Rutledge Drops Out of Governors Race, Now Runs for Lt. Governor

Wednesday, November 10, 2021 at 4:47 AM

The race for the Republican Nomination for Governor of Arkansas is down to one.

Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge on Tuesday dropped her bid for governor, clearing former White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders’ path to the Republican nomination for the post.

Rutledge, who announced last year she was running for governor, said she would instead seek the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor.

At this crossroads in our country’s history, now is a time for Christian conservative leaders to unite and fight together against those who wish to destroy the America we know and love,” Rutledge said in a statement released by her campaign.

Rutledge endorsed Sanders’ bid, saying “she will stand strong against the onslaught of the liberal left’s attack on our home state.”

Rutledge was first elected attorney general in 2014 and won reelection in 2018. She badly trailed Sanders in fundraising for governor, with Sanders raising more than $11 million since she launched her bid in January. Rutledge had raised $1.6 million total.

(From KTLO/Associated Press)