GOP ex-Gov. Asa Hutchinson jumps into 2024 presidential race, brands himself 'non-Trump' candidate
The former Arkansas governor said he wants to lean into 'common sense, consistent conservativism.' He said Trump's indictment had made him a 'sideshow and distraction.'
WASHINGTON – Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Sunday he will run for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, calling himself a "non-Trump" candidate and "alternative" to the Republican who nonetheless wants to reach out to the former president's voters.
Hutchinson, 72, has long been considering a presidential bid and visited the key first-in-the-nation caucus state of Iowa in late March. He told USA TODAY on Sunday that he is planning a formal campaign launch on April 26 in Bentonville, Arkansas.
"The reason, Bentonville, is because ... I was born here. I have a history here. I practiced law here, tried cases here and live in northwest Arkansas, so a lot of source of pride there, and I think that helps to tell the story as to who I am," he said.
The former drug enforcement administrator and Homeland Security official indicated border security and the economy would be a focus of his campaign, which faces an uphill battle in what may be a crowded competition to deprive Donald Trump of his party's presidential nomination.
Former President Donald Trump leads the GOP field and is followed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in most national polls. In a Quinnipiac University poll released last week, no other potential candidates came close. In that survey, Hutchinson registered support from less than 1% of GOP voters.
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He told USA TODAY in a Sunday interview that increasing his name recognition would be "gradual, and it's hard work," and he hoped his authenticity would help him break through to primary voters.
Having won the governor's mansion in Arkansas twice with significant Republican support, he said, "We can do it; we can do what's necessary to increase name identification to get the voters' attention."
Hutchinson enters GOP primary race
Hutchinson announced on ABC's "This Week" on Sunday that he had decided to enter the race for the White House.
He told ABC he wants to lean into "common sense, consistent conservatism" and American leadership as campaign themes.
“I hear people talk about the leadership of our country, and I’m convinced that people want leaders that appeal to the best of America, and not simply appeal to our worst instincts,” Hutchinson said. “And that inspires me when I see everyday Americans just saying: Give us good leadership."
"I believe I can be that kind of leader for the people of America," Hutchinson said.
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy are the only other candidates who have formally announced a run against Trump. A handful of others, including DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, could also make announcements in the coming months.
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Trump is 'too much of a sideshow and distraction'
Hutchinson is one of Trump’s most vocal critics in the GOP presidential field. Prior to when Trump’s indictment became public, Hutchinson told USA TODAY that the former president should drop out of the race if he were to be formally charged with a crime.
“When you’re looking at Trump, it’s going to be a circus,” Hutchinson said.
Among Trump’s rivals in the 2024 Republican primary, Hutchinson, a former federal prosecutor, was one of few current or expected candidates who did not leap to a full-throated defense of Trump after his indictment.
Hutchinson called Trump's indictment "too much of a sideshow and distraction" on ABC and reiterated his view that Trump should drop out.
Hutchinson said Trump has a "presumption of innocence" but "needs to be able to concentrate on his due process."
Despite his criticisms of the former president, Hutchinson calls himself a "non-Trump" candidate, seeking to portray himself as an alternative to Trump rather than a candidate against Trump.
"I want to be able to speak to the Trump voters, I want to be able to speak to all of the party and say this is the leadership that I want to provide," Hutchinson told ABC.
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