman outlined a solution to the physician shortage.

Newsmax: Sen. Cotton Blasts Biden Admin For Secretly Relocating Migrants

Sen. Tom Cotton accused the Biden administration of trying to hide the effects of its "open border policy" by flying migrants around the country "in the dead of night." The Arkansas Republican slammed the administration after the New York Post reported that underage migrants were being flown from Texas to suburban New York in an effort to resettle them in the region.

Talk Business & Politics: House Revenue & Tax Chair Debriefs Tax Reform Discussions

Rep. Joe Jett, R-Success, said trigger mechanisms for tax relief are the biggest hurdle to overcome in finding a road map for cuts that could lead to a special session. Gov. Asa Hutchinson and state lawmakers are discussing a reduction of the top individual income tax rate from 5.9% to 5.5% or lower, a low-income tax credit, eliminating a low-income tax bracket, and a possible corporate tax cut.

Fox News: Democrats' Out Of Control Spending Will Wreck Our Food Supply: Rep. Bruce Westerman

Inflation hits working families the hardest, starting at the farm and making its way into every grocery store and gas station in the nation. The wealthy, like Klain, may not notice price hikes at the checkout line, but many who live paycheck-to-paycheck feel the sting. Such an out-of-touch comment makes clear why so many Americans seriously doubt the competency of this administration.

Arkansas Democrat Gazette: Governor's Fund Aided Deal For Trex Plant

A state incentive package that helped land a $400 million manufacturing plant and more than 500 jobs at the Port of Little Rock included $10 million from the Governor's Quick Action Closing Fund, according to the Arkansas Department of Commerce. Gov. Asa Hutchinson as well as a host of other state, county and local elected officials were on hand at the port Tuesday as Bryan Fairbanks formally announced that the firm he leads, Trex Co. Inc., will open its third production plant in the United States on a 290-acre site at the port.

Fox News: Tom Cotton To AG Garland: 'Thank God You Are Not On The Supreme Court'

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., tore into Attorney General Merrick Garland during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Wednesday, chastising him for his memo to Justice Department employees about intervening in violence, threats and intimidation targeting school board officials. Cotton noted that Garland has cited news reports – in addition to a letter from the National School Boards Association – as inspiring his memo.

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