Asa Hutchinson, 72, is Not Going to Run for the Electoral Posthumous Term, but He Does Want to Reinvigorate the Party
Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced his bid for the Republican presidential nomination, saying he believes that “people want leaders that appeal to the best of America, and not simply appeal to our worst instincts.”
“I’m convinced that people want leaders that appeal to the best of America, and not simply appeal to our worst instincts,” Hutchinson, 72, said in an interview on ABC New that aired Sunday, noting that a formal announcement would come later this month in his hometown of Bentonville, Arkansas.
The GOP primary field is early in its development. Trump announced a third presidential campaign last year, while Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and US ambassador to the United Nations, became the first major rival to challenge him when she announced her bid in February. There have been moves by other Republicans that suggest they are considering running for president.
The office is more important than anyone else. So for the sake of the office of the presidency, I do think that’s too much of a sideshow and distraction,” Hutchinson said. “He needs to be able to concentrate on his due process.”
Asked why he hasn’t joined the chorus of Republicans attacking Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg for indicting Trump, Hutchinson said that, while he didn’t agree with Bragg’s decision, “We don’t want to erode confidence in our entire criminal justice system simply because we don’t like the beginning parts of the case.”
The former governor previewed his pitch to voters, arguing that the swirl of uncertainty around Trump, along with the substance of the allegations against him in multiple jurisdictions, “should give Americans pause.”
The announcement comes days after the former Arkansas governor spent days in Iowa, which will hold the first presidential caucus, leading to speculation that he would announce his intention to run.
The upcoming debate will be good for the debate, and multiple candidates have an alternative vision which is good for our party, according to Hutchinson.
Some Republican strategists say a crowded 2024 primary field would be advantageous to Trump, who still enjoys significant support among the party base, and could splinter the anti-Trump vote, allowing the former president to walk away with the nomination.
“So, sure, that will narrow, and it will probably narrow fairly quickly. We need a lot of self-evaluation as you go along, and I think more voices now that provide alternatives and problem-solving ideas is beneficial for our party.
Attorney General Tim Hutchinson, First Attorney General, in the US Senate and after his 1999 impeachment convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice
Hutchinson was involved in the enactment of tax cuts and legislation that instituted a total ban on abortion after the Wade decision.
During his tenure, he sometimes butted heads with the Republican-controlled legislature, including when he vetoed a bill in 2021 that banned gender-affirming treatment for anyone under the age of 18. Explaining his veto, Hutchinson called the bill “vast government overreach.” The legislature overthrew his veto.
Born and raised in Arkansas, Hutchinson received an accounting degree from Bob Jones University in South Carolina and graduated from University of Arkansas law school.
He was the youngest federal prosecutor in the country at the time when Ronald Reagan picked him to be the US attorney for the western district of Arkansas. He served in that role until 1985, gaining prominence for his prosecution of a dangerous White supremacist group when he donned a bulletproof vest to help the FBI end a standoff with the group.
After losing bids for US Senate in 1986 and for Arkansas attorney general in 1990 Hutchinson was elected to the US House of Representatives from the state’s 3rd Congressional District. He succeeded his brother, Tim, who was elected to the US Senate.
The case that Clinton committed perjury and obstruction of justice was made by Hutchinson during the 1999 impeachment trial of the Democratic president. Clinton was ultimately acquitted by the Senate on both articles of impeachment.
The announcement comes just two days before Trump is expected to surrender to authorities in New York following his indictment by a Manhattan grand jury over hush-money payments made to adult-film star Stormy Daniels to cover up an alleged affair. Trump is the first person who has lived in the White House to face criminal charges. Hutchinson called for Trump to step aside from the race.
He told ABC the “grand jury found probable cause and that’s the standard for any criminal charges in our society.” His party had called the charges politically motivated.