LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced on Sunday he will run for president in 2024, becoming the latest Republican to throw their hat into the ring.
Speaking to Jonathan Karl on ABC’s “This Week”, Hutchinson made the announcement and said he’s entering the race because he feels Americans need a new direction and to get away from former President Donald Trump.
“I’m confident that people want leaders that want the best of America, not those who appeal to their worst instincts,” he said. “I have made a decision, and my decision is I’m going to run for president of the United States.”
The 72-year-old spent eight years as governor before departing back in January. He has ramped up his attacks on Trump, saying allowing the former president to win the Republican nomination would be the “worst scenario” for Republicans and saying it would benefit President Joe Biden in 2024.
“That inspires me when I see everyday Americans just saying, ‘Give us good leadership, give us common stance, consistent conservatism and optimism about our great country,’” he said.
Hutchinson joins Trump, U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy as Republicans in the race for 2024. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Senator Tim Scott are both expected to jump in the race later in the summer.
He will have a formal campaign announcement on April 26 in Arkansas and added he believes the indictment of Trump is bad news for Republicans in 2024, calling on the former president to drop out of the race.
“I do believe if we’re looking at the presidency and the future of our country, then we don’t need that distraction and he needs to be able to concentrate on the legal issues that he faces,” he said.
Hutchinson served as governor of Arkansas since 2015 before Trump’s former White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders won the seat in the 2022 midterms.
