LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – Sarah Sanders, Donald Trump’s former chief spokeswoman and one of his closest aides, is running for Arkansas governor, a senior campaign official told The Associated Press.
Sanders, who left the White House in 2019 to return to her home state, planned to announce its offer Monday, according to the campaign official speaking Sunday night on condition of anonymity, as they were not authorized to speak publicly prior to the formal announcement.
The former White House press secretary is launching her bid less than a week after the end of Trump’s presidency and now that the ex-president is facing an impeachment lawsuit. But Sanders is also in a solid red state with Republicans embracing the former president.
Sanders, the daughter of former Governor Mike Huckabee, was widely expected to run for office after leaving the White House – and Trump publicly encouraged her to try. She laid the groundwork for a candidacy and spoke to GOP groups across the state.
Sanders joins an expensive Republican primary that already includes two statewide elected leaders, Lieutenant Governor Tim Griffin and Attorney General Leslie Rutledge. The three are running to succeed current Governor Asa Hutchinson, a Republican who will be unable to run next year due to deadlines. No Democrats have announced they want to run for the seat.
Sanders launched her offer weeks after a riot Trump’s supporters at the Capitol killed five people. More than 130 people have been charged with the uprising, which was intended to stop President Joe Biden’s certification of Trump’s victory.
Sanders was the first working mother and third woman to serve as the White House press secretary. But she also got questions about her credibility during her time as Trump’s chief spokesman.
During her nearly two-year tenure as Trump’s chief spokeswoman, the daily televised briefings led by the press secretary ended after Sanders repeatedly sparred with reporters who aggressively questioned her about governance policies and the investigation of possible coordination between Trump’s campaign and Russia. But Sanders earned reporters’ respect by developing a relationship with the media behind the scenes.
Trump’s tumultuous departure from the presidency could do little harm to Sanders in Arkansas. Republicans hold all Arkansas state and federal seats, as well as a solid majority in both chambers of the legislature.
Griffin and Rutledge together have raised more than $ 2.8 million in the race, which could get even busier. Republican State Senator Jim Hendren, who is also Hutchinson’s cousin, is considering a run.
Sanders, who published a book last year and joined Fox News after leaving the White House, is entering the race with a much higher profile than any candidate. But she remains a stranger to many of the state’s biggest problems and has said she doesn’t want to distract from Hutchinson’s agenda.