Originally published by Redwing Post on May 19, 2024
Little Rock’s Doubletree Hotel hosted around 300 State Committee members of the Republican Party of Arkansas who met Saturday, May 18 and, among other business, defeated a proposed rules change widely panned as a power grab against the grassroots base of the Party.
State Committee members elected RNC delegates, considered that proposed state Party Rules change, and elected our national Committeewoman and Committeeman at the secret meeting closed to other Republican party members.
National Committeewoman / Committeeman
State Rep. Mindy McAlindon of Washington County was elected as Arkansas’ National Committeewoman. A runoff saw Eddie Arnold (4th District Chair) defeat former RPA Chair Doyle Webb for National Committeeman.
State Rep. Mindy McAlindon of Washington County was elected as Arkansas’ National Committeewoman. A runoff saw Eddie Arnold (4th District Chair) defeat former RPA Chair Doyle Webb for National Committeeman.
These 36 official RNC delegates (plus alternates) and our National Committeewoman/man will attend this summer’s Republican National Committee presidential nominating Convention in Milwaukee to represent Arkansas.
State Party Rules Changes
On a secret paper ballot, members voted against the proposed “2/3rds approval” Rules change that was heavily opposed by Congressional Districts as well as various County Committees by formal Resolution.
Pulaski County’s current State Committeewoman, June Matheny,* had originally submitted two Rules changes aimed at removing power from the County Committees. The state Rules Committee approved both for consideration.
In addition to the defeated proposal that would have mandated a 2/3rds approval at State Conventions for any Rules or platform changes, Matheny had also originally proposed that County Committees be restricted in applying the “non-recommended” designation to only candidates who file for office with the County Committee. Matheny pulled this proposal before the May 18 Summer Meeting.
Saturday’s robust discussion “for” and “against” the 2/3rds Rules change was cut off by a premature call for the vote motion, leaving several delegates who had lined up to speak against the Rules changes unable to be heard:
*Matheny was replaced by Pulaski County’s newly elected State Committeewoman, Erika Eisenring, who will be ratified at the June 8 State Convention.
