Arkansas State Senator Ronald Caldwell (R-Wynne) is running for re-election to the Arkansas State Senate, where he has served under the Republican label at the Capitol since 2013. Sen. Caldwell has drawn a primary opponent, Trey Bohannan (R-Stuttgart). Bohannan is new to the political arena, with no voting record to evaluate, but he has already secured an endorsement from Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
What should the voters of Arkansas expect if Sen. Caldwell is re-elected? The best way to know this is to look at his voting record.
We hope the reader finds this information helpful in comparing the principles espoused in the Arkansas Republican Platform to the voting record of Sen. Caldwell. The Arkansas Republican Platform was updated at the 2024 Republican State Convention and can be found HERE.i
Please note that we are only referencing Sen. Caldwell’s votes back to 2017. Should you want to view his earlier voting records or see how he ranks among the other 134 Arkansas legislators according to the CFC Economic Freedom Filter, please go to Conduit for Commerce’s website for Legislative Scorecards back to 2013.
(You may check our work cited below by going to the home page of the Arkansas Legislature: https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Search )
Taxes / Spending
Arkansas Republican Platform:
- RPA Principle: “Lower taxes to produce economic growth”
- RPA Platform: “We recognize the importance of lower taxes to preserve economic freedom, spur economic growth, and to ensure that individuals reap more of the benefits of their hard work.”
- RPA Platform: “In order to continue moving forward in our economic growth, businesses in Arkansas need to operate freely from overly burdensome regulation and over-taxation.”
- RPA Platform: “We strongly believe Arkansans are best able to spend the money they earn and deserve to be free from the hassle of burdensome taxes and fees.”
Sen. Ron Caldwell’s Votes 2017-2025:
- Voted for a new tax on digital products and tax increases on candy & soda – HB1162 of 2017
- Voted for a new tax and tax increase on tires – HB1267 of 2017
- Did not vote for businesses for unemployment taxes – HB1405 of 2017
- Voted for new tax on digital products, tax increase on candy/soda – SB120 of 2017
- Voted for new internet sales tax – SB140 of 2017
- Voted for gas tax increase – SB336 of 2019
- Did not vote for homestead property tax credit increase – HB1321 of 2019
- Did not vote for sales tax cut on used vehicles – HB1342 of 2019
- Voted for $293 million sales tax increase – HJR1018 of 2019
- Voted to increase cell phone fees – HB1564 of 2019
- Voted to increase water bill fees – HB1737 of 2019
- Voted for increased state park fees – SB418 of 2021
- Voted against reducing taxes by repeal of the throwback rule – HB1045 of 2023
- Voted to increase the tax on every entity registered in Arkansas – SB207 of 2023
- Voted to increase salaries of county government workers – SB290 of 2023
- Voted for future tax increases to fund expansion of government retirement program – HB1068 of 2025
- Voted for future tax increases to fund expanded government workers dependents retirement benefits – HB1348 of 2025
- Voted to allow fire departments to levy taxes on people not living in the fire department district – HB1416 of 2025
- Voted to make a temporary tax permanent – SB219 of 2025
- Voted for a new $114 Million department of health building – SB336 of 2025
- Voted for extra funding for university and colleges capital improvement projects – HB1493 of 2025
- Voted to allow levying taxes and divert them to private third parties – SB448 of 2025
- Voted for new 50% tax on delta THC products – SB605 of 2025
- Voted for a government commission for meetings to study celebrating the birthday of the state of Arkansas – HB1846 of 2025
- Voted to allow state government to keep local sales taxes from expiring – SB577 of 2025
Education
Arkansas Republican Platform:
- RPA Platform: Every opportunity for every family to enroll each child in the school of his/her choice should be secured by government and offered to Arkansas families.
Sen. Ron Caldwell’s Votes 2017-2025:
- Did not vote for school choice tax credits – SB539 of 2019
- Voted to hold children down if transferred from a private school – HB1540 of 2023
- Voted against school choice & education savings accounts (LEARNS ACT) – SB294 of 2023
- Voted for taxpayer money for government television – SB64 of 2025
- Voted for extra taxpayer funding for government television capital projects – HB1612 of 2025
- Voted for student loan forgiveness for select mental health workers – SB554 of 2025
- Voted for extra funding for government colleges capital projects – SB245 of 2025
- Voted for extra funding for the AR department of education – SB334 of 2025
Welfare / Government Dependency
Arkansas Republican Platform:
- RPA Principle: “Individual responsibility and initiative”
- RPA Platform: “Our primary belief for a strong economy for our state is this: PEOPLE CREATE BUSINESSES; BUSINESSES CREATE JOBS; GOVERNMENT DOES NOT!”
- RPA Platform: “. . . strong belief in being individually responsible for his/her place in society and our compassion by helping our neighbors obtain and secure the rewards of hard work to provide for themselves, their families and those unable to care for themselves.
- RPA Platform: “We are created equally with Individual freedoms and liberties that, through our own exercise of individual responsibility and initiative, can result in great outcomes independent of government.”
- RPA Platform: “We are against Socialism, Communism, and Marxism and the inevitable decline and poverty each has caused in the world. Individual initiative and choice, rather than governmental control, is the key to the success of a free market.”
In 2024, the State Convention of the Arkansas Republican Party specifically removed from the Republican Party platform references to support government corporate welfare programs commonly referred to as “economic development” incentives or efforts.
Sen. Ron Caldwell’s Votes 2017-2025:
- Voted for a corporate welfare Governor “slush fund” – SB331 of 2017
- Voted for corporate welfare tax credits – SB688 of 2017
- Voted against promoting work for food stamp recipients – HB1512 of 2021
- Voted against prohibition on local government universal basic income programs – HB1681 of 2023
- Voted for new special interest local economic development program – HB1710 of 2023
- Voted against stopping fraudsters in unemployment insurance – HB1840 of 2023
- Voted to make it easier to qualify for food stamps – SB306 of 2023
- Voted for new government program to subsidize certain food – HB1965 of 2025
- Voted for new regulations, fees, and corporate welfare for wind energy projects – SB437 of 2025
- Voted for new government healthcare program – SB504 of 2025
Freedom / Regulation
Arkansas Republican Platform:
- RPA Principle: “Individual freedom and liberty secured by a limited government”
- RPA Platform: “We support Arkansans’ rights to use their land in the way they see fit, including the use of diverse production methods and technologies free from burdensome federal regulations.”
- RPA Platform: “In order to continue moving forward in our economic growth, businesses in Arkansas need to operate freely from overly burdensome regulation and over-taxation.”
- RPA Platform: “Without the personal right to own private property, individual rights are diminished.”
Sen. Ron Caldwell’s Votes 2017-2025:
- Voted for increased regulations on hearing aid dispensers – HB1034 of 2017
- Voted against repealing one new regulation for any new regulation passed – SB512 of 2017
- Did not vote to repeal prevailing wage law to stop government/union inflated prices – SB601 of 2017
- Did not vote for improving the minimum wage law – HB1752/HB1753 of 2019
- Voted against expansion of telemedicine to phone calls – HB1063 of 2021
- Voted against amending supervision requirements for nurse anesthetists – HB1198 of 2021
- Voted against allowing APRNs as primary care providers in Medicaid program – HB1254 of 2021
- Voted against a pathway for nurse practitioners to practice to their scope of practice – HB1258 of 2021
- Voted against Stand Your Ground gun legislation – SB24 of 2021
- Voted against the Food Freedom Act – SB248 of 2021
- Voted against welfare program integrity to prevent waste, fraud & abuse – SB295 of 2021
- Voted against ending mandatory masking – SB590 of 2021
- Voted against prohibiting vaccine passports in AR – SB615 of 2021
- Voted for increased regulations and fees on ride sharing apps at airports – SB686 of 2021
- Voted against legislative oversight in emergency declarations by Governor – SB379 of 2021
- Voted against occupational licensure compact deregulation – HB1082 of 2023
- Voted for new occupational licensing regulations on behavior analysts – HB1189 of 2023
- Voted for increased regulations and costs on ridesharing (UBER/LYFT) – HB1237 of 2023
- Voted for increased regulation and anti-freedom choices in medical records – HB1275 of 2023
- Voted against prohibiting costly regulations on the oil industry – HB1572 of 2023
- Voted against automatic occupational licensing for out of state licensees in same field – SB90 of 2023
- Voted for increased regulations on massage therapists – HB1140 of 2025
- Voted for a new non-necessary government program to divert tax revenue – HB1841 of 2025
- Voted for violation of private contracting rights – SB139 of 2025
- Voted for new law enforcement agency within the Arkansas lottery program – SB231 of 2025
- Voted for extra regulations on alcohol sales and deliveries to track people’s purchases – SB447 of 2025
- Voted for a new regulatory division within the state IRS (DFA) – HB1898 of 2025
- Voted against ending mandatory statewide fluoridation program – SB2 of 2025
- Voted to abolish tobacco and vaping products in Arkansas – SB252 of 2025
- Voted to reduce the options of consumers for CPAs – SB432 of 2025
Life
Arkansas Republican Platform:
- RPA Platform: We are beings created in God’s image; and as such, we believe all Americans should have equal opportunity to succeed regardless of race, nationality, origin, gender, or creed and should be granted no special preferences based on these criteria.
Sen. Ron Caldwell’s Votes 2017-2025:
- Voted to put a price tag on human life – SJR8 of 2017
Transparency / Integrity
Arkansas Republican Platform:
- RPA Platform: “We firmly support transparency and openness at every level of government.”
- RPA Platform: “Those elected, appointed, and employed in government work for the taxpayers of this state and must provide public information when requested, in line with Arkansas’s Freedom of Information Act.
- RPA Platform: “We support the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act as signed on February 14, 1967.” (Added in 2024)
- RPA Platform: “We believe in strong legislative oversight of state government spending and support continued openness and transparency in the spending of appropriated money. Arkansas Republicans recognize the importance of such funding for local projects but believe that all those seeking state funds for special projects should be subject to examination and oversight of the people’s elected representatives through the appropriations process.”
- RPA Platform: “Reform of government begins with the election of trustworthy and qualified Arkansas Republicans to office at every level of government. This will ensure responsible and effective management of our state’s fiscal and natural resources and honor hardworking taxpayers.”
Sen. Ron Caldwell’s Votes 2017-2025:
- Did not vote for Medicaid disclosure to prevent fraud – SB175 of 2017
- Voted for a FOIA exemption for government attorneys – SB373 of 2017
- Voted against oversight for Treasurer’s office investments – SB425 of 2017
- Voted against recording of all government public meetings – HB1928 of 2019
- Voted for immunity from lawsuits for campus police – SB494 of 2021
- Voted to undermine the freedom of information law in law enforcement – SB346 of 2021
- Voted to mislead the public by changing name of Obamacare Medicaid expansion program – SB410 of 2021
- Voted for a FOIA exemption on sales tax data – HB1868 of 2021
- Voted against improved financial disclosure requirements for PACs – HB1595 of 2023
- Voted to allow absolute immunity for state legislators to avoid criminal charges – SB353 of 2023
- Voted to allow a new government healthcare lobbying group to benefit special interests – SB264 of 2025
- Voted to remove transparency and oversight in taxpayer funded financial loans and services programs – HB1797, SB382, SB384 of 2025
- Voted to repeal transparency in Arkansas government economic development offices in foreign countries – SB388 of 2025
- Voted to repeal the internal audit authority to review the department of transportation – SB562 of 2025
Elections / Term Limits
Arkansas Republican Platform:
- RPA Platform: “Honest elections are the foundation of our republican form of limited government”
- RPA Platform: “EVERY TIME THAT A FRAUDULENT VOTE IS CAST, IT EFFECTIVELY CANCELS OUT THE VOTE OF A LEGITIMATE VOTER!”
- RPA Platform: “We support the efforts of county election commissioners to protect against voter fraud and implement voting methods that ensure accuracy and increase voter confidence.” (Added 2024)
- RPA Platform: “Regnat Populus: the People Rule”
- RPA Platform: “We are opposed to any effort by special interests who would thwart the will of the people. . .”
Sen. Ron Caldwell’s Votes 2017-2025:
- Voted against having school board elections held at the general election – HB1621 of 2017
- Voted against special election reform to stop low turnout special elections to raise taxes – SB723 of 2017
- Voted to get rid of lifetime term limits – SJR15 of 2019
- Voted to make it harder to pass citizen initiatives – HJR1008 of 2019
- Voted to deny ballot access competition – SB163 of 2019
- Voted to increased voter fraud with new electronic voter registrations – HB1517 of 2021
- Voted against election integrity in absentee voting to allow more voter fraud – SB235 of 2023
- Voted to make it harder to pass citizen initiatives – SB207-211 of 2025
No commentary is offered regarding whether Sen. Ron Caldwell will be the better candidate to serve as state senator. It is assumed that this is sufficient information for voters to draw their own conclusions.
