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Asa Hutchinson is a former Governor of Arkansas and is running for President of the United States in 2024. He is a member of the moderate conservative wing of the Republican Party. We assign Asa Hutchinson a Right-Center Biased and High factual rating due to a clean fact check record.
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Asa Hutchinson
State: Arkansas
Title: Former Governor (2015 – 2023) – Presidential Candidate (Dropped out 1/16/2024)
Political Party: Republican
Political Alignment: Moderate Conservative
Factual Rating: High
Career:
- U.S. House of Representatives, Arkansas’s 3rd district (1997-2001)
- Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (2001-2003)
- Undersecretary for Border & Transportation Security at the Department of Homeland Security (2003-2005)
- Governor of Arkansas (2015-2023)
Stance on Key Policies:
- Abortion Rights: Strongly Opposes – Hutchinson signed a near-total abortion ban into law in 2021, which included an exception for the mother’s life. He said he would have preferred the ban also include exceptions for rape and incest.
- Economy: Free Market Capitalism – “We will reduce the burden of government, we will lower the federal deficit, and we will unleash the power of the private sector,” he said.
- Climate Change: Supports Limited Government Action – Asa Hutchinson has not spoken much about climate change. But when he has, he has generally stuck to the Republican Party line, rejecting government efforts to reduce emissions.
- Education: Supports Public Schools – In Arkansas, he recommended that lawmakers increase public school funding by $550 million over the next two years to raise teacher pay indicating that he is generally supportive of public schools. He is also chairman of a national, nonpartisan organization that works in partnering with state education leaders, the Educational Commission of the States (ECS).
- Foreign Policy: Supports Ukraine – Hutchinson’s position as a staunch supporter of aid to Ukraine sets him apart from some other members. These current and potential presidential candidates have said assisting Ukraine in its war against Russia is not in America’s national interest.
- LGBTQ Rights: Mixed – As governor, Hutchinson had a mixed record on transgender issues. He vetoed a bill banning gender-affirming care for minors, criticizing the measure as “vast government overreach.” But he also signed a measure barring transgender women and girls from competing in school sports that aligned with their gender identity.
- Gun Ownership: Mixed – Hutchinson chaired a National Rifle Association-funded task force, which recommended more armed security and school staff. He signaled some openness to raising the age to purchase an AR-15-style rifle following recent mass shootings.
- Immigration: Limited Immigration – Hutchinson has criticized illegal immigration and, as governor, sent national guard troops to the southern border.
- Health Care: Market-Based Health Care – Governor Hutchinson was strongly opposed to Obamacare but did expand Medicaid in his state.
- Overall: Moderate Conservative – Asa Hutchinson’s positions align with mostly conservative principles, advocating for limited government, free-market policies, and a strong national defense. However, he generally supports public education, expanded Medicaid, and has mostly protected Transgender rights indicating a more moderate perspective.
View Asa Hutchinson’s voting record
Recent Failed Fact Checks
- None in the last 5 years.
(M. Huitsing 07/25/2023)
Last Updated on February 23, 2024 by Media Bias Fact Check