Kim Hammer

{{Short description|American politician}}

{{infobox officeholder

| name = Kim Hammer

| state_senate = Arkansas

| term_start = January 19, 2019

| term_end =

| predecessor = Jeremy Young Hutchinson

| successor =

| constituency = 33rd district (2019–2023)
16th district (2023–present)

| state_house1 = Arkansas

| district1 = 28th

| term_start1 = January 10, 2011

| term_end1 = January 19, 2019

| predecessor1 = Barbara Nix

| successor1 = Jasen Kelly

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1958|8|11}}

| birth_place = Damascus, Arkansas, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Republican

| education = Trinity College of the Bible and Theological Seminary (BA)

}}

Kim Davin Hammer is a Missionary Baptist preacher and state legislator in Arkansas. He serves in the Arkansas Senate. He is a Republican. He hosts a weekly conservative talk radio show.[https://1011fmtheanswer.com/radioshow/8528 The Kim Hammer Show], KDXE.

Hammer was a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for eight years before being elected to the state Senate in 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://senate.arkansas.gov/senators/576|title=Kim Hammer|website=Arkansas Senate}} He lives in Benton, Arkansas.{{Cite web|url=https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Legislators/Detail?member=K.+Hammer&ddBienniumSession=2021/2021R|title=Senator Kim Hammer (R) - Arkansas State Legislature|website=www.arkleg.state.ar.us}}

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Arkansas, Hammer was one of several Republican state legislators who sued Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, a fellow Republican, over public health measures that he ordered to prevent the spread of the virus. An Arkansas judge dismissed the suit.John Lynch, [https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2020/oct/15/judge-rejects-suit-opposing-virus-orders/?news-politics Judge rejects suit by Arkansas lawmakers opposing virus orders], Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (October 15, 2020).

In 2021, Hammer promoted Donald Trump's claim that the 2020 presidential election was "stolen"; after Trump was impeached for a second time, wrote in a Facebook post that Democrats were "enemies" and called for "political war" to be waged against them. Hammer deleted the post after it garnered criticism.Max Brantley, [https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2021/01/16/sen-kim-hammer-declares-war-on-democrats-in-now-removed-facebook-post Sen. Kim Hammer declares 'war' on Democrats in now-removed Facebook post], Arkansas Times (January 16, 2021). In 2021, as part of Republican efforts to restrict voting following Trump's defeat, Hammer introduced a bill to eliminate early voting in Arkansas on the last Monday before Election Day, a measure that voting-rights groups described as voter suppression. The bill passed the Senate on a 19–13 vote, but failed in the state House on a 43–39 vote.Rachel Herzog, [https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2021/apr/28/house-rejects-bill-to-lop-day-of-early-voting/ House rejects bill to lop day of early voting], Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (April 28, 2021).Rachel Herzog, [https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2021/apr/23/senate-oks-early-voting-ban-on-day-before-election/ Senate OKs early voting ban on day before election], Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (April 23, 2021).

In 2021, Hammer opposed the grant of a liquor-sales permit for a new Costco Wholesale in west Little Rock, a portion of which is in his district. Hammer wrote a letter to the director of the Alcohol Beverage Control Division, contending that the public's needs were "being adequately met by these existing businesses."Noel Oman, [https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2021/may/28/liquor-sales-at-new-costco-hit-bump/ Liquor sales at new Costco in Little Rock hit bump after lawmaker objects], Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (May 28, 2021). By contrast, Little Rock's mayor and vice mayor supported Costco's permit request. The director initially denied Costco's permit application,John Lynch, [https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2021/jul/18/permit-sell-liquor-disputed/ Permit to sell liquor disputed], Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (July 18, 2021). but this decision was reversed after a successful appeal by Costco to the Control Board directors.