Huckabee endorses Matayo in 3rd District GOP race

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has endorsed former Arkansas Legislator Doug Matayo in his bid to be the next 3rd District Congressman.

Huckabee’s is the second high-profile political endorsement in a GOP primary that has eight candidates. Former 3rd District Congressman Asa Hutchinson has endorsed Arkansas Sen. Cecile Bledsoe, R-Rogers, in the GOP primary.

The Huckabee endorsement delivers some much-needed publicity for a candidate who is not considered to be one of the Republican frontrunners in the primary. While anything is possible in a primary run, the candidates expected to garner the most votes in the GOP primary are Bledsoe, Fort Smith attorney and former Arkansas Legislator Gunner DeLay, and Rogers Mayor Steve Womack.

The race garnered much attention from Republicans after U.S. Rep. John Boozman, R-Rogers, decided late in the cycle to not seek a sixth term as the 3rd District Congressman and instead enter the GOP primary for the U.S. Senate seat now held by U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark.

“Our country is in a difficult spot right now,” said Huckabee said in the statement announcing his endorsement of Matayo. “If Republicans were not already awake, the Obamacare vote on Sunday woke them up. We must to do everything we can. We must send our best to Washington if we want to turn things around.”

Continuing, Huckabee noted that Matayo “fought to reduce the size of Arkansas government, has never supported a tax increase and he is kept on the right track because of his strong conservative Christian values. He is exceptional, and that is why I have made the exceptional decision to endorse someone in this election.”