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Sen. Breanne Davis, a Russellville Republican to Arkansas鈥� Senate District 25, was a lead sponsor of the LEARNS Act last year, and her Democratic opponent is using it against her.

The made significant changes to the state education system 鈥� chief among them, a school voucher program that has provided Arkansans with what supporters have coined 鈥渟chool choice.鈥� Proponents say the Education Freedom Account program provides financial assistance to students who are struggling in public school and gives parents the option of putting children in private schools or homeschool. Opponents take issue with public dollars being used for private institutions.

Davis鈥� opponent, , told the Advocate that the LEARNS Act has 鈥渂een a major setback for public schools, as it has effectively transferred wealth to private institutions.鈥�

Davis, who entered the Senate in 2018 after winning a special election, was a lead sponsor of the education bill. Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva during committee meetings and fielded questions from her colleagues .

Davis consistently defended components of the and the process in which it was presented, which some lawmakers said was rushed and without much feedback from educators. In a legislative committee meeting last February, Davis said the bill was a historic investment in the state鈥檚 education system.

鈥淲e believe that every child should have access to a quality education that fits their educational journey,鈥� she said at the time. 鈥淲e will no longer be defenders of the status quo. We have been failing our children for far too long.鈥�

Justice, a former educator and current stay-at-home mom, said she thought Davis鈥� 鈥渁ctions should speak for themselves.鈥�

鈥淭he additional requirements and oversight on public schools, compared to the lack thereof for privatized options, along with the replacement of key state figures, raise concerns about the true intentions of this bill,鈥� Justice, 39, said. 鈥淚t appears to prioritize the interests of the wealthy over those of the general public.鈥�

If elected, Justice said she would work on reforms to the LEARNS Act.

Davis did not respond to multiple interview requests for this article.

Other issues

While the LEARNS Act seems to be a prominent point that differentiates Davis and Justice, the candidates have other intrinsic differences in their campaigns to represent Pope and Conway counties.

As a Republican, Davis is included in a strong party supermajority in the state Senate, House of Representatives and the governor鈥檚 office. She stands for 鈥減ro-gun, pro-life, pro-freedom [and] pro-constitution鈥� policies, according to her website.

Further, Davis鈥� website notes her support for economic growth, educational choices and less government involvement in everyday life.

Justice referred to Arkansas鈥� Republican party supermajority as a 鈥渄ilemma,鈥� and she vowed to focus on food security, equitable job opportunities, increased government transparency and a balance of power if she were elected in November.

鈥淏ills that could help the average person are often voted down or not even brought for consideration, while legislation that caters to special interests of the controlling party is passed, even when it goes against public sentiment,鈥� Justice said in a written statement to the Advocate.

Since 2018, Davis has sponsored a variety of bills ranging from implementing standards for , to the creation of which prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities who need an organ transplant.

Davis has also supported and amendments to through the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.

The Republican Party of Arkansas did not respond to an inquiry about Davis鈥� campaign.

Grant Tennille, chair of the Democratic Party of Arkansas stands behind Justice鈥檚 campaign.

鈥淲e are energized by candidates like Michelle Justice running in places that have been staunchly conservative for a very long time, and for standing up to politicians who sold out our public schools and want to control our lives,鈥� Tennille said in a statement. 鈥淚ncumbent MAGA Republican Breanne Davis voted to send the tax dollars of every voter in Senate District 25 to unaccountable private schools and she lied in committee about getting real raises for hourly school staff. She does not deserve reelection, and we are grateful to Michelle for giving voters a choice for a better Arkansas.鈥�

According to , Davis has raised about $20,000 for the general election.

She ran unopposed in the primary and raised nearly $89,000, collecting donations from the state Republican Party; the Huck PAC, former Gov. Mike Huckabee鈥檚 political action committee; and 鈥淭eam SHS,鈥� Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders鈥� political action committee.

Justice is listed as a 鈥減aper filer鈥� in the secretary of state鈥檚 campaign finance database, meaning she has filed no digital campaign disclosure forms, and no reports have been submitted for the general election.

Though possible for a low-budget campaign, a spokesperson from the Arkansas Ethics Commission 鈥� which oversees the campaign finance reports 鈥� said it was uncommon for a state campaign to not exceed a $500 donation trigger to require a report.

鈥淚 refuse to accept donations from wealthy special interests or corporations, as I believe that our democracy should be owned by the people, not the powerful,鈥� Justice said. 鈥淲hile some may seek to bankroll their campaigns or leverage their financial status for political gain, I have made a conscious decision to fund my own campaign.鈥�

Justice is a mother of three. She has a bachelor鈥檚 degree in engineering physics and a master鈥檚 degree in education from Arkansas Tech University.

Davis has four children 鈥� one of whom made her the only lawmaker in Arkansas history to give birth while in office 鈥� and previously served on the Russellville School Board of Education. Davis has a bachelor鈥檚 degree in speech communication and political science from Ouachita Baptist University.

is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Arkansas Advocate maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Sonny Albarado for questions: [email protected]. Follow Arkansas Advocate on and .

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