From March to December 2018, the
The Arkansas primary cycle will feature first time candidates Denise Garner (D) and Nicole Clowney (D), who are both running for Arkansas State House seats. Garner is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination to unseat incumbent Representative Charlie Collins (R-District 84) this fall. Clowney is running against City of Fayetteville Alderman Mark Kinion (D) for the open state house seat in Arkansas’ 86th district.
While much attention has been paid to women running at the federal and statewide level nationwide, in interviews the author conducted with both women, they confirm much of what political science research has shown about women’s decision to run for office.
Readiness vs. Ability: Do I Know Enough?
Nicole Clowney holds a B.A. from the University of Chicago and a J.D. from Yale Law School. After clerking for Chief Judge Robert H. Henry on the United States 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, Clowney worked for a non-profit law firm dedicated to children’s law issues. She teaches at the University of Arkansas and was the founding leader of the Northwest Arkansas branch of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.
Denise Garner is a retired nurse practitioner and a business owner who has been highly engaged in nonprofits that serve individuals with disabilities and address food insecurity. She has also served on numerous boards including several with the University of Arkansas Medical School. Her community service has been recognized by multiple organizations and she is a household name in education and non-profit circles throughout the state.
In spite of their numerous accomplishments and prior political engagement, both candidates doubted their ability to be effective as an elected official. While they didn’t doubt their existing credentials, they questioned if they were completely ready to do this job. Clowney began to ponder running for office when she learned the incumbent in her district was not going to seek re-election. She debated whether or not this was the right time for her to run, in part because she felt she needed to be able to answer every question posed to her if once she declared candidacy. Garner was also reticent and – although she has already clinched the Democratic nomination – recently shared, “[I] still have doubts. I know I can do the job as well as many of our current legislature, but I have concerns about the knowledge needed to represent all my district and state well.” The lack of confidence that both women expressed has been shown to be a major factor that leads women to not run for office or engage in fields that are perceived to be male dominated.
Recruitment and Opportunity: National Issues Are Local Issues
Research has shown that political ambition may be a product of political opportunity or recruitment from those that are politically engaged. The experiences of both Clowney and Garner provide insight into how the dynamic of opportunity and encouragement may go hand in hand. Both District 86 and 84 cover Fayetteville, home to the University of Arkansas and the site for much debate over the issue of gun control during the last legislative session. In that session, District 84 Representative Charlie Collins successfully wrote and passed a controversial bill that allows persons age 21and older who hold a concealed carry license to bring their weapon on university and college campuses.
Garner, who is adamantly opposed to the idea of guns on campus, was moved to run out of frustration with her representative for voting against her views and interests. Garner was encouraged by other politically engaged citizens and family, as well as a community of other potential candidates who participated in a campaign training boot camp sponsored by Emerge America. Fellow participants urged her to run so that she could inspire and mentor future candidates.
The issue of guns also sparked Clowney’s political participation. As the founder of the Northwest Arkansas group of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, she engaged directly with local and state politicians. It was during those interactions that she began to see that getting results would require that she take her own seat at the policymaking table.
Another priority issue for both women is education, specifically the quality of the local public school system and state support for the University of Arkansas. Ms. Clowney, who teaches at the University of Arkansas, is deeply concerned about what she sees as an attack on universities and colleges within the state. If elected, she told me, “[I would seek to develop] relationships that would allow me to make the case that higher education is still a public good that benefits the economy and people of the state.” She is concerned that without serious recognition of the need to invest in and protect education, the teacher strikes that occurred in neighboring Oklahoma will happen in Arkansas. Garner is also championing education and is concerned that current proposals concerning school vouchers would have a negative impact on all schools including those that are high performing in Fayetteville.
Professional Networks Matter: Generous Friends with Skills
Fundraising and effective campaign management can pose challenges to first time candidates and women in particular. Both Ms. Garner and Ms. Clowney have extensive networks due to their careers and community engagement. Garner credits her advocacy experience and business networks with helping her to surpass her fundraising goals. “I have been able to pull from my cohorts [experience in campaign management, business marketing and finance acumen, as well as knowledge about specific issues,” she explained to me. Clowney said she was not prepared when it came to the overall cost to run a campaign, but neither was she prepared for the generosity of people who wanted to see her succeed. This generosity not only included money but also valuable labor such as filming a high quality campaign commercial and web page development. Although she has been able to find support Clowney has observed that it is challenging to find women who can be a part of the support apparatus, such as campaign managers and fundraisers.
Politics is For Girls Too
Garner and Clowney’s stories serve as evidence that there are many talented women who have impacted their communities in various ways who are open to running for office when the opportunity presents itself. These two women will make a difference locally and within the state whether they win or lose their elections; just by running, they have captured the attention of both adults and children. Clowney shared that when her six-year-old daughter began to notice that holding political office was “an all boy job,” she had to do something. By throwing their hats in the ring, she and Ms. Garner are out to prove that elected office is for girls too.