Non-election years may seem quiet but that’s when our elected candidates are really working hard — and when new candidates start hearing their own call to action.
Check out these highlights from our candidates this year:
- 25 PAWPAC-endorsed candidates were sworn into office in January 2023!
- Rep. Tippi McCullough was elected as the House Minority Leader.
- Rep. Tara Shepherd sponsored Act 811, which will require opioid recovery kits in high schools and colleges. Tara was invited to Washington to talk about the act, which is considered a national model of legislation.
- Reps. Denise Garner, Ashley Hudson, and Tippi McCullough sponsored Act 720, which gives local school boards sole authority to approve community service credits.
- Reps. Denise Garner and Jamie Scott won Council of State Government Leadership awards.
- Sen. Linda Chesterfield and Reps. Denise Ennett and Ashley Hudson all won Legislator of the Year awards.
- JP Beth Coger won two FOIA lawsuits, and an appeal, against Washington County that sought greater transparency of government actions.
- Rep. Ashley Hudson was selected by the Democratic Party of Arkansas to respond to the governor’s “State of the State” address.
- Rep. Denise Ennett was awarded a $1K grant for the Arkansas Period Poverty Project.
- 100% of PAWPAC-endorsed legislators voted against the LEARNS Act.
- 100% of PAWPAC-endorsed legislators opposed the governor’s FOIA bill, which would have restricted the public’s right to know about state government actions.
- Rep. Jamie Scott will continue her government service by running (unopposed) for the position held by State Senator Linda Chesterfield, who is retiring. Rep. Vivian Flowers will retire from the state House of Representatives to run for mayor of Pine Bluff.
- Denise Garner won a Council of State Government Henry Toll Fellowship to attend a leadership development program and was a Fisher-Shackelford Dinner Honoree.
- Rep. Jamie Scott graduated from the Henry Toll Fellowship program, received the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Arkansas Trailblazer Award, co-chaired Arkansas Girls State, and received the Social Justice Action Award from Alpha Kappa Alpha.
- Nine PAWPAC-endorsed candidates will run unopposed in the 2024 election!
Meanwhile, PAWPAC held its most successful fundraising event ever. PAWPAC has already received requests for endorsement and is committed to providing more than $100K in direct support to local- and state-level candidates in 2024. The first batch of endorsed candidates will be announced soon — so stay tuned!
TOGETHER, WE CAN CHANGE THE FACE OF ARKANSAS POLITICS!
Want to make a difference? Help us make change by supporting progressive Arkansas women candidates! We are the only state-level PAC that provides direct, financial support to progressive women running for office in the state. Set up a one-time or recurring donation today!