Why It Matters
Arkansas Republican Sen. Joshua Bryant was elected president pro tempore designee after a prolonged leadership contest in the state Senate. His selection still requires final approval after senators are sworn in in January.
What Happened
Bryant was chosen Thursday during the Senate’s organizational meeting, following three hours of deadlocked voting. The election reached a third round after Republican Sens. Breanne Davis and Ron Caldwell failed to secure enough support.
The Senate has one vacant seat, leaving 34 senators and senators-elect and preventing any candidate from reaching the 18 votes required for election. Senators said the chamber had not previously failed to select a president pro tempore.
Bryant was nominated before the second and third rounds, but those nominations were withdrawn after Davis or Caldwell was nominated again. After Republican Sen. Scott Flippo nominated Bryant, Caldwell moved to close nominations. Bryant then became the only nominee, and no additional vote was held after nominations closed.
Bryant represents Rogers and has served in the Senate since 2023. He follows Sen. Bart Hester, who has held the president pro tempore position since 2023 and declined to seek a third term.
“Thank you, senators, for putting this trust in me today,” Bryant said. He added, “I will do my best every day at the 96th General Assembly to make sure each one of your voices is heard.”
Senators also selected Republican Sen. Tyler Dees as majority leader and Democratic Sen. Stephanie Flowers as minority leader.
By the Numbers
Thursday — day Bryant was elected
three hours — duration of deadlocked voting
34 — current number of senators and senators-elect
one — number of vacant Senate seats
18 — votes required to elect the president pro tempore
3,000-bed — size of the proposed prison in Franklin County
Zoom Out
Davis had been elected president pro tempore designee in May. She first won election to the Senate in 2018 and managed Republican U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton’s reelection campaign.
Caldwell, who was elected to the Senate in 2012, challenged Davis for the leadership post. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders supported a primary challenge against Caldwell. Caldwell opposed the governor’s plan to build a 3,000-bed prison in Franklin County, and Sanders placed the project on hold.
Bryant’s legislative record includes sponsoring a 2023 law limiting local governments’ regulation of cryptocurrency mines. The Legislature later passed Bryant-sponsored legislation adding regulations for cryptocurrency-mining operations.
He was also the only Republican senator to oppose the initial version of a 2023 bill criminalizing transgender people using restrooms matching their gender identity. Bryant later supported a revised version after provisions that had raised concerns about the bill’s scope were removed.
What’s Next
Bryant must receive final approval after senators are sworn in in January. The president pro tempore presides over the Senate when the lieutenant governor is absent.