A new Democratic candidate for the Arkansas Governor’s Office has emerged.
Supha Xayprasith-Mays declared her candidacy for the Democratic nomination in the 2022 Arkansas Governor’s race on Friday, March 26 in North Little Rock. Speaking in the parking lot of her Main Street headquarters, Xayprasith-Mays told supporters and media that she aimed to be a ‘people-tician,’ not a politican.
During the event, both Xayprasith-Mays and other speakers emphasized the historic nature of the announcement, stating that she would be the first female, first person of color and first multicultural individual ever elected to the state’s executive office. Xayprasith-Mays was born in Southeast and arrived in Northwest Arkansas at the age of six after her family fled Laos.
She has served in leadership roles at Walmart and is an entrepreneur with her company publishing INCLUSION Magazine in Little Rock. According to a biography provided by her campaign, she has worked in the publishing, consulting, retail, restaurant television network and oil exploration industries.
Xayprasith-Mays has also held civic roles in the League of United Latin American Citizens for the Northwest Arkansas Chapter, the Arkansas Orchestra Symphony board, the Arkansas Asian Business Enterprise and others.
“I am running for Governor of the Great State of Arkansas because I cannot stand on the sidelines while so many Arkansans – and their families – are struggling. Arkansas ranks 48thin household income and, as a result, too many of our children are going to bed hungry. Jobs have been lost along with our sense of optimism,” she said in a statement.
During the announcement event, Xayprasith-Mays emphasized a people-first platform, advocating for job training and increased investment in forward-looking technology sectors.
“I want to make it a state where people want to move to Arkansas not move away from Arkansas. We’re going to build jobs to where we train our youth, our women, our men…,” she said. “They will have skill sets that are marketable no matter if they live in Arkansas or New York that they can compete in this market.”
Her platform includes focusing on artificial intelligence and universal broadband, as well as a green technology manufacturing industry in Arkansas.
Xayprasith-Mays is the second individual to declare their candidacy for the Democratic nomination. In February 2021, Little Rock business owner James ‘Rus’ Russell announced his plans to seek the Democratic nomination in the 2022 race.
On the opposite side of the aisle, the two notable public figures will be facing off for the Republican Party nomination. Former White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders and current Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge have cast their hats into the ring for the GOP nomination. Current Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin previously declared his candidacy but withdrew, opting to run for the state Attorney General’s Office.
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