Sarah Huckabee Sanders in 2022 AR Governor's race


On Abortion: Won't support exceptions in case of rape or incest

As Texas' new strict abortion regulations make headlines, Sanders welcomed the idea of following suit with furthering pro-life regulations in the Natural State. "I am an unapologetic pro-life advocate and would push for anything that strengthens pro-life legislation here in the state of Arkansas," Sanders said. When pressed, Sanders said if elected she would not support an exception to abortion restrictions in cases of rape or incest.
Source: KTHV-11 on 2022 Arkansas Gubernatorial race Sep 6, 2021

On Budget & Economy: Phase out income tax; stop exponential growth of government

[On tax & spend]: "We have to begin to phase out our income tax, but we have to do it responsibly. We have to make sure we're prepared to make up that lost revenue," she says. "It's not going to be any one thing, but a collection of things that allow us to do that. And it's going to take a little bit of time to get there. One of the other things we can do is stop the exponential growth of government. As conservatives, we have to be able to reign that in and pass those savings on to the taxpayer."
Source: KATV News ABC-7 on 2022 Arkansas Gubernatorial race Sep 14, 2021

On Civil Rights: It's a lie that America is a racist and evil country

[On teaching CRT]: "Our public schools should never indoctrinate our kids with the lie that America is a racist and evil country. Critical Race Theory pushes a radical left agenda that will further tear us apart, not bring us together."
Source: Arkansas Times on 2022 Arkansas Gubernatorial race Aug 18, 2021

On Civil Rights: Supports prohibition of transgender treatment for minors

Lawmakers prohibited hormone treatments, puberty blockers and transition-related surgeries for transgender minors. Gov. Asa Hutchinson vetoed the bill only to see it overridden by Republican supermajorities. In a text message, Sanders voiced support for the bill he vetoed. "I believe in limited government, but there is a role for us to protect those who can't protect themselves, especially children, which is why this law is important and I support it," she wrote.
Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on 2022 Arkansas Governor race Apr 9, 2021

On Crime: To remain free we must have law and order

I was the first White House Press Secretary to require Secret Service protection because of a credible violent threat against me. We've seen violence in our streets, at a congressional baseball practice, and at our Capitol, this is not who we are as Americans. To remain free we must have law and order and resolve our differences peacefully. I will stand with our brave law enforcement officers, promote law and order, and keep our community safe.
Source: Rev.com e-zine on 2022 Arkansas gubernatorial race Nov 12, 2020

On Education: Offer more choices to parents of kids in failing schools

I will champion good schools and good teachers, but also offer more choices to parents of kids in failing schools. Every child must have the opportunity of a quality education, and no child should ever be trapped in a life of poverty and despair.
Source: Rev.com e-zine on 2022 Arkansas gubernatorial race Nov 12, 2020

On Education: Offer more choices to parents of kids in failing schools

[On school choice]: "I will champion good schools and good teachers, but also offer more choices to parents of kids in failing schools," she continued. "Every child must have the opportunity of a quality education--and no child should ever be trapped in a life of poverty and despair."
Source: Fox News on 2022 Arkansas Governor race Apr 6, 2021

On Energy & Oil: Fight radical environmental policies like Green New Deal

I will fight back against the radical environmental policies, like the Green New Deal that threatened to destroy so many jobs. I will take on the bureaucracy, reduce the cost and size of government, and make it accountable to you.
Source: Rev.com e-zine on 2022 Arkansas gubernatorial race Nov 12, 2020

On Government Reform: As undergraduate, fought for student voting rights

One nationally prominent Republican once took the opposite stance on student voting. As an undergraduate at Ouachita Baptist University, Sarah Huckabee--now White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders--sued to allow students to vote after being one of more than 900 purged from the county's rolls. "It's almost like taxation without representation," she said at the time. "They thought that because we were young that they could walk all over us, but obviously that's not the case."
Source: ProPublica on 2022 Arkansas Gubernatorial race Aug 15, 2018

On Gun Control: Defend your second amendment right to keep your family safe

As governor, I will defend your right to be free of socialism and tyranny, your second amendment right to keep your family safe, and your freedom of speech and religious liberty. Our state needs a leader with the courage to do what's right, not what's politically correct or convenient.
Source: Rev.com e-zine on 2022 Arkansas gubernatorial race Nov 12, 2020

On Health Care: Opposes vaccination or masking mandates for COVID

[On vaccinations]: "We have to make sure that we are not ripping away people's freedom to make the best decision for themselves and for their families," she says, defending her opposition to mandates to wear masks or get the COVID vaccine. "At the same time, we certainly want to protect people." And while she's said in the past that she's reluctant to tell others to get vaccinated, she now recommends it. "I (want) people to understand how I made that decision and the process that I went through."
Source: KATV News ABC-7 on 2022 Arkansas Gubernatorial race Sep 14, 2021

On Homeland Security: Do every single thing to protect and preserve our freedoms

[On veterans rights]: "There is no greater representation of the greatness of our nation than its veterans."

"Good people do everything they can to protect the values of our communities, state and country," she said. "One reason I'm here is to say thank you. This is a special place for special people." She paused before adding how critical she believes it to be that we do "every single thing we can to protect and preserve our freedoms and pass them along to the next generation."

Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on 2022 Arkansas Governor race Jun 29, 2021

On Immigration: Some immigrants are worse than animals

Sarah Huckabee Sanders' political ambitions for the candidacy for governor of Arkansas have been obvious ever since she departed as former President Donald Trump's press secretary, telling The New York Times in a 2019 interview that she felt "called" to serve as senator or governor.

She was known for her blunt answers ("frankly I don't think ['animals'] was strong enough," she told the press when asked about Trump's use of the dehumanizing word to describe "some immigrants"), her defenses of the indefensible (calling it "very Biblical" to separate migrant families at the border).

Source: The Week newsmagazine on 2022 Arkansas gubernatorial race Jan 26, 2021

On Immigration: Pledges to defund sanctuary cities, already done in 2019

Sanders came under attack from [Lt. Gov. Tim] Griffin, who criticized her campaign video pledge to "prohibit sanctuary cities and cut off funding for cities that deliberately violate immigration laws." Griffin noted that [Gov. Asa] Hutchinson in 2019 had already signed into law a measure cutting off state funding to so-called "sanctuary cities" that do not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement authorities.
Source: Politico.com e-zine on 2022 Arkansas gubernatorial race Jan 25, 2021

On Immigration: Defends sending immigrants to Democrat-led sanctuary cities

Q: Trump said he wants to bus migrants to sanctuary cities run by Democrats.

SANDERS: Certainly this wouldn't be our first choice. Democrats have stated time and time again they support open borders, they support sanctuary cities. So, let's spread out some of that burden and let's put it in some of those other locations if that's what they want to see happen and are refusing to actually help fix the problem.

Source: ABC This Week on 2022 Arkansas Gubernatorial race Apr 14, 2019

On Immigration: Defended family separation: very Biblical to enforce the law

[On immigrant family separation]: "On the children who are being separated from their families as they come across the border, the attorney general said there is justification for this in the Bible," said CNN's Jim Acosta. "Where does it say in the Bible that it's moral to take children away from their mothers?" Sanders said that "it is very Biblical to enforce the law," before blaming Democrats for refusing to close the "legal loopholes" that enabled the administration's new policy.
Source: Rolling Stone magazine on 2022 Arkansas Gubernatorial race Jun 14, 2018

On Principles & Values: I took on media, radical left and cancel culture

On her role in the Trump administration: "I took on the media, the radical left and their cancel culture, and I won," the former press secretary said. "As governor, I will be your voice and never let them silence you."
Source: The Hill e-zine on 2022 Arkansas gubernatorial race Jan 26, 2021

On Principles & Values: Everything we love about America is at stake

Announcement of candidacy: "Everything we love about America is at stake, and with the radical left now in control of Washington, your governor is your last line of defense," Sanders said. "In fact, your governor must be on the front line. So today, I announce my candidacy for governor of Arkansas and ask for your prayers and your support."
Source: Politico.com e-zine on 2022 Arkansas gubernatorial race Jan 25, 2021

On Principles & Values: I'm a Christian, a wife, a mom, and a proud Arkansan

I'm a Christian, a wife, a mom, a proud Arkansan. My opponents will do everything in their power to destroy me, but I will not apologize for who I am or who I'm fighting for. I'm fighting for you. I will not retreat. I will not surrender. And I will not bow down to the radical left. Not now, not ever.
Source: Rev.com e-zine on 2022 Arkansas gubernatorial race Nov 12, 2020

On Principles & Values: Sanders is Christian, conservative, a proud Arkansan

[Endorsement from the former Vice President]: "Sarah Huckabee Sanders is a Christian, a conservative, and a proud Arkansan who will fight for the people of Arkansas, stand with law enforcement, promote lower taxes, champion school choice, and more," Mike Pence said. "Sarah will be a great Governor and has my full support," he added.
Source: New York Post on 2022 Arkansas Governor race Apr 6, 2021

On Principles & Values: You bet I'm nationalizing my governor's race

[On the Arkansas governorship]: "I keep hearing, 'Oh there's the Sarah Sanders, she's nationalizing the race.' And my answer to those people, you bet I am. Because if you are not, you are missing what is happening in our country," Sanders said. "We have people in Washington, in leadership, the radical left that are not OK just changing policy. They want to fundamentally change who we are as a country and we cannot sit back and do nothing and allow that to happen."
Source: KUAR Public Radio on 2022 Arkansas Gubernatorial race Sep 6, 2021

On Tax Reform: I will lower the state income tax

I will lower the state income tax to reward hard work, allow our businesses to compete, grow, and prosper, and create more good jobs.
Source: Rev.com e-zine on 2022 Arkansas gubernatorial race Nov 12, 2020

On Tax Reform: Reduce cost and size of government, lower state income tax

Sanders outlined her plans if she wins the race for Arkansas governor. "I will take on the bureaucracy, reduce the cost and size of government, and make it accountable to you," Sanders, 38, said, adding a promise to lower state income tax.
Source: Fox News on 2022 Arkansas Governor race Apr 6, 2021

On Government Reform: We'll never know the depths of 2020 election fraud

Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the former White House press secretary under Trump, has run a low-profile Arkansas gubernatorial campaign with only sporadic public comments to the media. But when the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette newspaper asked her this spring whether she believes the election was stolen from Trump, Sanders declined to affirm the election's legitimacy--saying, "I don't think we'll ever know the depths of how much fraud existed." She continued: "We know there is fraud in every election. How far and wide it went, I don't think that will be something that will be ever determined."

Sanders didn't go nearly as far as her obscure primary opponent, who flatly declared the election stolen. Still, she chose to vaguely cast doubt on the outcome. (There is no evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 election, certainly not enough to have changed the winner in any state.) The Sanders campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

Source: CNN on 2020 Election Denial in 2022 Arkansas Governor race Sep 9, 2022

The above quotations are from 2022 Arkansas Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage.
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Page last updated: Feb 14, 2023