Gov. Hutchinson, Gov.-elect Sanders meet for transition

Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Gov.-elect Sarah Sanders met on Wednesday (Nov. 9) a day after she was elected the 47th governor of Arkansas.

Sanders defeated Democrat Chris Jones and Libertarian Ricky Dale Harrington, Jr. on Tuesday with 63% of the vote. She is the first female governor of Arkansas. Her victory also marks the first time since the Reconstruction era that two Republican governors have been elected back-to-back.

She will take office in January. Until then, her transition team will work with the Hutchinson administration to prepare to take office.

Judd Deere, spokesman for Sanders, issued the following statement about the Hutchinson-Sanders meeting:

“Today, Governor-elect Sanders met with Governor Hutchinson at the Governor’s Mansion to discuss the transition. Governor Hutchinson congratulated the Governor-elect on her historic victory and committed his administration to full cooperation with her and her team to ensure a seamless transition. Governor-elect Sanders thanked the Governor for his years of service to Arkansans, his support during the campaign, his hospitality, and for his assistance to ensure an orderly transition. With this being Arkansas’ first Republican to Republican gubernatorial transition, the two agreed that it presents incredible opportunities to continue to move the state forward and unleash new, bold reforms. The Governor and Governor-elect agreed to stay in regular contact and for their staffs to begin the work of a transition immediately.”