An Arkansas Democrat rebuked California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a fellow Democrat, on Wednesday for attacking his governor, Republican Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
What did Newsom say?
As Huckabee Sanders was delivering the Republican response to President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address, Newsom used the moment to attack both Huckabee Sanders and Arkansas.
“While @SarahHuckabee touts public safety, here is what she skips over: Arkansas has the one of the highest murder rates in the nation,” Newsom tweeted.
Crime and public safety were two issues that Huckabee Sanders addressed in her speech.
“Being a mom to three young children taught me not to believe every story I hear. So forgive me for not believing much of anything I heard tonight from President Biden. From out-of-control inflation and violent crime to the dangerous border crisis and threat from China, Biden and the Democrats have failed you,” she said at the beginning of her speech.
Toward the middle of her speech, she said, “After years of Democrat attacks on law enforcement and calls to defund the police, violent criminals roam free, while law-abiding families live in fear.”
By contrast, Huckabee Sanders said, “Republicans believe in an America where strong families thrive in safe communities.”
What was the response?
Arkansas state Rep. Andrew Collins, a Democrat, may not share political parties with his new governor, but he quickly stepped in to defend Huckabee Sanders and his state.
“1. She’s been Governor a month. 2. There are drivers of crime like poverty, lack of education, and lack of opportunity, that Arkansas needs to fix in order to reduce violent crime. They’re generational. And they aren’t unique to Arkansas. 3. Don’t trash my state,” Collins told Newsom.
Does Arkansas really have a high murder rate?
Yes. Arkansas has one of the highest per capita murder and violent crime rates in the country.
Indeed, the highest murder rates are concentrated in the Deep South and the Lower Mississippi River valley, plus Missouri.
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