Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson announces he will run for President in 2024

April 3, 2023

Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson (R) has announced that he will be running for president in 2024, meaning that after months of speculation, he will go head-to-head with former President Donald Trump after all.

Hutchinson is the third major Republican to enter the primary field along with Trump and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley. Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has also entered the race.

Hutchinson confirmed his run with ABC News by saying, "I have made a decision, and my decision is I'm going to run for president of the United States. While the formal announcement will be later in April, in Bentonville, I want to make it clear to you… I am going to be running. And the reason is, I've traveled the country for six months, I hear people talk about the leadership of our country. I'm convinced that people want leaders that appeal to the best of America, and not simply appeal to our worst instincts."

Despite the small size of the field thus far, many are expecting Hutchinson to fall by the wayside in favor of the real head-to-head between Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who has yet to announce that he will run.

Hutchinson's assertion that Trump should withdraw from the race due to his indictment won't help him win any conservatives to his side.

In fact, the indictment of Trump is further catapulting his popularity, and any Republican who fails to decry the political nature of the case risks destroying their image with furious GOP voters.