Early voting diary: A Hallie sighting, Natalie James on hope and sweet ’80s jams at the polls
We cast our ballot this morning, joining throngs of early voters in a raucous line that snaked around the Pulaski County Administration Building. Pulaski County has seen record turnout in what many Arkansas Democrats and progressives hope will be a turning-point election away from Republican control.
There was a Chris Jones booster in her blue CJ T-shirt screaming —”Vote for Chris Jones!” — so loudly that we are certain her voice will be shot by the time this article posts. Jones is the Democrat running for the U.S. House in Arkansas’ 2nd Congressional District against Republican incumbent French Hill.
There was a guy in a red sedan who drove by and said out of his window plaintively, “vote Republican.” It felt a little desperate, but we are desperately reading into things at this point in the election.
Political superstar and Tom Cotton challenger Hallie Shoffner also strolled by, eliciting shrieks from the line. She was sporting a “Cotton is for T-Shirts, Vote Hallie” T-shirt, which we looked up and discovered is still available for sale right here. She hugged the other Jones supporters before heading to Pine Bluff for more campaigning.
Michael Hernandez, the Millennial candidate running for Little Rock City Director in Ward 2, ratcheted up the revelry, blaring 80s dance music from a campaign vehicle parked across the street. “Pump up the vote, pump it up!” he urged. Hernandez is running to replace long-time, long-absent incumbent City Director Ken Richardson.
Hernandez also doled out some last-minute endorsements. “Wendell Griffen for Pulaski County Judge!,” he said, referencing the Democratic candidate running against Republican Michael Rushin to succeed Barry Hyde, the embattled county judge whose support for the $6 billion AVAIO data center has drawn fierce criticism.
We also had a chance to chat with candidate Natalie James, running for Little Rock City Director Ward 7, a ward that includes Woodland’s Edge, Otter Creek, Mableville and Alexander. James is familiar to anyone who remembers her unsuccessful but spirited Senate race against John Boozman in 2022; she’s running for the City Board seat vacated by BJ Wyrick when she launched her challenge to Mayor Frank Scott Jr.
James has two challengers: Joe Gray and the Rev. Benny Johnson. On what makes her stand out, she said, “If you can’t serve, you can’t lead, and I’ve been serving Arkansas for 10 years.” James cited her experience as vice chair for the Land-Based Commission and her work as a commercial and residential real estate agent and environmental advocate.
On what the election represents to James, she said, “This is the magnification of all the hope and hard work that we’ve put in in the last ten years,” referencing the state’s long-disempowered Democrats and progressives.
“Arkansas has not always been a red state. It’s been a blue state,” James continued. “And it doesn’t matter what color it is. It matters who is going to work for you. Right now, we’re seeing what the other guys have done over the last 16 years. And I’m not happy about gas, inflation or anything else, and I want to make sure we get that change.”
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