We write to clarify what seems to be an issue currently wreaking havoc within the membership of the Republican Party in Arkansas (although not a phenomenon isolated to our state).
After a welcomed conversation with an elected official, who we call “friend”, the “disagreements” among party members seemed to boil clearly down to two views. These views may be illustrated around the mission or objectives assigned to the members of a Republican County Committee from the RPA structure — Platform and Rules (reproduced for your convenience in the footnote below*).
View 1: The mission of the Republican County Committee and its individual membership is to raise and donate money to promote and elect, to as many offices as possible, any and all candidates who “say” they are Republican, file the required paperwork, and pay the required filing fees — period, end of mission.
View 2: The mission of the Republican County Committee and its individual membership is to raise and donate money to promote and elect *“Qualified Republican candidates who fulfill the needs of Arkansans consistent with the beliefs and principles of the Republican Party”, to as many offices as possible. This group summarizes the objective by defining “qualified” Republicans as those candidates and officeholders who support and enact laws consistent with the RPA platform principles. Furthermore, this objective would include recruiting “qualified” candidates, educating the public on Republican beliefs and principles, and growing party membership. Those holding this view are often referred to as “conservative activists” (see *Epilogue to the RPA Platform).
To sharpen the point, and for your convenience, below is a portion of the RPA Rules and Platform: (See https://www.arkansasgop.org/rules.html and https://www.arkansasgop.org/platform.html )
PREAMBLE
Party Objectives
- The Republican Party of Arkansas declares its objectives to be:
- The election of qualified Republican candidates to every public office, and
- The fulfillment of the needs of the citizens of Arkansas in a manner consistent with the beliefs and principles of the Republican Party. [Emphasis added]
Party Principles
Republicans believe: … (see below*)
Article II-County Committee:
Section 1 – General Provisions
D. The purpose of the County Committee is to assist in the election of qualified Republican candidates to public office and to fulfill the needs of the citizens of the State of Arkansas in a manner consistent with the beliefs and principles of The Republican Party….. [Emphasis added]
Arguments on Both Sides
Now do we want to quibble over the RPA meaning of the word “qualified”?
It is being argued by “View 1” that county committee members should bring in money, work hard to get people to vote for anyone who registers to run as a Republican, then shut up and like whatever that elected official votes into law. This view begs the question—after a candidate is elected, are they no longer accountable to the electorate? Are they now only accountable to their new set of friends “who understand the way things work” a/k/a Little Rock lobbyists?
Sadly, and what seems to be a means of avoiding accountability and forging a new path forward, some holding “View 1” even support, tolerate, or ignore the current accused “tyranny” going on within the party itself.
Examples of this are:
- Supporting a lower-level body (state Executive Committee (EC)) as it “overrules” the highest RPA body—the State Convention. (Overturning 2024 State Convention—in contradiction to *Article I, Section 1B, below.)
- Retroactively applying a “new rule” as to who votes, with the consequence of setting aside officer elections in select county committees. (Craighead County.)
- Removing members and the leadership of County Committees (including Election Commissioners), while declaring members ineligible to be “re-elected” to office or membership in the future. (See Saline, Craighead, Pulaski, and Searcy Counties.)
- Declaring as a legal basis for most of the above and similar rulings, based “on the sole discretion of the EC”, that these conservative activist members are “working against the party” while ignoring the RPA Platform which states:
- * “We seek and welcome conservative activists who we hope one day will seek elective and appointed offices so that they may fight for a future where prosperity, freedom, and liberty are our citizens’ rewards for good work…”
We have heard strong, sincere arguments by “View 1” that the electors (voters at large or voting committee members) should be following the decisions of the elected without pushback. They see this as foundational to party membership. “View 2” would argue that this position rings of elitism and anti-democratic despotism. In this country, we democratically elect people to represent OUR majority views. We DO NOT elect people to tell us what is best. When we disagree with the elected, when they go against their pre-election promises, it is our obligation to replace them at the next election. The same goes for the Republican Party.
Also, many today (from both views) believe there is a clear disregard, if not utter contempt, for both sides of “those who helped build the party” to its super 82% majority. That includes disregard for those who were around 30-40 years ago, as well as disregard for those members (like the Tea Party in 2010+) who identify as MAGA supporters, joining after the “stolen” 2020 elections.
In addition to loss of respect for each other, “View 2” would argue that the RPA has lost respect for “the rule of law”. They would argue that it has been replaced with the leftist rule —“He who reigns, rules”. Objections to this mode of execution (as outlined in the four examples above) are met with sarcasm, slander, and ostracizing—or worse—extraction from the Party. Really? Is this what we, as members, enabled the current leaders to do? This seems truly dictatorial to much of the state-wide membership.
In conclusion, we must stop at this time and consider that our country stands on the verge of WW3. As of today, political disagreements on the national level have escalated to assassination attempts against President Trump; and on a state level, the murder of the Speaker of the House of Minnesota occurred this weekend. Certainly, we pray that our party disputes will never reach such levels — may God forbid. As we disagree, we must recognize the rights of others respectfully while we work toward a plan to reconcile this party and put a stop to the chaos.
It is assumed that if unchecked, the current RPA leadership will likely continue its course. The result will be that eventually even the “low hanging fruit” moral issues, like the support for “life” or gun rights, will erode as we give in to the enormous growth of government and loss of our economic freedoms (the basis for all freedoms).
We encourage “View 2” NOT to give up or give in. There are primary elections ahead! They are the key to where we should focus our energies. It is always darkest before the dawn and more pleasant to “Just get along!”
But freedom is messy.
We realize we are not accustomed to fighting our own side. And when doing so, the pain is more than double. However, the “Rule of Law” must be upheld if freedom is to survive—even within our own political party. This has been done before. God help us as we do it again.
As a caveat: do not enter the battle ill-equipped. When you disagree, do so respectfully and with accurate facts. Enter the debate knowing the issues and votes before having the discussion. It behooves us all to become more aware, more educated, and more active if we wish to regain those freedoms to which we all provide such ample lip service. (And when possible, engage courteously and in person, rather than behind the ease of a digital vehicle.)
******
*Footnote:
(See https://www.arkansasgop.org/rules.html and https://www.arkansasgop.org/platform.html )
(RPA Rules Page 4 of 47):
PREAMBLE
Declaration
The express purpose of these rules is to provide for the free and unhampered right of the individual electors of Arkansas to participate in the nominations of their choice.
Party Objectives
- The Republican Party of Arkansas declares its objectives to be:
- The election of qualified Republican candidates to every public office, and
- The fulfillment of the needs of the citizens of Arkansas in a manner consistent with the beliefs and principles of the Republican Party. [Emphasis added]
Party Principles
Republicans believe:
- That individual citizens are willing and capable of managing their own affairs without government intervention.
- That the local, state and national governments must pursue policies designed to encourage individual initiative and induce people to be responsible for their own economic, political, and social well-being.
- The primary function of government is to protect the life, common liberty and property of the governed, to prevent fraud, and to provide a common justice.
- That when a necessary function is undertaken by government, it should be performed by that government closest to the people to provide as much direct control by those affected as possible, and to assure freedom and liberty to all citizens with justice under the law.
(RPA Rules Page 5 of 47):
Article I-General Provisions:
Section 1 – Party Membership and Authority
A. Membership in the Republican Party of Arkansas shall be open to all qualified Arkansas electors as defined in A.C.A. Section 7-1-101 (2016) Definitions (33). No oath, pledge, or statement of belief shall ever be required as a condition.
B. The final authority in all party matters shall rest in the biennial Republican State Convention, which shall be deemed to have delegated such interim authority to the State Committee and Executive Committee as is necessary to carry out the purposes and objectives of the party.
(RPA Rules Page 15 of 47):
Article II-County Committee:
Section 1 – General Provisions
A. The County Committee and the members thereof shall adhere with the Preamble of these Rules
B. All provisions contained in Article I of these Rules apply the County Committee.
C. All counties in Arkansas shall have the opportunity to have a Republican County Committee, hereby referred to as the “County Committee”.
D. The purpose of the County Committee is to assist in the election of qualified Republican candidates to public office and to fulfill the needs of the citizens of the State of Arkansas in a manner consistent with the beliefs and principles of The Republican Party….. [Emphasis added]
(RPA Platform, Page 14 of 14):
Epilogue:
… We seek and welcome conservative activists who we hope one day will seek elective and appointed offices so that they may fight for a future where prosperity, freedom, and liberty are our citizens’ rewards for good work…. [Emphasis added]
ICYMI: Timely Submitted Proposals Left Out of Call for RPA Summer State Committee Meeting
Summer 2025 RPA State Committee Meeting on June 21
