Her first two years in office show a track record of many firsts.
To say that Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders hit the ground running after her inauguration on January 10, 2023, would be an understatement. During her first two years in office, she:
- Cut taxes.
- Implemented sweeping reforms of the state school system.
- Delivered the GOP responses to the State of the Union Address.
- Passed universal school choice.
- Launched the Natural State Initiative to grow Arkansas’ outdoor economy.
- Streamlined state government.
To be fair, this is not her first time in the political spotlight. As the daughter of former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, she witnessed leadership firsthand as she watched her father make many difficult decisions. Later, she served as President Donald Trump’s press secretary, a post that put her in the public eye of America — and in the crosshairs of the national media — on practically a daily basis.
When people say she’s unflappable, they mean it. She has earned a reputation for plainspokenness, unapologetic conservatism and unflinching family values. She also served in the U.S. Department of Education under the administration of President George W. Bush, and later ran her own father’s campaign for president.
When you forge a resume like that, there is no political storm you haven’t seen and no tempest you haven’t been called on to manage. Through it all, she has shown grace under pressure and courage under fire.
Since taking office, she has presided over a booming state economy and seen her state become a top five destination for moving Americans. In the following interview, she outlines her approach to economic development and her pro-business philosophy.
You have made cutting taxes a key part of your agenda as governor. What motivated you to do this, and how have these tax cuts helped the Arkansas economy grow?
GOVERNOR SANDERS: Who do you trust more to handle your money: the government, or yourself? It’s a simple question, but one government often gets wrong. We’ve cut taxes three times in my administration and, since just 2015, have sliced our state income tax nearly in half. This puts money back in the hands of families and businesses, where it belongs, and has allowed us to create record economic growth and jobs numbers throughout my time in office.
You have also made education a key platform of your administration, exemplified by Arkansas LEARNS. What are the key tenets of LEARNS, and how does it help students learn and grow?
GOVERNOR SANDERS: I ran to be Arkansas’ education governor, and I’ve made it a top priority since day one of my administration. I signed the LEARNS Act into law just months after taking office, raising starting teacher pay from $36,000 to $50,000 — from 48th in the nation to top five overnight — deploying 120 literacy coaches around the state, and offering universal school choice for the first time in Arkansas history. Of special interest to companies and potential investors is our Career Ready Pathways program. Now, every high school in the state is required to offer classes in at least one of 18 high-wage, high-growth professions, like manufacturing, construction, computer science and welding.
Growing the outdoor economy in Arkansas is another major goal of your administration. How do you plan to accomplish this?
GOVERNOR SANDERS: Arkansas’ natural beauty is one of our state’s greatest assets — and it’s gone untapped for far too long. Alongside my husband, Bryan, I created the Natural State Initiative, bringing together the greatest minds in the public, private and nonprofit sectors to invest in outdoor recreation, tourism and Arkansans’ quality of life. Our tourism industry has been breaking records month after month, and I’m excited to welcome visitors who are coming to Arkansas to enjoy first-class hunting, fishing, biking, hiking, rafting, boating, and join in all the other amazing outdoor activities we have to offer.
You have a track record of firsts — from being the first mom to serve as White House press secretary to being the first woman to serve as governor of Arkansas. You are also the youngest serving governor in America. What do you think these accomplishments say about you and the team of people you have assembled around you?
GOVERNOR SANDERS: I’m proud to be the first woman to lead my state but I didn’t run to be first of anything; I ran to make Arkansas first in everything. To accomplish that, I surrounded myself with a team of highly qualified leaders from Arkansas and around the country. Less than two years into my administration, I think our accomplishments speak for themselves: three tax cuts, record job numbers, an expanding economy, Arkansas LEARNS, investments in public safety, a growing tourism industry and more.
Census data show that Arkansas has become one of the preferred destinations for people on the move in America. Why did your state suddenly become so popular? What are the factors driving people to choose to relocate to Arkansas?
GOVERNOR SANDERS: Arkansas has a lot to offer: a low cost of living, an excellent quality of life, and commonsense, pro-business leadership in state government. We’re proud of our history and the amazing state we call home — but we’d never let that get in the way of welcoming newcomers. Whether it’s tech workers in Northwest Arkansas, retirees in Hot Springs, college graduates in Little Rock, or new families in any of the cities or towns across our state, we’re proud to welcome any new residents who want to make Arkansas their home.
“Arkansas has a lot to offer: a low cost of living, an excellent quality of life, and commonsense, pro-business leadership in state government.”
— Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders
What are some of your top goals for the remainder of your administration?
GOVERNOR SANDERS: One thing I learned from my dad, former Governor Mike Huckabee, is that passing laws is the easy part. Implementing them is where the rubber meets the road. We’ve worked hard to make sure the reforms I signed into law are actually effective, especially in areas like education, public safety and tourism. Going forward, I want to grow Arkansas’ economy while limiting the growth of government, allowing us to responsibly cut taxes and help businesses and families thrive.
