Democrats enter races for Lt. Governor, Congress

Two Democrats announced their candidacies for office on Thursday (Sept. 9).

Kelly Krout of Lowell said she would vie for the Democratic nomination for Arkansas Lt. Governor. Krout, a mother of seven kids and a children’s book author, said she’s entering the race to advocate for families and kids.

“I’m a lifelong Arkansan, and my family has lived in Northwest Arkansas for 17 years. My experience as a foster mom has shown me the challenges that so many in Arkansas face. I want our state to be a safe place for all Arkansas families and children,” Krout said.

Krout, who was defeated for a House seat in 2020, will be a guest on Sunday’s Talk Business & Politics statewide TV program. You can watch her video interview at the bottom of this post.

There are no other announced Democratic candidates for Lt. Governor; however, five Republican candidates have announced for the post. They include: Chris Bequette, Dr. Greg Bledsoe, Sen. Jason Rapert, Doyle Webb, and Joseph Wood.

Also on Thursday, Dr. Quintessa Hathaway announced she would seek the Democratic nomination for the Second Congressional District seat currently held by GOP Rep. French Hill. One other Democrat, Nick Cartwright, has also announced for the post.

Hathaway is a veteran educator and founder/CEO of Q. Hathaway and Associates, LLC.

She previously ran unsuccessfully for a House seat in Tennessee. In addition, she has volunteered on several political campaigns for candidates and conducted voter registration throughout the South.

Hathaway is a graduate of The Jackson State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science degree. She went on to graduate from Tennessee State University with a Master of Education (M.Ed.), Specialist in Education (Ed.S.), and a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.).

She said she wants to focus on education, voter registration and economic competitiveness in her campaign.