Election 2024: Asa Hutchinson Candidate Profile

By Molly Dougherty 

Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson formally launched his 2024 presidential campaign on April 26, 2023. He is a member of the Republican party.

Hutchinson served as the 46th Governor of Arkansas from 2015 to 2023. Hutchinson has separated himself from some of his GOP colleagues with his outspoken criticism of former President Donald J. Trump. He is running with the intention of serving as another option for republicans who do not want to vote for Trump. He has criticized the former president for his recent indictments and his handling of the 2020 election results.

In a video posted to his campaign website, Hutchinson said he chose to launch his campaign because the country is “on the wrong track under President Biden.” He cites his experience as Head of the Drug Enforcement Administration and Under Secretary for Border and Transportation Security at the Department of Homeland Security under President George W. Bush. 

Hutchinson’s main concerns center around the US economy, specifically the national debt. He also wants to focus on making the US energy independent. His other policy ideas center around tighter border security, protecting the US from China and Russia, and providing police officers with the proper resources to cut down on crime.

In an April interview with CNN correspondent Dana Bash, Hutchinson said he would sign a federal abortion ban if elected President. He said he would support certain exceptions, such as the health of the individual giving birth, or in cases of sexual assault. As Governor of Arkansas, he signed a near-total abortion ban into law that did not include exceptions for sexual assault. 

In a recent poll conducted by Emerson College from August 25 and 26, Hutchinson fell behind his fellow Republican candidates. The poll showed Hutchinson at 1%, with Johnson, Hurd, and Suarez below–at 0%.