The race to claim the United States Senate seat currently occupied by Sen. John Boozman, R, is underway, with both Republican and Democratic candidates announcing their intentions to take part in the primaries leading to the November, 2022 election.
Natalie James, a real estate agent and Little Rock-native, visited El Dorado on Tuesday as part of a statewide tour to announce her candidacy in the Democratic primary for the Senate seat.
James stopped by B.L. Breggs & Associates and gave a speech to gathered supporters, explaining her reasons for running and her political positions and answering several questions.
The candidate listed stances including health care issues such as lowering the prices of prescription drug prices; criminal justice reform, such as decriminalizing marijuana and expunging the records of those with marijuana-related offenses; and education investment and reform as among her top priorities.
James also spoke of a desire for a change in political leadership.
“While our elected leaders are discussing blue state and red state, our children in red counties and blue counties are going to bed hungry. While our election officials are catering to party leaders and millionaire donors, our Arkansas seniors, veterans, students and most vulnerable are left with this tab while they sit idly by. I feel we deserve better,” James said.
James grew up in west central Little Rock and is the daughter of Roy and Charlotte James. In addition to her career as a real estate agent, she was appointed in 2020 to the City of Little Rock Land Bank Commission and in 2021 to chair the Branch Political Action Committee for the Little Rock NAACP.
James said on Tuesday that she has 8-year-old and 16-year-old daughters.
In addition to Boozman, who is running for reelection, Jan Morgan (who also visited El Dorado on Tuesday), Michael Deel and Heath Loftis will vie for the Republican nomination for the Senate seat.
James will face challenges from Democrats Jack Foster and Dan Whitfield in that primary.
The primary elections are currently, unofficially set to take place on May 24, 2022, according to the Arkansas Secretary of State’s office.