2023 YEAR IN REVIEW
January
The year started off strong as Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders was sworn in as the first female governor of Arkansas. She went straight to work signing multiple executive orders covering topics such as CRT and instituting a hiring freeze.
The year started off strong as Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders was sworn in as the first female governor of Arkansas. She went straight to work signing multiple executive orders covering topics such as CRT and instituting a hiring freeze.
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February
In February, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders did a great job representing Arkansas as she delivered the Republican Response to the State of the Union. "At 40, I’m the youngest governor in the country. At 80, [Biden's] the oldest president in American history. I’m the first woman to lead my state. He’s the first man to surrender his presidency to a woke mob that can’t even tell you what a woman is." |
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March
Arkansas LEARNS was signed into law in March. The boldest educational reform in the history of Arkansas, LEARNS puts students' needs and parents' concerns at the forefront of education policy. |
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April
In April, the 94th General Assembly came to an end. This session saw some of the boldest legislation in Arkansas history. During the session Gov. Sanders and the legislature passed multiple transformative laws, some of the biggest were:
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders also reached her 100th day in office. |
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May
Officials celebrate Foreign Military Sales Pilot Training Center that will bring F-16 and F-35 fighter jets to the base Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith "It's a great opportunity for us to showcase some of the incredible things here in Arkansas," she said. "And I look forward to continuing to work on that partnership. Our federal delegation did an amazing job leading that effort, and we're going to continue to help aid on the state level." Gov. Sanders said. |
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June
Arkansas Supreme Court rules in Favor of parents & students. In a 5-2 ruling, the Arkansas Supreme Court put an end to the temporary restraining order which halted the implementation of Arkansas LEARNS, the boldest education reform in the nation. |
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July
RPA Chairman Cody Hiland, appointed to the Arkansas Supreme Court by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. “I am pleased to announce I have selected a former prosecutor and U.S. Attorney, Cody Hiland, for this role. Cody brings a lifetime of legal experience to the job and has made service to Arkansas the centerpiece of his career,” said Governor Sanders. “This is the first time Arkansas’ Supreme Court will have a conservative majority. Cody will be there to call balls and strikes, interpreting state law as it was written and leaving the legislating to the legislature.” |
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August
Joseph K. Wood elected RPA Chairman. With the appointment of Cody Hiland to the Arkansas Supreme Court, the RPA was left with a vacancy in the position of party Chairman. We are thankful for First Vice Chair, John Parke for stepping up and holding the position during our time of transition. “I am incredibly thankful to the men and women from across the State of Arkansas who came out to our State Committee Meeting to let their voices be heard," Wood said. "I look forward to taking over the reins from Chairman John Parke and leading our Party into the elections of 2024, and supporting the bold, conservative agenda of our county committees, state legislators, and Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders.” |
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September
In September the legislature wrapped up the Special Legislative Session. From additional tax cuts to help curb Bidenflation, additional education reform, and restricting Covid-19 mandates, the session saw more bold, conservative reforms passed that benefit all Arkansans. |
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October
Arkansas' own, Julie Harris, was elected as the National Federation of Republican Women President for the 2024-2025 biennium! She is the first Arkansan to serve as NFRW President. |
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November
The Republican Party of Arkansas had a successful candidate filing period, filing more candidates than any other political party. |
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December
Dassault Falcon Jet announced the addition of 800 new jobs to their facility in Little Rock with a $100 million investment. “Today’s announcement cements Arkansas’ role as an aerospace powerhouse, growing our state’s largest export industry by 800 new jobs,” said Gov. Sanders. |
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