Rutledge released the following statement earlier:
Tonight, Arkansas voters made a historic decision by electing Leslie Rutledge, the State’s current Attorney General, to be the next Lieutenant Governor and Sarah Huckabee Sanders as Governor. Rutledge and Sanders will not only be the first women elected to these offices in Arkansas history, but together they will be the first women in the history of the United States to be independently elected to the offices of Governor and Lt. Governor of a state.
“I’m honored that Arkansans have again placed their trust in me for a third time to continue to lead our great State forward,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “This historic moment would not be possible without our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ along with the constant support of my family, friends, supporters, and the amazing staff of the Attorney General’s Office who work tirelessly on behalf of Arkansans everyday. I’m excited to see my longtime friend Sarah Huckabee Sanders follow in the footsteps of her father. I wish her and her new administration great success and I look forward to working with her in the days to come.” Rutledge additionally extended her congratulations to her successor, Attorney General-elect Tim Griffin, and to other fellow Republicans who won tonight.
Attorney General Rutledge, who is term-limited as attorney general, cleared a six-way primary race for Lt. Governor with 54% of the vote and raised over $2 million this cycle. As Arkansas's next Lt. Governor, Rutledge has pledged to continue promoting economic development and workforce education across the State. Rutledge was initially elected Attorney General in 2014, becoming The Natural State’s first Republican and first woman to ever hold the office. She was re-elected to the office in 2018.
