Gov. Asa Hutchinson is a former Republican candidate for president of the United States. He served as the 46th governor of the state of Arkansas and in his last election was re-elected with 65% of the vote, having received more votes than any other Republican candidate for governor in the state’s history.
Hutchinson’s time as governor is distinguished by his success in securing over $700 million per year in tax cuts, safeguarding the retirement pay of veterans from state income tax, shrinking the size of state government, creating over 100,000 new jobs, and leading a national initiative to increase computer science education.
As part of the emphasis on economic development, Hutchinson set a priority for workforce training by increasing access to state-of-the-art workforce centers throughout the state and funding pilot projects to match skilled workers with employers through web-based portals.
The governor’s career in public service began when former President Ronald Reagan appointed him U.S. attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, making him the nation’s youngest U.S. attorney. In 1996, Hutchinson was elected to serve the first of three consecutive terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. During his third term in Congress, he was appointed by former President George W. Bush to serve as administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration and later as the nation’s first undersecretary of homeland security for border protection.
He is a former chairman of the National Governors Association.
As a candidate for president, Hutchinson presented himself as an advocate for a balanced federal budget, energy production, and enhanced border security.
Hutchinson grew up on a small farm near Gravette. He is a graduate of Bob Jones University and the University of Arkansas School of Law. He and his wife, Susan, have been married for 50 years and have four children and seven grandchildren.