Conduit believes an independent state legislature acting under its Constitutional assignment will give Arkansans more individual liberty and economic freedom. During this election cycle we focus on the state Senate and state House races. And since over three-fourths of those current bodies are Republican, this article will focus only on the Republican primary races.
Republicans have become aware of the left-wing effort to defeat Arkansas conservative candidates who follow the Arkansas Republican platform. This effort is within the Republican Primary. The left has funded the recruitment of candidates to run in the Republican primary who will bow to WOKE corporations and powerful lobbying groups dependent on growing government and keeping their place at the government feed-trough.
Much of the left-wing effort to sabotage the Republican primary is centered on the work of Common Ground Arkansas, Inc. Common Ground has recruited its candidates to run as Republicans and now is encouraging Democrats to vote in the Republican primary.
Common Ground knows Democrat votes in the Republican primary could swing races to their progressive big government candidates. (Also see article: “Common Ground AR – The left’s effort to elect RINOS”) (Common Ground’s reasoning is to replace the conservative R’s with RINOs to keep Arkansas in the hands of the current Establishment and stop the conservatives from preventing the “WOKE” agenda sought by the large corporations across the state.)
No matter their rhetoric, the actions of those involved with Common Ground AR show that the true nature and purpose of Common Ground is to rid Arkansas of its current hope and opportunity for economic freedom and individual liberties.
But Common Ground Arkansas is only part of the left-wing effort to sabotage the Republican primary. As we mentioned, they are aided by WOKE corporations and powerful lobbying groups that want fewer conservatives in the legislature.
We keep getting asked, “Who are the Common Ground candidates in the Republican primary, and how can I tell?”
A. CHARACTERISTICS OF A CANDIDATE LIKELY SUPPORTED BY LIBERAL INTERESTS SUCH AS COMMON GROUND AND ITS ALLIES.
- An appealing, well-spoken professional or business owner who claims to be a “conservative” Republican BUT who is running against an incumbent Senator or House member with a proven conservative, limited government, lower taxes voting record in the Arkansas Legislature.
- Though not in each case, but more times than not, the candidate who has ties to or receives donations from the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce (or else their local Chamber of Commerce which, no matter their claim, will always be politically controlled at the state level by the State Chamber.) The State Chamber is one of the most powerful taxpayer-funded lobbyist organizations in Little Rock. It continuously works to increase taxes for the benefit of large corporations and recently moved to turn Arkansas WOKE in support of Biden’s agenda. The State Chamber: (A) led the charge for Arkansas employers to impose vaccine mandates on their employees and prevented medical freedom legislation from passing in the state Legislature and (B) is fighting in court to overturn the law that was passed to protect minors from chemical castration for gender identity purposes.) (See articles “Endorsed by the Chamber of Commerce – Campaign Words” AND “State Funds To Anti-Conservative Group” which is also about the Chamber)
- Often the candidate has ties to the Municipal League as a past Mayor of a Town or City or as a City Alderman or Councilman. The Municipal League is a long-time powerful taxpayer funded lobbyist organization in Little Rock which continuously works to increase taxes and regulations on businesses for the benefit of the cities through growth of government at all levels. The Municipal League’s opposition is one of the primary reasons legislators failed to stop the use of special elections in Arkansas where tax increases are continually passed by municipalities and school boards.
- There’s a connection to Walmart. This could be as an employee or a client/customer relationship, or campaign donations from Walmart PAC, Arvest PAC, Walton family members or top employees and their lobbyist firms. (Exception: Jim Walton may occasionally donate to true conservative Republicans but not Alice or the third generation Waltons who strongly favor Democrats.) Walmart led the nation in imposing vaccine mandates on its employees and fought to prevent the passage in Arkansas of state laws to protect women in sports, to protect minors from chemical castration, as well as worked against the passage of an effective medical freedom law. (See: Lifeboat for Only A Few.)
- There’s a connection to Tyson Foods. This could be as an employee or a client/customer relationship, or campaign donations from Tyson Family members, or Tyson top employees, and their lobbyist firms. Tyson proudly leads the nation in imposing vaccine mandates on its employees, contractors, and vendors while using huge financial incentives paid to their managers if they “force” employees to take the shot! Like Walmart, many Tyson workers who did not take the shot were fired. Tyson placed other un-vaxed employees on leave for one year without pay as well as denying the un-vaxed unemployment benefits (a rule carried out by the Asa Hutchinson administration.)
- Industry and company in which candidate works benefits from government growth, such as highway construction or other government infrastructure, economic development projects, Medicaid providers such as hospitals, and other industries and companies that are dependent on taxpayer money.
- In recent history, the candidate was a Democrat or is supported by Democrats.
- Supported by Common Ground or by identified members of Common Ground AR. (See article: “Common Ground AR – The left’s effort to elect RINOS”)
EXAMPLES
In case you need help, see these examples of “Opponent” with Common Ground support:
- SD3-Sen Charles Beckham (conservative voting record: See Sen Charles Beckham-Platform Hero Series)
- Opponent: Steve Crowell –Fits following known items described above:
A-1-Running against a legislator with a proven conservative voting record;
A-2-Received maximum donation from State Chamber;
A-3-City Alderman;
A-7-Supported by Democrat (Bruce Maloch)
A-8-Supported by member of Common Ground (Bruce Maloch).
- SD31-Rep Clint Penzo (top long-term conservative voting record in House: See Rep Clint Penzo-Platform Hero Series)
- Opponent: Andrew Thompson –Fits following known items described above:
A-1-Running against a legislator with a proven conservative voting record;
A-4-Received donation from Arvest;
A-5-Received donations from Tyson family members and employees;
A-7-Supported by Democrats (e.g. ex-Sen Robert Thompson (D) and Archie Schaeffer III)
A-8-Supported by members of Common Ground (e.g. founder Jim Hendren & Archie Schaeffer III).
- Opponent: ex-Mayor Paul Colvin Jr. –Fits following known items described above: (Should be noted that when a 3rd candidate enters a race, it is usually a spoiler for the conservative candidate.)
A-1-Running against a legislator with a proven conservative voting record;
A-3-ex-Mayor of Tontitown (resigned December 2021).
A-7-Known Democrat before filing for this senate seat.
- SD32-Rep Josh Bryant (has a conservative voting record: See Rep Joshua Bryant-Platform Hero Series)
- Opponent: James Tull –Fits following known items described above:
A-1-Running against a legislator with a proven conservative voting record;
A-6-His architect firm works on government growth projects such as economic development and campaigned for highway tax increase.
A-8 Jim Tull election radio ad says paid for by Common Ground
- SD34-Rep Jim Dodson (conservative voting record: See CFC Legislative Score Cards.)
- Opponent: Mayor Peter Christie –Fits following known items described above:
A-1-Running against a legislator with a proven conservative voting record;
A-3-Mayor of City of Bella Vista.
- SD35-Rep Gayla Hendren McKenzie (top conservative voting record in the House 2021: See Rep Gayla McKenzie-Platform Hero Series.)
- Opponent: Tyler Dees –Fits following known items described above:
A-1-Running against a legislator with a proven conservative voting record;
A-2-Served as Chair of local Chamber and remains a Board member;
A-4-Received donation from Arvest; Walmart is currently his number one customer, as he heads up the Walmart team at Simmons (his employer); had previously been an employee of Walmart; quoted in articles saying he “loves Walmart.” Answered a survey question for Family Council that he supports employer vaccine mandates; Walmart led the nation implementing forced employer mandates on its employees.
- Opponent: Jeff Tennant –Fits following known items described above: (Should be noted that when a 3rd candidate enters a race, it is usually a spoiler for the conservative candidate.)
A-1-Running against a legislator with a proven conservative voting record;
B. BIG GOVERNMENT AND LEFT-WING SUPPORT OF A CURRENT LEGISLATOR WITH A WEAK VOTING RECORD
There are Republican primary races in which big government and left-wing interests are supporting a current legislator BECAUSE the legislator’s voting record shows he or she does not support the Republican platform. In some of these races the opponent is either a new candidate or a conservative legislator with a strong record.
Here are examples of state senate races where one legislator has a very weak record. The more conservative candidate is listed first.
- SD6 Matt McKee (new candidate) vs Sen Bill Sample (voting record does not support R platform; See Sen Bill Sample- Ignoring the Republican Platform);
- SD17 Sen Mark Johnson (conservative voting record) vs Rep Spencer Hawks (voting record does not support R platform; See Rep Spencer Hawks-Ignoring the Republican Platform);
- SD22 Rep John Payton (conservative voting record) vs Sen James Sturch (voting record does not support R platform; See Sen James Sturch-Ignoring the R Platform) and Ethan Barnes (new candidate and tied to the Chamber);
- SD27 Kelly Proctor Pearce (new candidate) vs Rep Justin Boyd (voting record does not support R platform; See Rep Justin Boyd-Ignoring the R Platform).
BE INFORMED!
Who controls the state Senate is a big deal! It is the key in 2023 to an independent Legislature insuring economic freedom and more individual liberty for Arkansans.
Candidates supported by Common Ground, or their allies want to fool you into thinking they are the conservative in the race. The only way to stop them is with knowledge. Conduit wants Republican voters to be informed. That is why we are writing this article and why we have provided several resources below.
- Voting records of legislators Scorecards for 2021, 2019, and 2017 highlighting key votes. There you can see how they really voted on taxes, growing government, and efforts to stop the radical left agenda.
- Conduit for Commerce “Follow the Money Report” so you can see major donors to legislators’ campaigns in 2020
- Recognize campaign buzzwords that probably don’t have the conservative meaning you thought. See our series by going to our website https://conduitnews.com/ and search for “Campaign Words”
- Articles on some legislators who have very good records or very bad records. Go to our website https://conduitnews.com/ and search for “Ignoring the Platform” and “Hero of the Platform”.
