Most of Arkansas' Democratic gubernatorial candidates support hike in minimum wage, oppose more rest

The five candidates seeking Arkansas' Democratic gubernatorial nomination in the primary election range from a self-described Democratic capitalist to a self-described Arkansas progressive, with priorities such as expanding access to preschool programs and providing targeted tax breaks to small businesses and family farms.

Most of the candidates say they support raising the state's $11-an-hour minimum wage, oppose more restrictions on abortion and are reluctant to embrace an expansion of the state's prisons.

With the May 24 primary nearing and with an eye on the Nov. 8 general election, the five Democratic candidates have been contrasting their experiences and top priorities without taking public shots at one another.

"We may have differences among each other, but we all recognize the common threat to the prosperity and unity of the people of Arkansas is the candidate the Republicans are raising millions to send to the White House with a short-term stop at our Capitol in Little Rock," said businesswoman Supha Xayprasith-Mays of Little Rock.

Read more: https://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/2022/may/03/most-of-arkansas-democratic-gubernatorial/