Notes from the Campaign Trail: Sabin draws GOP support in Little Rock mayor’s race

Rep. Warwick Sabin’s exploratory committee for Little Rock mayor has an event planned for Thursday, March 8th at the home of Bill Dillard, III, and his wife, Tabietha. The host committee has an interesting GOP twist.

Sabin, a Little Rock Democrat who has worked across party lines but represents a pretty left-leaning House district, is being backed by some of the capital city’s high-profile Republicans. In addition to the Dillard’s, the host list includes:

• Mary Lynn & Sheffield Nelson
• Bill Vickery
• Sharon & Carl Vogelpohl
• Betty Dickey
• Lila & Ted Dickey
• Terry Benham
• Rett Hatcher
• John Mark Huckabee

$1,000 for hosts and $250 to be a supporter. If Sabin enters the race, which looks like a formality, he’ll challenge incumbent Mayor Mark Stodola. Banker Frank Scott, Jr. is also exploring a mayor’s bid.

ANOTHER FUNDRAISING REQUEST
GOP Attorney General Leslie Rutledge quickly capitalized on her surprise opponent. On Wednesday, Democrat Mike Lee pivoted from a State House race in west Little Rock to challenge Rutledge in the statewide AG race. Lee is a former attorney with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Rutledge’s campaign sent out a fundraising letter on Wednesday evening that reads in part:

“The Democrats just dragged a candidate out of nowhere to run against me at the last minute. They are absolutely desperate to take back control.

That’s why it’s time to send a message — one that is loud and clear — that Arkansans support the rule of law, getting government off the backs of our job creators, and preserving our values. Arkansans want to protect the lives of unborn children and defend our Second Amendment rights. My Democratic opponent will not. Period.

Click here to contribute $10, $25, $50, or even $100 right now, before tonight’s February fundraising deadline, to show the Democrats that Arkansas is united against their far-left agenda.”

FILING CLOSES THURSDAY AT NOON
The filing period for political office closes Thursday at noon at the State Capitol. The last day of filing usually brings a few surprises before the closing bell. Here are some observations heading into the last day:

• All Republican constitutional officers have Democratic and/or Libertarian opponents, except unopposed Dennis Milligan;
• The most crowded field so far is CD2, which has 7 candidates. Runner-up CD4 has 6 candidates;
• Democrats are challenging for 6 current Republican Senate seats;
• 9 Republican Senate seats are unopposed, 1 has a Libertarian only challenger;
• Democrats have fielded 32 challengers to House seats currently held by Republicans;
• Republicans have fielded 7 challengers to House seats currently held by Democrats;
• Democratic Party of Arkansas chair Rep. Michael John Gray has a Republican opponent;
• GOP Rep. Andy Davis, a candidate for House Speaker, has a Democratic opponent;
• Rep. Andy Mayberry’s wife, Julie, has filed for his seat. They have traded positions in the past.

You can check out the full candidate list so far at this link. We’ll update the list later today after filing closes.

Editor’s note: ‘Notes from the Campaign Trail’ is a compilation of various political insider tidbits. It is sponsored by Campbell Ward Consulting|Communications.