State of Arkansas secondary Archives: on Civil Rights


Asa Hutchinson: Marriage should be only one-man-one-woman

The gubernatorial candidates discussed the same-sex marriage movement, answering the question what good and not so good has come from it:

Hutchinson: Supports marriage between one man and one woman. Still unanswered questions from SCOTUS.

Gilbert: State has a right to stay out of the marriage business. I believe it should. If people wish to be married they should be.

Ross: Personally opposed to gay marriage but issue will be resolved by SCOTUS.

Source: Arkansas Matters blog on 2014 AR gubernatorial race Jul 11, 2014

Conner Eldridge: Reauthorize Violence Against Women Act

Conner Eldridge criticized Senator John Boozman on voting against the Violence Against Women Act and its reauthorization. Today marks three years since the Violence Against Women Act was last reauthorized by Congress in 2013.

Conner Eldridge says, "Today marks three years since Congress reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)--landmark legislation that is helping Arkansas fight the scourge of violence against women, particularly domestic violence. As a prosecutor, I've seen VAWA make a difference in the lives of women and girls by ensuring an aggressive response to domestic violence and human trafficking, providing assistance to victims, and working to enhance efforts to prevent and prosecute these horrible crimes. Senator John Boozman voted not once, but twice against the Violence Against Women Act, ignoring the voices and values of Arkansans."

Source: 2016 AR Senate campaign website ConnerForArkansas.com Mar 7, 2016

Frank Gilbert: Best way to end discrimination is to stop discriminating

Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Legally require hiring more women and minorities"?

A: Oppose. The best way to end discrimination is to stop discriminating.

Source: Email interview for 2014 AR Governor's race with OnTheIssues Aug 6, 2014

Frank Gilbert: Comfortable with gay marriage

Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Comfortable with same-sex marriage"?

A: Support. I am comfortable with gay marriage. I am uncomfortable with a government that can tell us who we can or cannot marry.

Source: Email interview for 2014 AR Governor's race with OnTheIssues Aug 6, 2014

Frank Gilbert: State should stay out of the marriage business

The gubernatorial candidates discussed the same-sex marriage movement, answering the question what good and not so good has come from it:

Hutchinson: Supports marriage between one man and one woman. Still unanswered questions from SCOTUS.

Gilbert: State has a right to stay out of the marriage business. I believe it should. If people wish to be married they should be.

Ross: Personally opposed to gay marriage but issue will be resolved by SCOTUS.

Source: Arkansas Matters blog on 2014 AR gubernatorial race Jul 11, 2014

Jim Holt: Amend the federal constitution to ban gay marriage

LINCOLN: "Domestic laws have always been dealt with by our states," Lincoln said, noting that the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act denies federal recognition of same-sex marriages and offers states the right to refuse to recognize them. "Amending the federal constitution ... should only be as a last resort," Lincoln said.

HOLT: Holt said marriage is one of the fundamental pillars of society and he fears that a judge might rule Arkansas' law unconstitutional. He also said he opposes activist judges, such as those who have ruled in favor of gay marriage. Without a federal amendment defining marriage, Holt said, "our country will fall."

Source: [Xref Lincoln] AR Senate Debate in Arkansas News Bureau Oct 29, 2004

Mark Swaney: I support affirmative action, for past & future

Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Legally require hiring women & minorities"?

A: I support affirmative action, not only to correct past discrimination, but to prevent present and future discrimination.

Source: E-mail interview on 2014 AR Senate race with OnTheIssues.org Aug 20, 2014

Mark Swaney: Comfortable with same-sex marriage

Q: Are you "comfortable" with same-sex marriage?

A: Yes.

Source: E-mail interview on 2014 AR Senate race with OnTheIssues.org Aug 20, 2014

Mike Huckabee: No civil unions; only one-man-one-woman marriage

Q: Should Arkansas recognize civil unions between same-sex couples?

A: No.

Q: Should Arkansas restrict marriage to a union only between a man and a woman?

A: Yes.

Source: 2002 AR Gubernatorial National Political Awareness Test Nov 1, 2002

Mike Huckabee: No affirmative action for state contracts nor colleges

Q: Affirmative Action: Should race, ethnicity, or gender be taken into account in state agencies' decisions on:

Q: College and university admissions

A: No.

Q: Public employment

A: No.

Q: State contracting

A: No.

Source: 2002 AR Gubernatorial National Political Awareness Test Nov 1, 2002

Mike Huckabee: Treat AIDS as plague to be isolated, not civil rights issue

It is difficult to understand the public policy towards AIDS -- it is the first time in the history of civilization in which the carriers of a genuine plague have not been isolated from the general population, and in which this deadly disease for which there is no cure is being treated as a civil rights issue instead of the true health crisis it represents.
Source: Responses to Associated Press Questionnaire for AR Senate Nov 1, 1992

Mike Ross: Personally opposes gay marriage, but abide by Supreme Court

The gubernatorial candidates discussed the same-sex marriage movement, answering the question what good and not so good has come from it:

Hutchinson: Supports marriage between one man and one woman. Still unanswered questions from SCOTUS.

Gilbert: State has a right to stay out of the marriage business. I believe it should. If people wish to be married they should be.

Ross: Personally opposed to gay marriage but issue will be resolved by SCOTUS.

Source: Arkansas Matters blog on 2014 AR gubernatorial race Jul 11, 2014

Nathan LaFrance: Supports same-sex marriage

Q: Do you support or oppose same-sex marriage?

A: Support

Source: Email interview on 2014 AR Senate race with OnTheIssues Sep 24, 2014

  • The above quotations are from State of Arkansas Politicians: secondary Archives.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Civil Rights.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
2024 Presidential contenders on Civil Rights:
  Candidates for President & Vice-President:
V.P.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.(I-CA)
Chase Oliver(L-GA)
Dr.Jill Stein(D-MA)
Former Pres.Donald Trump(R-FL)
Sen.J.D.Vance(R-OH)
Gov.Tim Walz(D-MN)
Dr.Cornel West(I-NJ)

2024 presidential primary contenders:
Pres.Joe_Biden(D-DE)
N.D.Gov.Doug Burgum(R)
N.J.Gov.Chris_Christie(R)
Fla.Gov.Ron_DeSantis(R)
S.C.Gov.Nikki_Haley(R)
Ark.Gov.Asa_Hutchinson(R)
Former V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
U.S.Rep.Dean_Phillips(D-MN)
Vivek_Ramaswamy(R-OH)
S.C.Sen.Tim_Scott(R)
Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org!
Click for details -- or send donations to:
1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140
E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org
(We rely on your support!)

Page last updated: Feb 06, 2026