Eureka Springs, AR – The Arkansas Press Association hosted its annual “Day of Debates” in Eureka Springs on June 26, bringing together candidates for statewide office to debate on a wide range of issues.
The day began with a debate between secretary of state candidates: Republican Sen. Kim Hammer, Democrat Kelly Grappe, and Libertarian Michael Pakko. The main event was a gubernatorial debate between Libertarian nominee Colt Shelby and Democratic nominee Sen. Fred Love. The Republican nominee, incumbent Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, declined an invitation to attend.
The secretary of state debate featured differing visions for elections and ballot access. Sen. Hammer defended Arkansas’ election laws, saying that Arkansas is a state that is doing what needs to be done.
“Our elections are secure, people’s votes count, and they only count once,” Sen. Hammer said.
Both Grappe and Pakko agreed that Arkansas’ elections are secure. Pakko, however, argued that Arkansas’ political system gives too much power to the two major parties. He called for ranked-choice voting and expanding ballot access to increase political competition.
“I’ve seen how the system is rigged,” said Pakko. “Our system of laws, practices, and traditions gives enormous power to the two major political parties.”
Regarding elections, Grappe said that trust needs to go both ways. Arkansans need to have confidence in their government, and the people need a government that trusts them to make their own decisions.
“They [Arkansans] need to have confidence that every Arkansan has a voice,” Grappe said. “And that that voice will be listened to by our government.”
When it was time for the gubernatorial debate, Sen. Love wasted little time airing out his grievances with his opponents.
“We cannot afford another four years of Sarah Sanders,” Sen. Love said in his opening statement. He then turned his attention to Shelby, saying the Libertarian candidate “does not have the experience to run state government.”
Sen. Love was not the only one to take a shot at Gov. Sanders. Shelby also criticized the governor, arguing Gov. Sanders “has higher aspirations in D.C. and will not be here long.”
Throughout the debate, the candidates repeatedly sparred over education policy, particularly Arkansas LEARNS and the state’s Education Freedom Account (EFA) program.
Sen. Love referred to EFA accounts as the governor’s “biggest failure,” arguing the program does more harm than good. “When we take $400 million and put it in private schools and pay tuition for kids who already have that choice, we’re leaving the other 90% to fend for themselves,” Sen. Love said. He said the government needs to reinvest education funds into public schools, and he would issue an executive order to halt the administration of the EFA program if elected.
Shelby also said he opposed the program but argued that it should be gradually scaled back rather than eliminated outright, citing potential harm to families participating in the program.
“I would like to see an income base come to it so we can sustain it,” Shelby said of the program. “We could put some of that money maybe towards public education. There’s a lot of areas where we’re lacking.”
The candidates also discussed the issue of prison overcrowding in Arkansas. Sen. Love emphasized preventing incarceration through literacy initiatives, expanded childcare, and youth employment programs.
“If we set our young people on the right path, guess what? That opportunity is there, and we can stem the tide of people going into the prison system,” Sen. Love said.
Shelby said the state should invest in rehabilitation and apprenticeship programs and focus prison space on violent offenders rather than nonviolent drug offenders.
“We need to adjust our priorities on who’s a bad guy and who’s not a bad guy,” Shelby said. “We need to start on these rehabilitation programs and look at extending some of the county facilities.”
The debate also highlighted growing concerns over proposed data centers across Arkansas. When asked what the state’s policy on data centers should be, Shelby took a laissez-faire stance.
“I think the state’s policy should be whatever the people want,” Shelby said. “If they want a data center, give them a data center. If they don’t want one, it shouldn’t go there.”
Sen. Love, however, endorsed a statewide moratorium on new data center development until the long-term impacts on communities are known. The senator held up his phone and pointed out, “We’re all carrying one of these. So, we know we’re probably going to need data centers, but we just don’t know how many.”
The debate concluded with closing statements from each candidate, who made their final appeals to the audience while emphasizing their differing visions for Arkansas. Sen. Love closed much like he opened, attacking Gov. Sanders’ record and arguing Shelby does not have the experience to run state government. In his closing statement, Shelby cited his experience running a business and focused on government accountability and affordability for Arkansans.
The Arkansas Press Association’s Day of Debates offered voters and members of the media the opportunity to hear statewide candidates argue their positions side by side. The event provided a space for candidates to address many of the issues likely to shape Arkansas’ upcoming election, including education, election administration, criminal justice, and economic development.
