Tennille to resign as Democratic Party of Arkansas chair
by July 7, 2025 5:18 pm 700 views
Democratic Party of Arkansas (DPA) Chair Grant Tennille is resigning July 15 after almost four years leading the political party he first chaired in October 2021. Vice chair Jannie Cotton will be interim chair until party elections are held.
“It has been an honor to serve Arkansas Democrats for nearly four years as chair of the party,” Tennille said in a statement posted Monday (July 7). “Together, we have returned our party to strength and competitiveness, and I must extend a special thanks to the ‘true believers’ among us who made it happen through hard work and generosity.”
Tennille said the 2026 election cycle could be “the most demanding yet,” and he thought it wise to resign with enough time to give the new chair time to prepare.
“I am excited by the group of Democratic candidates who are stepping forward to run next year because I believe their strength indicates that this party’s best days lie ahead,” Tennille said. “I’m proud of the small role I have played in this progress.”
According to the press release, Tennille has helped the party eliminate debt, improve its financial standing, expand staff and political outreach, and increase spending during election cycles.
The party is expected on July 11 to provide more information about upcoming elections for party leadership posts.
Tennille was a reporter for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in the 1990s before joining the communications staff of Gov. Mike Huckabee — a Republican and the father of current Gov. Sarah Sanders. Tennille said he was a Democrat at the time but knew he wanted to be actively involved in the process, and he was loyal to Rex Nelson, Huckabee’s communications director and a former editor at the Democrat-Gazette.
Tennille left the governor’s office to work for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, then worked in the telecom industry and helped a friend in Birmingham start a business.
He returned to Arkansas in 2007 to work for Gov. Mike Beebe, holding several positions, then serving as the liaison with the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. When AEDC Director Maria Haley died unexpectedly, Tennille became interim director, then director. He said his work helping bring the Big River Steel plant to Mississippi County comprised the better part of three years.
Tennille then owned a consulting company that helped companies find Arkansas locations. Prior to being elected DPA chair, Tennille also worked as unpaid economic development adviser for Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott.