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Topline
Former Trump Administration press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders will be the Republican nominee in Arkansas’ gubernatorial race, the Associated Press projected Tuesday, after a campaign buoyed by former President Donald Trump’s “complete and total endorsement.”
U.S. President Donald Trump and White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders at the White House.
Alex Wong/Getty Images
Key Facts
The AP called the race for Sanders at 9:30 p.m. ET, with an estimated 28% of the vote counted.
Sanders led with 81.8% of the vote and former radio host Doc Washburn placed second with 18.2%.
The AP projected Chris Jones will be the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, though Republicans are widely expected to hold onto the governor’s mansion.
Key Background
The daughter of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R), Sanders served as Trump’s White House press secretary from 2017 to 2019, after hosting fewer news conferences than any previous press secretary. The truthfulness of Sanders’ statements was frequently called into question, and she later admitted to making false claims to the press about supposed widespread opposition within the FBI to James Comey, whom Trump fired as the bureau’s director. Sanders’ close relationship with Trump benefited her campaign, as he hosted two fundraisers for her at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. These fundraisers also benefited the former president, as Mar-a-Lago received tens of thousands of dollars for hosting and catering the events.
Further Reading
“Sarah Huckabee Sanders Routes Another $48,000 To Donald Trump Via Gubernatorial Campaign” (Forbes)
