Each month through the primary elections in May, AMP will visit with the candidates for Arkansas’ constitutional and federal offices in 2022.
This month, we are featuring Democratic Secretary of State candidate Josh Price as well as the three candidates seeking to replace Leslie Rutledge as the state’s Attorney General: Republicans Tim Griffin and Leon Jones and Democrat Jesse Gibson.
Each month through May, a different group of candidates will be featured.
Attorney General
Tim Griffin (R) is the current Arkansas Lieutenant Governor. He was elected in 2014 and re-elected in 2018. The Magnolia native represented Arkansas’ Second District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011-15 and served as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas from 2006-07. He is a graduate of Hendrix College and Tulane Law School.
AMP: Why are you running?
Griffin: I’m running for attorney general because Arkansas needs effective, conservative leadership during these unpredictable times.
With all that is happening in Washington, D.C., we need an attorney general who will push back against federal overreach, particularly from the Biden-Harris administration. Washington will continue to encroach more and more on the affairs of the states unless attorneys general push back and stand up for Arkansans.
We also have a crisis with police in this country, and I intend to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with and support the brave men and women in law enforcement who serve our state. The far left has done our nation a tremendous disservice by eroding public support for our police and in some cases even trying to defund them. Police morale is at an all-time low at the same time that violent crime is spiking. I’ll make sure our police are properly supported, both in word and deed.
Third, we need to keep violent criminals off our streets. Violent crime is rising all across the country, and Arkansas is no exception. We are at a 30-year high for violent crime statewide, and Little Rock is experiencing its deadliest year in a decade. Part of the problem is our parole system is broken and needs fixing. The number of crimes committed in Arkansas by criminals out on parole is a scandal and must be addressed immediately.
We should never let dangerous criminals out of prison simply because we don’t have enough bed space. I’ll work with partners in the nonprofit space to reduce recidivism and work with our legislature to make sure our laws better reflect truth in sentencing.
AMP: What do you bring to the field?
Griffin: First, I’m the only conservative in this race. My conservative views reflect the views and values of Arkansas voters, and I have a voting record and a track record of bold conservative leadership to back that up. On issues ranging from the right to life and Second Amendment to tax relief and cutting wasteful spending, my record is solidly conservative. For example, I made the case for getting rid of our state income tax when no one else was, and now it is Republican orthodoxy in Arkansas.
Secondly, I believe my experience sets me apart from the other candidates. I’m prepared to step into this job on day one, and I won’t need any training wheels. I’ve been a U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas. I also served in Congress on the House Ways and Means Committee and as Deputy Whip. As lieutenant governor for the past eight years, I’ve reduced my staff by over 50 percent and reduced my own budget. I currently serve as a colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve; I’ve commanded troops and have served as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer for over 25 years. I’ll draw on all those experiences and leverage them to benefit our state as attorney general.
AMP: What’s the biggest issue right now pertaining to the AG’s office?
Griffin: It’s a combination of pushing back on federal overreach in Washington and keeping our communities safe here in Arkansas.
Washington tends to try and take more and more power away from the states regardless of which president is in office, but it’s especially pressing with Joe Biden in the White House because so many issues are potentially affected including the Second Amendment, religious freedom and overly burdensome regulation in areas like energy and agriculture.
Public safety is also at the forefront of people’s minds because of the rise in violent crime we’re seeing across the nation. We need to strengthen and support the law enforcement profession, and we need to keep violent criminals off our streets. We need more truth in sentencing, and we need to reform our broken parole system.
AMP: Where is your favorite travel location in Arkansas?
Griffin: I love taking a weekend trip to Hot Springs. My wife and I were married there, and we have roots in that area. I enjoy spending time there on the lake, and Hot Springs is home to some of my favorite restaurants in the state.
AMP: What is your favorite Arkansas restaurant?
Griffin: It’s really hard to pick just one. Our state is blessed with some great Southern food. Some of my all-time favorites include Jones BBQ in Marianna, ZaZa’s in the Heights, 1217 Cafe in Hot Springs, Hugo’s in Fayetteville and Chick-A-Dilly in Magnolia. One of the best parts about running for office statewide is you get to try new restaurants in every county.
Leon Jones Jr. (R) is a seventh-generation Arkansan, born and raised in Pine Bluff. In 2015, Leon was appointed as Director of the Arkansas Department of Labor. Four years later, he was appointed as Executive Director of the Arkansas Fair Housing Commission. He is the owner of Eden Salt Studio in Little Rock, an attorney and the former Director of the Arkansas Department of Labor. He is a graduate of the University of Arkansas, where he received both his undergraduate and law degrees. Leon’s brother is 2022 gubernatorial candidate Chris Jones.
AMP: Why are you running?
Jones: For three main reasons. I’m a public servant at heart and have served on state and local boards for over 20 years. I’m a proven leader and introduced innovative technology at the Department of Labor to cut down on time and increase efficiency. I’ve partnered with businesses throughout the state. I’m a fiscal conservative and believe that the Republican Party has the best answers for today’s problems.
AMP: What do you bring to the field?
Jones: I’ve run two state agencies, so I understand budgeting, personnel manning and the difficulties of running these offices and divisions. You have to manage personalities as well as budgets and juggle different budgets and revenues. I can bring that knowledge to the Attorney General’s office. I also have the leadership experience needed for this position, after leading multiple organizations.
AMP: What’s the biggest issue right now pertaining to the AG’s office?
Jones: I have visited and campaigned in every county in the state, and I’ve spoken to around 50 Republican committees since January. I’ve talked to local leaders and business leaders. People want to be able to get in touch with staff at the Attorney General’s office. The attorney general is the chief legal officer of the state and can pool resources and tools to help law enforcement. The issue I’ve seen people express concern over is how to work with law enforcement on a county level. I want to work on the ground in each county because each county has different issues. We need a localized approach to different problems, and we need to efficiently work with law enforcement on all levels.
AMP: Where is your favorite travel location in Arkansas?
Jones: Mount Magazine. My wife and I have been up there almost every year since we got married. We’ll rent a cabin and cook right there overlooking the mountains, enjoying the fresh air and jumping in the hot tubs. It’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve been to in Arkansas, and I grew up in the South and in the delta. Mount Magazine offers something for everybody.
AMP: What is your favorite Arkansas restaurant?
Jones: My favorite is Lindsey’s Hospitality BBQ in North Little Rock. They make the best barbeque and fried chicken, other than in my own house.
Jesse Gibson (D) was born and raised in Lead Hill and is a private practice attorney at Gibson Law Firm in Little Rock. A University of Arkansas graduate, he received his law degree from the UALR William H. Bowen School of Law. He chairs the Little Rock Parks and Recreation Commission and serves on the board of the University of Arkansas Bar Association.
AMP: Why are you running?
Gibson: I am running to be our next attorney general because I have seen the suffering of Arkansans up close, and I believe we can do better. I have sat across the table from the nicest people who have had their worst days. People who have suffered loss. People who have suffered despair. People who need help. And I’ve seen how an experienced and dedicated attorney can help alleviate that suffering, even if just a little bit. Therein lies the great untapped potential of the Attorney General’s office. Most people’s interaction with the law isn’t in the halls of state government. Most people experience the law in courtrooms around the state or when it impacts their daily lives. The Arkansas Attorney General can impact and improve the lives of Arkansans every day by focusing less on politics and personal advancement and more on working for the taxpayers of this state.
I grew tired of waiting on the politicians to finally figure out what matters and decided to run for attorney general. This work gives me purpose. My mom taught us that faith means grace, forgiveness and understanding. Every one of us deserves safety, dignity and a way to make amends.
AMP: What needs to be done differently in the AG’s office?
Gibson: First and foremost, the attorney general should never utilize taxpayer funds to run television or radio ads to further his or her political career under the guise of “public service announcements.” The rule of law should govern all decisions made by the attorney general. Not political calculation or personal opportunity.
Every candidate for attorney general this year and in the future should sign a written pledge not to abuse taxpayer dollars for their own political ambitions in that way. I will be the first in line to do so.
AMP: These days, it seems especially tough for Democrats to win statewide office. How do you overcome that hurdle?
Gibson: As I travel across the state, I don’t find many people who are excited or feel positive about the direction of our state. Whether they are Republicans, Democrats or Independents, they know Arkansas will do better if our politics more closely resembled our kitchen-table Arkansas values than it does the dysfunction in Washington. And as people learn more about me, where I come from and what I believe, I think they will see that regardless of political party, we aren’t very different. We want the same thing in the Attorney General’s office: an advocate for the people.
I’m a Democrat because I believe we have to put people before politicians, before corrupt corporations and big tech. If you disagree with those values, and you believe that politicians, corporations and big tech should have more power and influence in our state and country, then I’m not for you.
People are going to have to make a choice about the future of our state — career politicians or someone who will keep watch on the politicians and uphold our values. There will be a clear contrast next November about the direction of the Attorney General’s office. More of the same, or a different and bolder vision.
AMP: What distinguishes your candidacy?
Gibson: There are certain things that I am, and certain things that I’m not.
I am not a career politician. I am not someone who is interested in business as usual or finding a temporary landing spot in state government.
I am an experienced attorney, having practiced law for almost a quarter century in courtrooms all across Arkansas. I am an advocate for equal access to justice for all, having fought to protect Arkansans from draconian constitutional amendments that would impair their ability to seek justice and put an arbitrary price on the value of life. I am active and engaged in the ongoing process of improving our legal system for the benefit of Arkansans through my leadership in multiple legal organizations. I am the only candidate for attorney general who can make these claims.
Everything about the Attorney General’s Office is in lockstep with how I have dedicated my professional life to serving our state as an attorney. I believe every kid from every corner of Arkansas, from rural Lead Hill to downtown Little Rock, should know they can grow up to be an attorney or even the attorney general if they value the laws of our state and our nation.
Secretary of State
Josh Price (D) of Maumelle is a former Pulaski County Election Commissioner, current small business consultant and advocate for voting rights. A seventh-generation Arkansan, Price was born in southwest Arkansas. He previously served as the sole Democrat Election Commissioner for Pulaski County, helping oversee Arkansas’ largest county’s elections. In 2016, he founded the Asian American Pacific Islander Democratic Caucus of Arkansas. He is a graduate of the University of Central Arkansas.
AMP: Why are you running?
Price: I’m running for secretary of state to protect the voting rights of all Arkansans. Voting is not a Democrat or Republican issue – it’s a sacred American right. Every eligible Arkansan, no matter their race, background or location in the state, deserves to be able to vote conveniently, and their votes should have fair consideration. Republican politicians are making it harder for people to vote and are manipulating election systems to protect their power. We need a secretary of state who will fight their efforts. I will use my experience of running elections to ensure all elections are run fairly and smoothly, and that Arkansas finally has standard statewide election procedures.
While on the Pulaski County Election Commission, I saw 1,500 mail-in ballots get rejected for simple human errors like a missing apartment number or ZIP code, or the voter signed their signature with their first initial and last name instead of using their full name even though you could tell their handwriting was the same. There was an 85-year old woman whose ballot was rejected for a mismatched signature even though she had notarized letters from her doctor and her husband explaining that she recently had a severe stroke. No one wants there to be voter fraud but any way you look at it, this isn’t right and not in the spirit of the law. A lot of our rural counties have had their polling places “consolidated” to just a few locations to save costs. I was just in Yell County, and found that their 25 locations have been reduced down to only 11. I’m originally from Delight in Pike County, which is down to four polling locations for the whole county. In both these counties, some folks have to drive upwards of 30 miles just to be able to exercise their American right to vote.
Some of my goals and plans as secretary of state include: Keeping local and rural polling locations open to make voting more convenient; increased voter registration; voter education: where, when and how to vote (in-person or mail-in ballot); voter information; voter vans; partnership with library system bookmobiles to register voters, update voter addresses, last names and signatures and provide free photo IDs; advocate for online voter registration; advocate for the formation of an independent nonpartisan redistricting committee to create fair legislative maps that properly represent all our Arkansas communities.
AMP: What are some ways that your prior political experience gives you an advantage?
Price: The primary role of the secretary of state is to oversee elections, and I am the only candidate in this race with experience running elections and fighting Republican politicians’ attempts to make it harder to vote. When I served as a Pulaski County Election Commissioner, I expanded voter access by opening additional early voting locations, replaced 20-year-old voting machines, helped write our county’s COVID-19 safety protocols and personally recruited and trained hundreds of poll workers during the pandemic. I also served on the Biden-Harris Democracy Reform Committee and specifically on the Election Administration Subcommittee. I know how to run large elections smoothly and fairly.
AMP: What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment?
Price: My greatest accomplishment is one that created a large impact for the people of Arkansas — helping defeat a bill that would have eliminated early voting the Monday before Election Day and shortened early voting hours overall. Earlier this year, Republicans in the state legislature repeatedly tried to pass SB485 which was designed to curtail early voting and each time, I fought hard against it in committee. The press dubbed it the “Zombie Voter Suppression Bill” because every time I and other voting rights advocates defeated it in committee, Republicans brought it back to life. I spoke against this bill five separate times. Finally, we successfully killed this horrible bill. Knowing that we protected the rights of the 58,000 Arkansas voters who cast their ballot on that Monday for the last 25 years was one of the greatest achievements of my life, and also proved to me that when a small group of passionate citizens show up and speak out against injustice, they can accomplish anything, even if the odds are against them.
Arkansas election dates 2022
May 9 … Early voting begins for primary elections
May 24 … Party primary elections
June 21 … General primary elections
Oct. 24 … Early voting begins for general election
Nov. 8 … General election
Dec. 6 … General runoff elections