Republican · Arkansas governor · 2026
Sarah Huckabee Sanders
Sanders grew up around campaigns as the daughter of former Arkansas Gov.
Biography
Sarah Huckabee Sanders lives in Little Rock with her husband, Bryan, their three children and a golden retriever named Traveler.1 She grew up in Pine Bluff and Texarkana before graduating from Little Rock Central High School and Ouachita Baptist University.1 Her father is former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee.2
Her career developed through political campaigns: she worked on her father's presidential bid, managed John Boozman's 2010 Senate campaign and advised Tom Cotton's 2014 campaign.1 She joined Donald Trump's 2016 campaign and served as White House press secretary from 2017 to 2019.1 She also wrote the memoir Speaking for Myself and worked as a Fox News contributor before becoming governor.3
Elected in 2022 and inaugurated in January 2023, Sanders became Arkansas' first woman governor.1 Her LEARNS education overhaul established a $50,000 minimum teacher salary and created a program using public funds for private school expenses.14 The law also introduced literacy screening and additional reading support in lower performing schools.4
Her reelection campaign emphasizes tax relief and an eventual elimination of the state income tax.5 She also supports work, school or volunteer requirements for young, healthy adults receiving public assistance.6 She faces Democrat Fred Love and Libertarian Colt Shelby.2 Love wants to eliminate her school voucher program, making its future one concrete difference between the candidates.7
Record and controversies
Lectern purchase audit and declined charges
An audit of a roughly $19,000 lectern purchase identified potential violations involving procurement and public records, but the prosecutor declined criminal charges in June 2024 because proof was insufficient.8 The state Republican Party reimbursed the purchase; Sanders' office called the original state card payment an accounting error and disputed the audit's legal interpretation.8 This was an adverse audit followed by a decision not to prosecute, rather than a criminal conviction.8