Category Archives: Politics

Womack speaks in House while heart is at home

Steve WomackBy Steve Brawner, © 2026 by Steve Brawner Communications, Inc.

U.S. Rep. Steve Womack spoke in the House of Representatives on Jan. 22 in support of a $1.2 trillion spending package he had helped create. His voice cracked twice, but only briefly and for a very good reason. Four days earlier, he had lost his wife.

Terri Womack, his wife of 41 years, had died on Jan. 18 at age 68.

The spending package passed the House with bipartisan support, 341-88. It would provide funding for the Departments of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education.

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Cole Jester vs. Christian Olson for land commissioner

The Arkansas land commissioner is so low profile that most voters probably don’t know who the current officeholder is or what he does.

The officeholder should be easy: Tommy Land is the current land commissioner. He’s term-limited. 

Running in the Republican primary to replace him are Secretary of State Cole Jester and Christian Olson. No Democrats filed. Continue reading →

Hammer vs. Harrison vs. Norris for SOS

Let’s meet the Republicans seeking to be Arkansas’ next secretary of state: Sen. Kim Hammer, R-Benton; Miller County Judge Cathy Hardin Harrison; and Bryan Norris.

The office administers elections, maintains the Capitol, and administers business filings. Current Secretary of State Cole Jester was appointed by Gov. Sarah Sanders and is therefore ineligible to run. The primary elections are March 3. Continue reading →

Arkansas TV cuts ties with PBS, Big Bird; more local shows coming

By Steve Brawner, © 2026 by Steve Brawner Communications, Inc.

Big Bird of “Sesame Street” fame will not be appearing on Arkansas public television broadcasts starting next July. Instead, the station will be offering a lot more local programming, such as a new show that will help families prepare healthy meals on a budget. 

The changes are coming because President Trump and Congress have cut all federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The CPB was granting $2.5 million to Arkansas TV – formerly Arkansas PBS – which was 20% of its budget. 

Arkansas TV then used that $2.5 million to pay its yearly dues to the Public Broadcasting System. PBS is the distributor of “Sesame Street,” Ken Burns’ historical documentaries, and other programming. 

Carlton Wing, Arkansas TV’s new executive director and CEO, explained the situation during a speech at the Rotary Club of Little Rock Jan. 13. His first day on the job was Sept. 30.

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Prediction game: Prison stays stuck, Dems win U.S. House

By Steve Brawner, © 2025 by Steve Brawner Communications, Inc.

What might happen in Arkansas in 2026? Let’s play the prediction game.

– The March 3 primaries will produce no big surprises and generate a voter turnout of about 20%. Sen. Tom Cotton and Rep. French Hill easily will win their contests. State Sen. Fred Love, D-Mablevale, will be the Democratic nominee for governor, while Hallie Shoffner will be the Democrats’ U.S. Senate nominee. Chris Jones will be the nominee to face Hill in the 2nd District.

State Sens. Bryan King, R-Green Forest, and Ronald Caldwell, R-Wynne, both will win their primary races. Those are the two Republican state senators who voted against Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ $800 million prison last year and who face primary opponents. Continue reading →