Asa Hutchinson

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Asa Hutchinson

| image = Asa Hutchinson by Gage Skidmore.jpg

| caption = Hutchinson in 2023

| order = 46th Governor of Arkansas

| lieutenant = Tim Griffin

| term_start = January 13, 2015

| term_end = January 10, 2023

| predecessor = Mike Beebe

| successor = Sarah Huckabee Sanders

| office1 = Chair of the National Governors Association

| 1blankname1 = Vice Chair

| 1namedata1 = Phil Murphy

| term_start1 = July 8, 2021

| term_end1 = July 15, 2022

| predecessor1 = Andrew Cuomo

| successor1 = Phil Murphy

| office2 = Vice Chair of the National Governors Association

| 1blankname2 = Chair

| 1namedata2 = Andrew Cuomo

| term_start2 = August 5, 2020

| term_end2 = July 8, 2021

| predecessor2 = Andrew Cuomo

| successor2 = Phil Murphy

| office3 = Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Border and Transportation Security

| president3 = George W. Bush

| term_start3 = January 23, 2003

| term_end3 = March 1, 2005

| predecessor3 = Position established

| successor3 = Randy Beardsworth (acting)

| office4 = 8th Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration

| president4 = George W. Bush

| deputy4 = John B. Brown III

| term_start4 = August 8, 2001

| term_end4 = January 23, 2003

| predecessor4 = Donnie R. Marshall

| successor4 = Karen Tandy

| state5 = Arkansas

| district5 = {{ushr|AR|3|3rd}}

| term_start5 = January 3, 1997

| term_end5 = August 6, 2001

| predecessor5 = Tim Hutchinson

| successor5 = John Boozman

| office6 = Chair of the Arkansas Republican Party

| alongside6 = Sheffield Nelson {{small|(1991–1992)}}

| term_start6 = January 1, 1991

| term_end6 = December 31, 1995

| predecessor6 = Ken Coon

| successor6 = Lloyd Stone

| office7 = United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas

| president7 = Ronald Reagan

| term_start7 = September 1, 1982

| term_end7 = January 20, 1985

| predecessor7 = Larry McCord

| successor7 = Michael Fitzhugh

| birth_name = William Asa Hutchinson II

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1950|12|3}}

| birth_place = Bentonville, Arkansas, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Republican

| spouse = {{marriage|Susan Burrell|1973}}

| children = 4

| relatives = Tim Hutchinson (brother)

| education = Bob Jones University (BA)
University of Arkansas (JD)

| signature = Asa Hutchinson signature.svg

| website = {{URL|asa2024.com|Campaign website}}

}}

William Asa Hutchinson II ({{IPAc-en|'|eɪ|s|ə}}, AY-sə; born December 3, 1950) is an American attorney, businessman, and politician who served as the 46th governor of Arkansas from 2015 to 2023. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a U.S. attorney, U.S. representative, and in two roles in the George W. Bush administration. He was a candidate for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

In 1982, President Ronald Reagan appointed Hutchinson to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, which covers most of Fort Smith. In 1986, Hutchinson unsuccessfully challenged Democratic U.S. Senator Dale Bumpers, before losing a race for Attorney General of Arkansas to Winston Bryant four years later. He later successfully ran for the House of Representatives in 1996, representing Arkansas's 3rd congressional district until 2001, when president George W. Bush successfully nominated him as Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration. In 2003, Bush appointed Hutchinson as the Under Secretary for border and transportation security at the newly established Department of Homeland Security; Hutchinson retired from the Bush administration in 2005.

In 2006, Hutchinson was the Republican nominee for governor of Arkansas, but lost to Democratic nominee Mike Beebe, the state attorney general. In 2014, Hutchinson was again the Republican nominee for governor, this time defeating the Democratic nominee, U.S. Representative Mike Ross. He was reelected in 2018 with nearly two-thirds of the vote. Due to term limits, he was barred from seeking reelection in 2022, and was succeeded by Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

From 2020 to 2021, Hutchinson served as vice chair of the National Governors Association. He succeeded Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York as chair of the organization for 2021–2022. In 2023 he announced his candidacy in the 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries. He suspended his campaign on January 16, 2024, after a poor performance in the Iowa caucuses. In April 2024, he joined Scripps News as a political contributor.{{cite press release |url=https://scripps.com/press-releases/scripps-news-adds-former-presidential-candidate-arkansas-gov-asa-hutchinson-as-political-analyst/ |title=Scripps News adds former presidential candidate, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson as political analyst |date=April 22, 2024 |publisher=Scripps News |first=Molly |last=Miossi |access-date=August 19, 2024 }}

Early life and legal career

Hutchinson was born in Bentonville, Arkansas, the son of Coral Virginia (Mount) Hutchinson (1912–1998) and John Malcolm Hutchinson Sr. (1907–1991).{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TllVAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Coral+Virginia+Mount%22 |title=The Hutchinson family of Laurens County, South Carolina, and descendants |access-date=February 10, 2015 |last1=Hutchinson |first1=Frederick Mcalpine |year=1947 |publisher=A. Jones Press |isbn=9780608320403}} He earned his bachelor's degree in accounting from Bob Jones University in South Carolina in 1972 and received his J.D. from the University of Arkansas School of Law in 1975.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/candidates/asa-hutchinson-2024 |title=Asa Hutchison |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=August 13, 2023}} He practiced law in Fort Smith for 21 years and handled more than 100 jury trials.

In 1982, President Ronald Reagan appointed Hutchinson U.S. attorney for the Western District of Arkansas. At age 31, Hutchinson was the nation's youngest U.S. attorney. He made national headlines after successfully prosecuting The Covenant, The Sword, and The Arm of the Lord (CSA), a white supremacist organization founded by polygamist James Ellison. The CSA forced a three-day armed standoff with local, state, and federal law enforcement. As U.S. attorney, Hutchinson personally negotiated a peaceful conclusion to the standoff.{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-guns-nra-hutchinson-idUSL1E8NL91O20121221 |title=U.S. gun lobby ally to lead NRA plan for armed guards at schools |work=Reuters |date=December 21, 2012 |access-date=February 10, 2015 |last=Selyukh |first=Alina}}

Early political career

=Pre-Congress efforts=

In 1986, Hutchinson ran against incumbent Democratic U.S. senator and former governor Dale Bumpers.{{Cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/02/politics/dale-bumpers-arkansas-governor-senator/index.html |title=Dale Bumpers dead: Former U.S. senator and Arkansas governor was 90 |author=Eugene Scott |website=CNN |date=January 2, 2016 |access-date=February 13, 2017}} It was a good year for Democrats, and Hutchinson fared worse than Bumpers's previous Senate challenger, Little Rock investment banker William P. "Bill" Clark. In 1990, Hutchinson ran against Winston Bryant for attorney general of Arkansas; he lost the race by a margin of 55–45%. Hutchinson then became co-chair, with Sheffield Nelson, of the Arkansas Republican Party, a position he held from 1991 through 1995, the last four years as full chair. He considered a rematch with Bumpers in 1992 before deferring to Mike Huckabee, who lost to Bumpers.

=U.S. House of Representatives=

Image:AsaHutchinson.jpg portrait]]

File:Campaign finance 63190u (cropped).jpg

In 1992 Hutchinson's brother, Tim, was elected to Congress in Arkansas's third congressional district, when veteran U.S. Representative John Paul Hammerschmidt retired. In 1996, when his brother decided not to run for a third term in the House in order to seek the open Senate seat caused by the retirement of David Pryor, Hutchinson ran for the seat and won.

Hutchinson, who had at first decided to run for an open seat in the Arkansas House of Representatives from Sebastian County, defeated Ann Henry, a longtime friend of Bill and Hillary Clinton, in November 1996. Although Henry outspent Hutchinson during the campaign, the district's heavy Republican tilt and his brother Tim's presence atop the ballot helped Asa win with 52% of the vote. Tim Hutchinson also won his campaign for the U.S. Senate and served one term, losing his reelection bid in 2002.

In 1998, Hutchinson was reelected to the House with far less difficulty, taking 81% of the vote against a third-party challenger. He was reelected unopposed in 2000. Hutchinson served as a house manager (prosecutor) in the impeachment trial of Bill Clinton.{{cite web |title=List of Individuals Impeached by the House of Representatives {{!}} US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives |url=https://history.house.gov/Institution/Impeachment/Impeachment-List/ |website=history.house.gov |publisher=United States House of Representatives Office of the Historian, Office of Art & Archives, Office of the Clerk |access-date=December 16, 2022 |language=en}}

In office, Hutchinson compiled a voting record as conservative as his brother's. He led efforts to crack down on illegal drugs, particularly methamphetamine. Hutchinson also served as one of the managers of the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton in 1998. In 1999, Hutchinson was involved in the effort to reform campaign finance laws and offered an alternative proposal to the bill by Christopher Shays and Marty Meehan, which he opposed on the grounds that it "went too far" by attempting to ban television commercials by legal third-party organizations. Hutchinson did support John McCain's and Russ Feingold's Senate bill.{{cite news |author=Tapper, Jake |url=http://www.salon.com/news/feature/1999/10/12/hutchinson/print.html |title=The conversion of Asa Hutchinson |work=Salon |date=October 12, 1999 |access-date=December 31, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114081201/http://www.salon.com/news/feature/1999/10/12/hutchinson/print.html |archive-date=January 14, 2009 }}{{better source needed|reason=Neutral source needed.|date=October 2016}} Hutchinson unsuccessfully tried to modify the civil asset forfeiture reform bill that sought to prevent police abuse of its power to seize private property on mere suspicion of being linked to any criminal investigation. His amendment would allegedly have empowered the police to continue profiting from drug money.{{cite web |author=NDSN |url=http://www.ndsn.org/summer99/fort1.html |title=US House Approves Civil Forfeiture Reform Bill |publisher=National Drug Strategy Network |date=Summer 1999 |access-date=December 31, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000118211409/http://www.ndsn.org/summer99/fort1.html |archive-date=January 18, 2000 |url-status=live}}

=Drug Enforcement Administration=

File:AsaHutchinson.JPG

File:Frank Wolf and Asa Hutchinson tour a DEA drug testing facility in Northern Virginia.jpg tour a DEA drug testing facility in Northern Virginia in 2001]]

In 2001, at the beginning of the George W. Bush administration, Hutchinson was appointed Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). He was confirmed by a 98–1 Senate vote.{{cite web |url=http://www.oakridger.com/stories/082701/opE_0827010021.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070629143719/http://www.oakridger.com/stories/082701/opE_0827010021.html |url-status=dead |title=The Oak Ridger Online – Opinion – David Broder: A needed debate on U.... |date=June 29, 2007 |archive-date=June 29, 2007 |access-date=February 19, 2018}}

=Department of Homeland Security=

After the September 11 attacks, Congress created the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). President Bush tapped Hutchinson to lead the Border and Transportation Security Directorate, a division of the DHS. The Senate confirmed Hutchinson by unanimous consent on January 23, 2003.{{Cite book |last=United States Congress, Committee on Appropriations |title=108-2 Hearings: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations for 2005, Part 4, March 18, 2004 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |year=2004 |location=Washington, D.C. |pages=232}} Hutchinson left office as Undersecretary on March 1, 2005.{{cite web |url=https://gcn.com/articles/2005/04/14/whos-at-home-for-dhs.aspx |title=Who's at home for DHS -- GCN |website=GCN |access-date=February 19, 2018 |archive-date=October 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021133721/https://gcn.com/articles/2005/04/14/whos-at-home-for-dhs.aspx |url-status=dead}}

Post-Bush administration

=Business career=

In early 2005, Hutchinson founded a consulting firm, Hutchinson Group, LLC, with partners Betty Guhman and Kirk Tompkins, in Little Rock, and accepted a contract for a one-year position with Venable LLP in Washington, D.C., as the chair of its Homeland Security practice.{{cite news |url=https://thedailyrecord.com/2005/03/02/hutchinson-heading-homeland-security-at-venable/ |work=The Daily Record |location=Maryland |date=March 2, 2005 |title=Hutchinson heading homeland security at Venable |access-date=May 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523233513/https://thedailyrecord.com/2005/03/02/hutchinson-heading-homeland-security-at-venable/ |archive-date=May 23, 2022 |url-status=live}} Hutchinson ended his contract with Venable LLP in March 2006 to focus on his gubernatorial campaign and his consulting firm in Little Rock. In January 2007, Hutchinson rejoined Venable.{{cite press release |url=https://www.venable.com/about/news/2007/01/asa-hutchinson-former-arkansas-congressman-and-dhs |title=Asa Hutchinson, Former Arkansas Congressman and DHS Under Secretary, Returns to Venable |date=January 4, 2007 |work=Venable |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017044901/http://www.venable.com/press_releases.cfm?action=view&press_release_id=316 |archive-date=October 17, 2007 |access-date=May 1, 2022}}

In June 2006, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported that Hutchinson's $2,800 investment in Fortress America Acquisition Corporation, a company that Hutchinson was advising, was worth over $1 million after the company's initial public offering. The news story noted that Hutchinson was unable to touch his stock for another two years. The six founding shareholders in Fortress America, in addition to Hutchinson, included former U.S. Representative Tom McMillen, former U.S. Senator Don Nickles, and a private-equity firm that had former CIA Director James Woolsey among its partners.

On May 4, 2006, Hutchinson had filed a financial disclosure form he was required to submit as a candidate for governor. The form did not list his 200,000 shares in Fortress America, which were trading at about $5 per share. "Just totally an oversight", Hutchinson said when questioned by the media in June.{{cite news |url=http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/156878/ |title=Hutchinson's $2,800 outlay, 'sweat' pay off |date=June 7, 2006 |newspaper=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette |edition=Northwest Arkansas |first=Mark |last=Minton |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060624204059/http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/156878/ |archive-date=June 24, 2006}} He filed an amended report the next day to correct the error.{{cite news |url=http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/153831/ |title=State candidates detail '05 income, gifts in reports |date=May 6, 2006 |newspaper=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette |edition=Northwest Arkansas |first1=Seth |last1=Blomeley |first2=Michael R. |last2=Wickline |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927235214/http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/153831/ |archive-date=September 27, 2007 }}

=Political activities=

Hutchinson agreed to serve on The Constitution Project's Guantanamo Task Force in December 2010.{{cite news |url=http://www.constitutionproject.org/pdf/TF_Members_Dec%20132010.pdf |title=Task Force members |publisher=The Constitution Project |date=December 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725192624/http://www.constitutionproject.org/pdf/TF_Members_Dec%20132010.pdf |archive-date=July 25, 2011 |url-status=live |access-date=February 19, 2017}}{{cite news |url=http://www.constitutionproject.org/ |title=Task Force on Detainee Treatment Launched |publisher=The Constitution Project |date=December 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215120344/http://constitutionproject.org/ |archive-date=December 15, 2010 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/APc6cee95477334766afca698cfc3a3611 |title=Think tank plans study of how US treats detainees |newspaper=Wall Street Journal |date=December 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20101219013031/http://online.wsj.com/article/APc6cee95477334766afca698cfc3a3611.html |archive-date=December 19, 2010 |url-status=dead |quote=Former FBI Director William Sessions, former Arkansas U.S. Rep. Asa Hutchinson, a retired Army general and a retired appeals court judge in Washington are among 11 people selected for a task force that will meet for the first time in early January, said Virginia Sloan, a lawyer and president of The Constitution Project.}} He told the Associated Press he agreed to join the task force because he believed it was "something important for our national security and our war on terrorism."

In the wake of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the National Rifle Association of America (NRA) assembled a group with backgrounds in homeland security, law enforcement training, and school safety to review school security standards in select areas of the country. Led by Hutchinson, the group's stated goal was to produce a comprehensive plan to address the safety of children in schools and to prevent such shootings in the future. On April 2, 2013, he presented the National School Shield plan during a news conference at the National Press Club.{{cite news |author1=Lucy Madison |title=NRA "school safety" plan calls for trained, armed school staff |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nra-school-safety-plan-calls-for-trained-armed-school-staff/ |work=CBS News |date=April 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130402181727/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57577496/nra-school-safety-plan-calls-for-trained-armed-school-staff/ |archive-date=April 2, 2013 |language=en-US |url-status=live}}[http://hosted2.ap.org/CAANR/162267dc0689421dbbd940e1d89c4eeb/Article_2013-04-02-US-Gun-Control/id-d477ffbf02b04a85875851eb4882109f TITLE]. Associated Press (via Orange County Register). Published: April 2, 2013.{{Dead link|date=February 2024|fix-attempted=yes}}

Governor of Arkansas

{{expand section|reason=Please add his accomplishments and other events as governor|date=March 2015}}

=2006 election=

File:Asa-Monticello (277523700).jpg

Shortly after returning to Arkansas, Hutchinson announced his candidacy for governor in 2006. Initially, he was to face three-term Lieutenant Governor Winthrop Paul Rockefeller, who was favored in most pre-election polls, in the Republican primary. But Rockefeller's withdrawal and death from a blood disorder in early 2006 led to Hutchinson winning the primary. In the general election, he lost to the Democratic nominee, then-Arkansas Attorney General Mike Beebe.{{Cite web |last=Hardy |first=Benjamin |date=January 15, 2015 |title=Arkansan of the Year: Asa Hutchinson |url=https://arktimes.com/news/cover-stories/2015/01/15/arkansan-of-the-year-asa-hutchinson |access-date=April 7, 2021 |website=Arkansas Times |language=en-US}}

=2014 election=

Hutchinson was the Republican nominee for governor of Arkansas in 2014. He was supported by House Speaker Davy Carter.{{cite web |url=http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2013/05/17/davy-carter-wont-make-race-for-governor|title=Davy Carter won't make race for governor|date=May 17, 2013|work=Arkansas Times|first=Max|last=Brantley |access-date=July 8, 2013}} On November 4, 2014, after defeating Tea Party-backed Curtis Coleman in the Republican primary, he defeated the Democratic nominee, Mike Ross, in the general election with 55% of the vote, the best showing for a Republican in an open-seat gubernatorial race since the end of Reconstruction. His victory also gave the GOP complete control of state government for the first time since the end of Reconstruction.

=2018 election=

Hutchinson was reelected on November 6, 2018, in a landslide, taking over 65% of the vote and carrying all but eight counties. In a bad year for the GOP nationally, Hutchinson garnered the largest margin of victory for a Republican candidate in Arkansas history.

=Tenure=

File:20170507-OSEC-MMR-ARKANSAS-0326 (34404669951).jpg in 2017]]

Hutchinson took office as governor on January 13, 2015.

File:President Trump Meets with the Governor of Arkansas and the Governor of Kansas (49920449731).jpg and Laura Kelly in 2020]]

File:President Joe Biden meets with a bipartisan group of governors and mayors.jpg, Vice President Kamala Harris and a bipartisan group of governors and mayors in 2021]]

On November 16, 2015, Hutchinson said that he would block all Syrian refugees from entering the state in response to the November 2015 Paris attacks.{{Cite news|last1=Bosman|first1=Julie|last2=Seelye|first2=Katharine Q.|last3=Hauser|first3=Christine|date=November 16, 2015|title=Multiple Republican Governors Say They Oppose the Entry of Syrian Refugees|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/paris-attacks-live-updates/arkansas-governor-says-his-state-opposes-settling-syrian-refugees/|access-date=April 5, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}

Under Hutchinson, Arkansas resumed executions in 2017 after having executed no one since 2005.{{Cite web|title=Arkansas' governor opens up about his rapid execution schedule|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/lethal-injection/arkansas-gov-hutchinson-executions-i-absolutely-made-right-decision-n752791|access-date=May 4, 2021|website=NBC News|date=April 29, 2017 |language=en}}{{Cite web|date=April 18, 2017|title=Arkansas' governor is 'fighting back' to execute five men in 10 days. But why?|url=http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/apr/18/asa-hutchinson-arkansas-executions-motive|access-date=May 4, 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en}}{{cite news|author=Dwyer, Colin|date=April 14, 2017|title=Federal Court Blocks 7 Executions Set For 11-Day Span In Arkansas|website=NPR|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/04/14/523948641/courts-block-7-executions-set-for-11-day-span-in-arkansas|access-date=April 15, 2017}} In 2021, DNA testing on the murder weapon and a bloody shirt at the scene of the crime did not match Ledell Lee, who was convicted and executed for murder.{{Cite web|first=Lara|last=Farrar|date=May 1, 2021|title=Advocates report new DNA evidence; kin of executed man behind findings|url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2021/may/01/advocates-report-new-dna-evidence/|access-date=May 4, 2021|website=Arkansas Online|language=en}} Hutchinson defended Lee's execution, saying, "the DNA findings released today do not present any conclusive evidence to undermine [Lee's guilty verdict]."

As governor, Hutchinson implemented work requirements for Medicaid enrollees. As a result, by December 2018, almost 17,000 Arkansans had lost their Medicaid health insurance, with reapplication available in the new calendar year.{{Cite web |url=https://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2018/12/17/work-rule-ends-medicaid-coverage-for-4600-more-arkansans-in-december |title=Update: Work requirement ends Medicaid coverage for 4,600 more Arkansans in December |last=Hardy |first=Benjamin |website=Arkansas Times |access-date=December 18, 2018 |date=December 17, 2018}}

In February 2019, Hutchinson signed a bill into law that would criminalize abortion in the event Roe v. Wade is overturned.{{cite news |last1=Gstalter |first1=Morgan |title=Arkansas governor signs 'trigger' abortion ban bill |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/430695-arkansas-governor-signs-trigger-abortion-ban-bill |date=February 19, 2019 |newspaper=The Hill |access-date=February 20, 2019}} On March 9, 2021, he signed SB6, a near-total abortion bill, into law. He said that the bill was intended "to set the stage for the Supreme Court overturning current case law. I would have preferred the legislation to include the exceptions for rape and incest, which has been my consistent view, and such exceptions would increase the chances for a review by the U.S. Supreme Court."{{cite news |work=KSLA |url=https://www.ksla.com/2021/03/09/gov-hutchinson-signs-near-total-abortion-bill-sb/ |title=Gov. Hutchinson signs near-total abortion bill, SB6 |date=March 9, 2021 |access-date=March 10, 2021 }} On May 8, 2022, Hutchinson responded to comments by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell about potential passage of a future federal law prohibiting abortions nationwide: "If the court reverses Roe v. Wade, they're saying that the Constitution does not provide that, which returns it to the states. And that's where the vigorous debate is going to be. That is where we're going to face a lot of concerns on the compassion side."{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/asa-hutchinson-mcconnell-national-abortion-ban-roe-v-wade-republicans-2022-5|title=Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson says a national abortion ban floated by McConnell is 'inconsistent with what we've been fighting for'|website=Business Insider|first=John L. |last=Dorman|date=May 8, 2022|access-date=May 9, 2022}}

In 2015, Hutchinson signed into law legislation that would prohibit localities from extending civil rights protections to LGBT individuals.{{Cite web |last1=Trager |first1=Kevin |last2=Eady |first2=Alyse |date=April 2, 2015 |title=Arkansas governor signs new 'religious freedom' bill |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2015/04/02/arkansas-religious-freedom-bill/70831330/ |access-date=March 27, 2021 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}} At the time, Arkansas was among states that allowed discrimination in the workplace, housing and business on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation.{{Cite web |first=German |last=Lopez |title=Arkansas's real LGBT problem: discrimination is legal even without a religious freedom law |url=https://www.vox.com/2015/4/1/8327441/arkansas-rfra-lgbt |access-date=March 27, 2021 |website=Vox |date=April 1, 2015| language=en}} In March 2021, Hutchinson signed into law legislation that would allow doctors to refuse non-emergency medical treatment to LGBT people based on moral objection.{{Cite news |last=DeMillo |first=Andrew |date=March 26, 2021 |title=Arkansas governor signs bill allowing medical workers to refuse treatment to LGBTQ people |work=PBS Newshour |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/arkansas-governor-signs-bill-allowing-medical-workers-to-refuse-treatment-to-lgbtq-people}} In April 2021, he vetoed a bill that would make it illegal for transgender minors to receive gender-affirming medication or surgery,{{Cite news |last=Astor |first=Maggie |date=April 5, 2021 |title=Gov. Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas, a Republican, vetoed an anti-transgender bill. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/05/us/politics/asa-hutchinson-arkansas-transgender-veto.html |access-date=April 5, 2021 |issn=0362-4331}} calling it "a vast government overreach".{{Cite web |last=Yurcaba |first=Jo |title=Arkansas governor vetoes ban on gender-affirming care for trans minors |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/arkansas-governor-vetoes-ban-gender-affirming-care-trans-minors-n1263084 |access-date=April 5, 2021 |website=NBC News |date=April 5, 2021 |language=en}} The state legislature later overrode his veto.{{Cite web |last=Bryan |first=Max |title=Arkansas lawmakers ban youth transgender treatment and surgeries, overriding governor's veto |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/04/06/arkansas-transgender-surgeries-bill-legislature-overrides-gov-asa-hutchinson/7112107002/ |access-date=April 7, 2021 |website=USA Today |language=en-US}}

In August 2021, Hutchinson signed bills into law that prohibited businesses and government facilities from requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination for staff and customers to enter facilities.{{Cite web |date=April 29, 2021 |title=Arkansas governor signs bills banning vaccine requirements |url=https://apnews.com/article/arkansas-coronavirus-health-1ba4a3515fb9fdd130f2b4470463a44a |access-date=August 4, 2021 |work=Associated Press |language=en}} While Arkansas was experiencing a wave of COVID-19 cases, he also signed a bill into law that prohibited state and local officials from enacting mask mandates.{{Cite web |title=Gov. Hutchinson wishes he didn't sign mask mandate ban into law |url=https://www.thv11.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/asa-hutchinson-wishes-didnt-sign-mask-mandate-ban-into-law/91-1e7b1915-8219-445f-8ef9-8932d1656a0d |access-date=August 4, 2021 |website=thv11.com |date=August 3, 2021 |language=en-US}} He later said he regretted doing so. In December 2021, Hutchinson praised President Joe Biden's COVID policies and thanked Biden for his efforts to "get the vaccinations out" and "depoliticizing" the federal COVID response.{{Cite web |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/gop-gov-asa-hutchinson-thanks-biden-for-depoliticizing-covid-response-2021-12 |title=Arkansas' Republican governor thanked President Joe Biden for depoliticizing the federal COVID-19 response |access-date=December 29, 2021 |date=December 28, 2021 |work=Business Insider |first=Eric |last=Snodgrass}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.msnbc.com/11th-hour/watch/biden-s-covid-response-gets-praise-from-republican-governor-129737797768 |title=Biden's Covid response gets praise from Republican governor |access-date=December 29, 2021 |website=MSNBC |date=December 29, 2021}} In January 2022, Hutchinson encouraged large businesses to not comply with the Biden administration's vaccine requirements.{{Cite web |first=Devan |last=Cole |title=Arkansas governor says large businesses in state should not comply with Biden administration's 'oppressive vaccine mandate' |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/09/politics/asa-hutchinson-biden-vaccine-mandate-supreme-court-cnntv/index.html |access-date=January 9, 2022 |website=CNN|date=January 9, 2022 }}

Hutchinson demanded that Republicans who tried to overturn the 2020 presidential election and spread Donald Trump's "Big Lie" about mass voter fraud not be put in positions of leadership.{{Cite web |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/588912-hutchinson-says-individuals-who-support-the-big-lie-are-not |title=Hutchinson says 'big lie' supporters 'not demonstrating leadership' |work=The Hill |access-date=January 12, 2022 |date=January 9, 2022 |author=Mychael Schnell}} He also accused Trump of dividing the party and said his election conspiracies were a "recipe for disaster".{{Cite web |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/552894-republican-governor-of-arkansas-says-trump-is-dividing-our-party |title=Republican governor of Arkansas says 'Trump is dividing our party' |access-date=January 12, 2022 |work=The Hill |date=May 11, 2021 |first=Morgan |last=Gstalter}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2021/10/17/arkansas-gop-governor-says-trumps-fraud-claims-are-recipe-for-disaster-in-midterms/ |title=Arkansas GOP Governor Says Trump's Fraud Claims Are 'Recipe For Disaster' In Midterms |date=October 17, 2021 |access-date=January 12, 2022 |work=Forbes |first=Alison |last=Durkee}} On February 5, 2022, Hutchinson and U.S. senator Lisa Murkowski condemned the Republican National Committee's censure of representatives Adam Kinzinger and Liz Cheney for their support of and participation on the House Select Committee tasked with investigating the January 6 United States Capitol attack.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.newsweek.com/republicans-murkowski-hutchinson-slam-rncs-censure-cheney-kinzinger-1676581 |title=Republicans Murkowski, Hutchinson Slam RNC's Censure of Cheney, Kinzinger |magazine=Newsweek |first=Natalie |last=Colarossi |date=February 5, 2022 |access-date=February 6, 2022 }}

Post-gubernatorial career

= 2024 presidential campaign =

In May 2022, Hutchinson said he would consider running for president in 2024 even if former President Donald Trump ran again and that Trump's candidacy would not be a factor in his decision.{{cite web |last=Cole |first=Devan |date=May 1, 2022 |title=Arkansas GOP governor says he's considering 2024 bid and would run even if Trump does |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/01/politics/asa-hutchinson-2024-president-trump-cnntv/index.html |work=CNN |language=en-US |access-date=April 2, 2023}} He added, "I think he did a lot of good things for our country, but we need to go a different direction". On April 2, 2023, during an interview with ABC News' Jonathan Karl, Hutchinson announced his candidacy for the 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries.{{cite web |last1=Stracqualursi |first1=Veronica |last2=Iyer |first2=Kaanita |date=April 2, 2023 |title=Former Arkansas Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson announces White House bid |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/02/politics/asa-hutchinson-2024-white-house-announcement/index.html |website=CNN |language=en-US |access-date=April 2, 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Wiersema |first1=Alisa |date=April 2, 2023 |title=ABC News exclusive: Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson announces 2024 presidential run|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/abc-news-exclusive-former-arkansas-gov-asa-hutchinson/story?id=98238115 |work=ABC News |language=en-US |access-date=April 2, 2023}}

Toward the beginning of his campaign Hutchinson distinguished himself as a Trump critic, calling for the former president to drop out of the race after being indicted by a New York grand jury.{{cite news |last1=Demillo |first1=Andrew |title=Hutchinson launches GOP 2024 bid, calls on Trump to drop out |url=https://apnews.com/article/asa-hutchinson-president-2024-election-3a55855b1914d6e61338d1c8576a817f |access-date=July 9, 2023 |work=AP News |date=April 2, 2023}} After Trump was indicted by a federal grand jury for mishandling classified documents, Hutchinson criticized other Republican presidential candidates for saying they would pardon Trump if elected.{{cite news |last1=Cathey |first1=Libby |title=Asa Hutchinson calls it 'offensive' for GOP candidates to promise they'd pardon Trump |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/asa-hutchinson-calls-offensive-republicans-promise-pardon-trump/story?id=99995279 |access-date=July 9, 2023 |work=ABC News |date=June 11, 2023}} He also rebuked allegations made by fellow Republicans that the Department of Justice had been "weaponized" against Trump.{{cite news |last1=Mueller |first1=Julia |title=Hutchinson warns Republicans to 'back off' allegations DOJ has been 'weaponized' |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/4055802-hutchinson-warns-republicans-to-back-off-allegations-doj-has-been-weaponized/ |access-date=July 9, 2023 |work=The Hill |publisher=Nexstar Media Inc. |date=June 18, 2023}} Hutchinson came out against the

decision by the Republican National Committee (RNC) to require candidates wishing to participate in the primary debate to sign a loyalty pledge saying they would support the eventual Republican nominee, stating he would not vote for Trump if convicted on federal charges. Because of the debate conditions, Hutchinson organized a meeting between RNC officials and one of his staffers. The staffer, on behalf of Hutchinson, requested that the RNC amend the debate requirements to accommodate Hutchinson's concerns; the RNC rejected his request.{{cite news |last1=Allison |first1=Natalie |last2=Shepard |first2=Steven |title=RNC shuts down Hutchinson's push to amend loyalty pledge amid Trump indictment drama |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/06/15/rnc-loyalty-pledge-requirement-after-trump-indictment-00102325 |access-date=July 9, 2023 |work=Politico |date=June 15, 2023}} Hutchinson ultimately decided to sign the pledge,{{cite news |last1=Garrity |first1=Kelly |title=What happens to candidates who walk back on the RNC loyalty pledge? Well… |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/08/23/rnc-loyalty-pledge-debates-00112392 |access-date=September 7, 2023 |work=Politico |date=August 23, 2023}} but when candidates were asked during the debate to raise their hand if they would still support Trump as the party's nominee if he were convicted, he and Chris Christie were the only ones not to do so.{{cite magazine |last1=Wallace-Wells |first1=Benjamin |title=A Chaotic Display of Conservatism at the First Republican Debate |url= https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/a-chaotic-display-of-conservatism-at-the-first-republican-debate |access-date=August 25, 2023 |magazine=The New Yorker |date=August 24, 2023 }}

Hutchinson failed to make any of the other debates, with his poll numbers remaining at around one percent nationally.{{cite news |last1=Frankel |first1=Jillian |title=Asa Hutchinson has no plans to drop out of presidential race despite low polling |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/asa-hutchinson-no-plans-drop-presidential-race-low-polling-rcna125084 |access-date=December 5, 2023 |work=NBC News |date=November 15, 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Cathey |first1=Libby |title=Asa Hutchinson sets new goal for 2024 campaign after missing debate requirement |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/asa-hutchinson-sets-new-goal-2024-campaign-after/story?id=103482356 |access-date=December 5, 2023 |work=ABC News |date=September 26, 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Menezes |first1=Damita |title=Where Asa Hutchinson stands on the issues that matter to voters |url=https://www.newsnationnow.com/politics/debates/asa-hutchinson-political-views-2024/ |access-date=December 5, 2023 |work=NewsNation |date=December 2, 2023}} He would drop out of the race on January 16,{{cite news |last1=Garrity |first1=Kelly |title=Hutchinson's long road comes to an end |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/16/asa-hutchinson-president-2024-00135805 |access-date=January 16, 2024 |work=Politico |date=January 16, 2024}} the day after he earned only 191 votes in the Iowa caucuses, fewer votes than every other candidate,{{cite news |title=Asa Hutchinson says campaign will 'reevaluate' after Iowa caucuses |url=https://www.kcci.com/article/asa-huntinson-iowa-caucus/46402034 |access-date=January 16, 2024 |work=KCCI-TV |publisher=Hearst Television Inc. |date=January 15, 2024}} including little-known candidate Ryan Binkley.{{cite news |last1=Stein |first1=Sam |title=Binkley voter explains why the Texas pastor won him over from Bernie Sanders |url=https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/01/15/iowa-caucus/we-found-a-binkley-voter-00135722 |access-date=January 16, 2024 |work=Politico |date=January 15, 2024}} Following Hutchinson's withdrawal, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) issued a statement mocking Hutchinson's campaign, "This news comes as a shock to those of us who could’ve sworn he had already dropped out."{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Zeke |title=White House apologizes to former 2024 candidate Asa Hutchinson as Biden courts anti-Trump GOP |url=https://apnews.com/article/hutchinson-biden-apology-2024-election-democrats-dnc-2e8c4e9560f281be4fe881f3248d2f86 |access-date=January 20, 2024 |work=AP News |date=January 17, 2024}} The statement elicited condemnation from anti-Trump conservatives who chastised the DNC for attacking someone who shared their opposition to Trump.{{cite news |last1=Alafriz |first1=Olivia |title=Anti-Trump conservatives chafe at DNC statement mocking Asa Hutchinson |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/16/trump-dnc-asa-hutchinson-00135951 |access-date=January 20, 2024 |work=Politico |date=January 16, 2024}} White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients later called Hutchinson to apologize for the DNC's statement. Days before the New Hampshire primary, Hutchinson endorsed Nikki Haley.{{cite news |last1=Irwin |first1=Lauren |title=Hutchinson throws support behind Haley days before New Hampshire primary |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4419880-hutchinson-throws-support-behind-haley-days-before-new-hampshire-primary/ |access-date=January 20, 2024 |work=The Hill |date=January 20, 2024}} After Trump won the primaries, Hutchinson said he planned to write-in a name for president in the general election, refusing to vote for Trump or Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.{{cite news |last1=Burnley |first1=Alexandra |title=Asa Hutchinson reacts to historic month of presidential campaigns |url=https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/politics/elections/asa-hutchinson-presidential-campaigns-2024-trump-biden-harris/527-2e8ced70-8531-4ae9-8fea-71dc0ea25f0a |access-date=August 20, 2024 |work=5News |date=July 22, 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Boyd |first1=Samantha |title=Arkansans Democrats, former Gov. Asa Hutchinson visiting Democratic National Convention |url=https://www.nwahomepage.com/news/featured-stories/arkansans-democrats-former-gov-asa-hutchinson-visiting-democratic-national-convention/ |access-date=August 20, 2024 |work=KNWA FOX24 |date=August 20, 2024}}

Personal life

Hutchinson has four children with his wife, Susan Burrell.{{cite web |url=https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/susan-burrell-hutchinson-14588/ |title=Susan Burrell Hitchinson |date=July 18, 2019 |website=Encyclopedia of Arkansas |first=Revis |last=Edmonds |access-date=October 4, 2021}} Hutchinson's older brother, Tim, preceded him as U.S. representative from Arkansas' 3rd congressional district and served as a U.S. senator from 1997 to 2003 before being defeated for reelection by Arkansas Attorney General Mark Pryor, a Democrat, in 2002. Asa and Tim Hutchinson are both graduates of Bob Jones University. Tim Hutchinson's identical twin sons, Jeremy and Timothy Chad Hutchinson, were the first twins to serve together in the Arkansas General Assembly, both as members of the House of Representatives. Asa Hutchinson is the brother-in-law of former Arkansas state senator Kim Hendren, who in 1958 married his sister Marylea Hutchinson. Arkansas district 2 state senator Jim Hendren of Sulphur Springs is Hutchinson's nephew.{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=26605|title=Hendren, Jim Paul|publisher=ourcampaigns.com|access-date=November 29, 2013}}

Electoral history

{{Election box begin | title=2006 Arkansas gubernatorial election{{cite web|url=http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/Documents/Voices2006-WEB_sm.pdf|title=Voices of Arkansas: A Report on Voting Trends in the Natural State|publisher=Arkansas Secretary of State|access-date=June 27, 2014|archive-date=September 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921202231/http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/Documents/Voices2006-WEB_sm.pdf|url-status=dead}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Mike Beebe

|votes = 430,765

|percentage = 55.61%

|change = +8.65%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Asa Hutchinson

|votes = 315,040

|percentage = 40.67%

|change = −12.35%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Independent (politician)

|candidate = Rod Bryan

|votes = 15,767

|percentage = 2.04%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Green Party (United States)

|candidate = Jim Lendall

|votes = 12,774

|percentage = 1.65%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate|

|party = Write-ins

|candidate =

|votes = 334

|percentage = 0.04%

|change =

}}

{{Election box majority

|votes = 115,725

|percentage = 14.94%

|change = +8.88%

}}

{{Election box turnout

|votes = 774,680

|percentage =

|change =

}}

{{Election box gain with party link

|winner = Democratic Party (United States)

|loser = Republican Party (United States)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Republican primary for 2014 Arkansas gubernatorial election{{cite web|url=http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/AR/51266/130771/en/summary.html |title=2014 Arkansas Preferential Primary Elections and Nonpartisan Election May 20, 2014 |publisher=Arkansas Secretary of State |access-date=June 4, 2014}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Asa Hutchinson

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 130,752

| percentage = 72.95

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Curtis Coleman

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 48,473

| percentage = 27.05

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 179,225

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box begin| title=2014 Arkansas gubernatorial election{{cite web|url=http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/AR/53237/149537/Web01/en/summary.html |title=November 4, 2014 General election and nonpartisan runoff election Official results|publisher=Arkansas Secretary of State |access-date=November 23, 2014}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Asa Hutchinson

|votes = 470,429

|percentage = 55.44%

|change = +21.81%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Mike Ross

|votes = 352,115

|percentage = 41.49%

|change = −22.93%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Libertarian Party (United States)

|candidate = Frank Gilbert

|votes = 16,319

|percentage = 1.92%

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Green Party (United States)

|candidate = Josh Drake

|votes = 9,729

|percentage = 1.15%

|change = −0.71%

}}

{{Election box total

| votes = 848,592

| percentage = 100.0%

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box gain with party link no swing

|winner = Republican Party (United States)

|loser = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=Republican primary for 2018 Arkansas gubernatorial election}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Asa Hutchinson (incumbent)|votes=145,251|percentage=69.7}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Jan Morgan|votes=63,009|percentage=30.3}}{{Election box total no change|votes=208,260|percentage=100.0}}{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin| title=2018 Arkansas gubernatorial election}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Asa Hutchinson (incumbent)

|votes = 582,406

|percentage = 65.33%

|change = +9.89%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Jared Henderson

|votes = 283,218