Rep. Brandt Smith to challenge U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford in GOP primary

Four-term State Rep. Brandt Smith, R-Jonesboro, told Talk Business & Politics on Friday (Aug. 6) he intends to challenge incumbent U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro, in the Republican primary in 2021.

Smith, 62, said he’s talked with many constituents in Northeast Arkansas during recent years and he thinks there’s a disconnect between Crawford and people in the district.

“Politicians don’t own these seats … They belong to the people of Arkansas. I’ve been blessed to be elected to four terms, but I only occupy that seat as long as the people re-elect me. It belongs to them,” he said.

Smith, a Jonesboro native, said he had a “heated conversation” with Crawford about his plans to challenge him. Smith claimed the conversation grew so contentious that he hung up the phone.

TB&P reached out to Crawford’s campaign about the phone call. His campaign delivered the following response:

“Congressman Crawford and State Rep. Smith had a brief conversation about the work that each has put into building the Republican Party. Mr. Smith may not have liked hearing more details about the extensive work Congressman Crawford has been doing, which was in direct conflict with the inaccurate assumptions on which Rep. Smith has apparently based his preliminary decision to run for Congress.”

Smith said he didn’t know of anything specific in Crawford’s voting record that he disagreed with, but he plans to do a deep dive into how he’s voted. His plan is to compare and contrast his voting record with Crawford, who was first elected in 2010.

“I’m a very conservative Republican. I have very conservative values. We live in a very Republican district. Our representative in Congress needs to promote the values of the people that live in this district,” Smith said.

If he wins the primary and the general election, Smith said his focus will be on the border. He thinks the border is being overrun with illegal immigrants. Drugs are also pouring in through the southern border and it needs to be addressed, he said.

“We have to stop the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs,” he said. “It’s chaotic right now.”

When asked if he would support any different measures by the federal government to tackle the growing COVID-19 pandemic, Smith said he wasn’t sure. His focus has been on the state’s response.

He said he encourages everyone to “take personal responsibility” when it comes to wearing masks and getting vaccinated. Smith said he doesn’t think vaccines should be mandatory, however.

It’s difficult to navigate how to deal with the pandemic when CDC guidelines and recommendations by Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s top infectious disease expert, have changed so often, he said. Even Arkansas Secretary of Health Dr. Jose Romero has given inconsistent recommendations at times, and each time these officials give conflicting advice it hurts public trust, Smith added.