Today was a good day.
We’re one week into filing candidates for the 2024 election. The Democratic Party of Arkansas will be contesting more races in the Statehouse than it has in a decade.
There is no secret to how this happened. People from all over the state see the direction state government is headed. They feel in their bones that Arkansas is better than this, that our state is worth fighting for.
Some have said that Arkansas’s bright future is so worth fighting for that they will put their name on the ballot.
I cannot overstate the significance of this moment.
Today I met a mom of five children, all who joined her for filing day, who is running to represent her community.
I met a lawyer who is challenging the architect of the school choice scheme that is ruining our public education system.
I met a public school teacher who is committed to building the support needed to talk about the needs within our education system.
I walked a young veteran to the Capitol to file for office in the most competitive Statehouse district in Arkansas.
I talked with the child of a candidate who fiercely believes in her mom and can’t wait to help with her campaign.
It’s undeniable that politics is a numbers game. It’s math and maps and metrics and money.
Today reminded me that politics is also about people. Politics is always about people.
The Democratic Party of Arkansas welcomed hundreds through its doors over the past week. We talked about the issues, encouraged one another, and looked ahead to a year of hard work and commitment to the change our state needs.
Whether you were in the building or watching from afar, you felt it. You know something is happening that we need to pay attention to. You know a movement is building and the support for it is growing. This is about more than 2024. We’re building something for a generation of change.
Over the past week I sent hundreds of text messages to dozens of people, helping them process the decision to step up and run for office. Many decided this is not their time, but there will be 2026, and 2028, and 2030. This work will continue, and the movement will too. Join us and watch what happens. We’re building something great, and there’s a place for everyone to do the work.
