Candidate Statements from Our 2026 Convention

Fred Love

Democratic Nominee for Governor

Good afternoon, Arkansas.

I want to start by thanking the awesome democrats of this state for nominating me as the Democratic candidate for Governor.  That trust means everything to me, and I don’t take it lightly.

I have served the people of Arkansas in the legislature for 16 years, and I am ready to serve as the next Governor of the Great State of Arkansas.  I am sorry I could not join you today, but know my heart is with you.  Friends, it is time to roll up our sleeves and get to work.  The people of Arkansas are hurting, we are hurting, and no one is coming to save us.

So now what, what do we do at a time, when Governor Sanders is lock step with a President that refuses to prioritize the people?  WE the people make a change!

Arkansas has been served by Democratic governors, who understood that this office belongs to the people. Governors who listened. Who showed up. Who has been in the fight.

That’s not what we’re seeing now. And Arkansas can’t afford it anymore.

Gas prices are up. Groceries cost more. Young people can’t buy a home. Over 70 childcare providers have gone out of business, Meals on Wheels programs threatened.  Our seniors can’t afford food and medicine at the same time and vouchers are draining our resources, so we cannot pay our teachers and we cannot provide literacy support for our kids.
These are our neighbors. These are our families. This is us.

Arkansas Deserves Better.

There’s too much at stake to believe Governor Sanders lies. It’s time for common-sense. That’s why Democrats will NEVER STOP working for a better Arkansas and never stop working for YOU.

I’m running for Governor because I’ve lived the challenges Arkansas families face. I believe in the values that carried me through; faith, hard work, community, and these same values can carry this state forward.
I will invest in our public schools, not drain them. Reading specialists, fair pay for teachers, and mental health services in every district.

I will protect and invest in Medicaid and fight to extend postpartum coverage, because no mother should be abandoned by her state 60 days after giving birth.

And I will build regional economic hubs, so prosperity reaches the Delta, the Ozarks, and our Main Streets, not just the corner offices of special interest.

Your family deserves a fairer budget and a government that measures success by your quality of life, not by headlines.
Folks, I know the odds. But the people of Arkansas are tired of being taken for granted. You deserve a governor who answers when you call. Who leads with faith, works hard, builds community, and believes education can change a life, because it changed mine.

Listen, 
History has a way of repeating itself.  Governor Sanders has shown you who and what she will do for our State, let’s not repeat her history, lets forge together and create a future where Arkansas is not known for having a $19,000 podium, ranking in the bottom in health care, education, and food insecurities, but known as a  State where we can we actually talk about  health care, education, and food insecurities and doing something about it.

A place where we can bring jobs here, that will pay a living wage.  Where our communities can come together and take  care of each other, from the mothers and fathers who work tirelessly to put food on the table, to the first responders who are selfless, to the teachers who go without and spend money out of their own pockets to help our children learn, to the farmers who work from sun up to sun down, to the small business owners who had a dream, to the hardworking everyday Arkansan who are working hard for a better life for their families. 
We all deserve better. And together, we’re going to make it happen.

God bless you, and God bless the great State of Arkansas.

Kelly Grappe

Democratic Nominee for Secretary of State

Chairman, delegates, and fellow Democrats,
Thank you for the honor of your nomination for Arkansas Secretary of State.
While I wish I could be with you today, I’m in South Arkansas meeting with voters, listening to their concerns, and earning trust one conversation at a time.
I’m running because I believe in Arkansas and in the people who make our state strong.
Across our state, too many people feel overlooked and disconnected from their government. They deserve leaders who listen, who are accountable, and who put the public interest first. As Secretary of State, I will protect the integrity of our elections, support transparent and efficient government, and work every day to strengthen trust in the institutions that serve us.
At its heart, this election is about trust. The Secretary of State’s office should be transparent, accountable, and focused on serving voters, supporting our county clerks, and helping Arkansas businesses succeed.
And building that trust starts with all of us. This campaign is grassroots at its core, because real change happens through conversations with neighbors, engagement in our communities, and people willing to show up and do the work. That’s how we build the coalition we need to win. I’ll work with anyone who wants to move Arkansas forward, and I’ll hold the line when necessary to protect our values, our elections, and the public’s trust.
I am a proud Democrat because I believe in protecting the right to vote, expanding opportunity, and creating a future where everyone has a fair shot.
I am honored to accept your nomination for Arkansas Secretary of State.
Thank you for your faith in me and your partnership. Together, let’s show Arkansas who Arkansas Democrats are and build a state where every voice matters.
Regnat Populus.

James Russell

Democratic Nominee, AR 4th Congressional District

My fellow Democrats,

I am honored to serve as your nominee for Arkansas’s fourth congressional district in the 2026 midterm elections. The fight for a more perfect union is eternal and is one that we must all engage in together. The fight for equal rights and opportunities under the law, healthcare as a human right, women's full bodily autonomy, and protections for our BIPOC and LBGTQ+ communities. The fight to prevent the corporatization of our democracy, to root out the corrupting influence of would-be oligarchs over our elected officials. The fight to protect our natural resources from exploitation, and to protect the rights of every working class family to living wages, affordable necessities like groceries, utilities, and fuel; and the ability engage in collective bargaining. The fight to live in a world where peaceful resolutions are once again sought in earnest and military action is used solely as a final resort. And, most importantly, the fight against the rising tide of fascist authoritarianism that threatens the freedoms of every man, woman, and child today and in the future. We must face these challenges together shoulder-to-shoulder. We must be willing to have our disagreements without undermining these larger objectives. We must be willing to have the hard discussions with our neighbors with whom we may not agree, but with whom we must live and whose rights we must defend with equal vigor. We are a state and a nation of many who are one. Let us never feel alone or unequal to the task at hand. We WILL prevail. We MUST prevail. We SHALL persist.

Again, I am honored and privileged to serve as your nominee for Congress. As you may have heard me say in person, "Now, let's do this thing."

Yours in love and justice,

James "Rus" Russell, 
Democratic nominee, AR 4th Congressional District, 2026