Sarah Huckabee Sanders

Democratic Platform

Democrats support progressive taxation, with higher rates on top earners and corporations to fund public investment. The party favors raising the minimum wage, strengthening unions, and expanding worker protections. Democrats generally support government investment in infrastructure, education, and social programs as drivers of broad economic growth.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders

Governor Sanders signed significant income tax cuts for Arkansans in 2023 and 2024, reducing the top individual income tax rate, and has made tax reduction a signature economic policy. She supports deregulation, attracting business investment to Arkansas, and reducing the size and scope of state government. She has promoted workforce development initiatives and has positioned Arkansas as a low-cost, business-friendly state.Source →

Republican Platform

Republicans favor lower taxes across income levels, with particular emphasis on cutting corporate and capital gains taxes to stimulate investment and job creation. The party supports deregulation, reduced government spending, and free market solutions over federal programs as the primary engine of prosperity.

Democratic Platform

Democrats support expanding access to affordable healthcare, including protecting the Affordable Care Act and moving toward a public option or expanded Medicare coverage. The party broadly favors government negotiation of prescription drug prices and opposes removing protections for pre-existing conditions.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders

Governor Sanders supports market-based healthcare approaches and has opposed expanding government healthcare programs. She signed legislation making Arkansas the first state to ban gender transition procedures for minors and has been a vocal critic of what she describes as politically motivated healthcare policy. She supports rural healthcare access as a priority for Arkansas.Source →

Republican Platform

Republicans have generally sought to repeal or significantly reform the Affordable Care Act, favoring market-based solutions. The party supports expanding health savings accounts, increasing competition among insurers across state lines, and reducing federal mandates on coverage requirements.

Democratic Platform

Democrats generally support pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, including DACA recipients, and favor comprehensive immigration reform. The party supports increased resources for legal immigration processing and a humanitarian approach to asylum seekers at the border.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders

Governor Sanders supports strict border security and enforcement-first immigration policies, and has dispatched Arkansas National Guard troops to the southern border as part of multi-state border security operations. She opposes sanctuary policies and has backed legislation opposing benefits for undocumented immigrants in Arkansas.Source →

Republican Platform

Republicans prioritize border security and strict enforcement of existing immigration law. The party broadly supports completing physical border barriers, ending policies they view as incentivizing illegal entry, and reforming legal immigration to favor applicants with marketable skills.

Democratic Platform

Democrats favor robust federal investment in public K-12 education and higher education, along with policies to reduce or eliminate student loan debt. The party generally opposes using public funds for private school vouchers and supports universal pre-K and affordable childcare.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders

Governor Sanders signed the LEARNS Act in 2023, Arkansas's sweeping education reform law that established universal school choice through education savings accounts, raised teacher pay, and eliminated tenure. She views school choice as a defining issue and has been a national leader among governors on expanding educational options for families.Source →

Republican Platform

Republicans support school choice, including voucher programs for private and religious schools, and local control over curriculum decisions. The party generally opposes federal education mandates and broadly supports parental rights in schooling. Many Republicans oppose student loan forgiveness as unfair to borrowers who repaid their loans.

Democratic Platform

Democrats broadly support stricter gun safety measures, including universal background checks, red flag laws, and restrictions on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines. The party frames these regulations as consistent with the Second Amendment and necessary to reduce mass shootings.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders

Governor Sanders is a strong Second Amendment supporter and has signed legislation expanding gun rights in Arkansas. She opposes additional gun control measures and has backed permitless carry and other measures expanding Arkansans' firearm rights.Source →

Republican Platform

Republicans strongly defend Second Amendment rights and generally oppose new gun control legislation, arguing that existing laws should be enforced more effectively. The party emphasizes mental health intervention, the right to self-defense, and opposes what they view as infringement on law-abiding gun owners.

Democratic Platform

Democrats view climate change as an urgent crisis requiring immediate government action. The party supports transitioning to clean energy through federal investment and regulation, reducing carbon emissions across the economy, and meeting international climate commitments. Democrats generally oppose expanding fossil fuel development on public lands.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders

Governor Sanders supports Arkansas's energy industry, including natural gas production, and opposes aggressive climate regulations she argues harm Arkansas's economy. She supports energy independence and an all-of-the-above energy approach, emphasizing reliability and affordability over emissions reduction mandates.Source →

Republican Platform

Republicans emphasize American energy independence through domestic production of oil, gas, and coal alongside renewable development. Many in the party are skeptical of aggressive climate regulations they argue harm economic growth and jobs. Republicans generally prefer market-based energy solutions over government mandates and oppose restrictions that raise energy costs for families.

Democratic Platform

Democrats generally support a multilateral approach to foreign policy, emphasizing alliances, international institutions, and diplomacy as the first line of engagement. The party broadly supports maintaining NATO commitments, providing aid to democratic allies, and engaging international bodies to address shared challenges.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders

Governor Sanders supports a strong U.S. military and robust American leadership abroad. She has backed support for Israel and U.S. allies and has been a vocal advocate for American strength in foreign policy. She has criticized what she describes as weakness in U.S. foreign policy under the Biden administration.Source →

Republican Platform

Republicans emphasize American sovereignty, a strong military as a deterrent, and bilateral relationships over multilateral institutions. The party broadly supports robust defense spending and is skeptical of international agreements they view as constraining American action or requiring open-ended foreign commitments.

Democratic Platform

Democrats oppose cuts to Social Security or Medicare benefits and support expanding both programs. The party generally favors raising the Social Security payroll tax cap on high earners to ensure long-term solvency and opposes any form of privatization.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders

Governor Sanders supports protecting Social Security and Medicare benefits that Americans have earned. She opposes benefit cuts for current and near-retirees and backs ensuring program solvency through economic growth and spending restraint rather than tax increases.

Republican Platform

Republicans support reforming Social Security and Medicare to ensure long-term fiscal solvency, which some in the party argue requires adjusting benefits or eligibility ages. The party opposes tax increases to fund the programs and some members have supported personal investment account options.

Democratic Platform

Democrats broadly support criminal justice reform, including reducing mandatory minimum sentences, addressing racial disparities in policing and incarceration, and investing in community-based alternatives. The party generally supports police accountability measures and evidence-based approaches to reducing recidivism.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders

Governor Sanders supports strong law enforcement and has backed legislation increasing penalties for violent crime. She signed a bill in 2023 toughening sentences for fentanyl trafficking and has focused on public safety as a core gubernatorial responsibility. She is skeptical of criminal justice reform measures she argues reduce accountability for violent offenders.Source →

Republican Platform

Republicans emphasize law and order, strong support for law enforcement, and tough penalties for crime. The party generally opposes reducing mandatory minimum sentences for violent offenses and supports prosecutors pursuing strong sentences. Republicans broadly oppose policies they view as undermining police authority or creating leniency for criminals.