Ricky Dale Harrington Jr.

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Ricky Dale Harrington Jr.

Libertarian Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 8, 2022

Education

Associate

Sunset International Bible Institute

Bachelor's

Harding University

Personal

Birthplace

Marshall, Texas

Religion

Christian

Profession

Executive

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Personal LinkedIn

Ricky Dale Harrington Jr. (Libertarian Party) ran for election for Governor of Arkansas. He lost in the general election on November 8, 2022.

Harrington completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Ricky Dale Harrington Jr. was born in Marshall, Texas, and lives in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Harrington graduated from Jefferson High School in Texas. Harrington earned an associate degree in missions with Sunset International Bible Institute and a bachelor's degree in ministry from Harding University. His career experience includes working as the president of the Libertarian Policy Institute, the vice president of Azure Behavioral Health, the CEO of Harrington Consulting LLC, a program specialist with the Arkansas Department of Corrections, a campus minister and missionary with University Parkway Church of Christ, and a crisis prevention technician with White County Medical Center.

Elections

2022

See also: Arkansas gubernatorial election, 2022

General election

General election for Governor of Arkansas

The following candidates ran in the general election for Governor of Arkansas on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R)	63.0	571,105
		Chris Jones (D)	35.2	319,242
		Ricky Dale Harrington Jr. (L)	1.8	16,690
	Submit photo	Jason Tate (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	0
		Dan Nelson (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	0
	Submit photo	Michael Woodard (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	0
		Elvis Presley (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	0

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 907,037
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Arkansas

Chris Jones defeated Anthony Bland, Jay Martin, James Russell, and Supha Xayprasith-Mays in the Democratic primary for Governor of Arkansas on May 24, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Chris Jones	70.4	66,540
		Anthony Bland	9.6	9,055
		Jay Martin	8.2	7,731
		James Russell	6.8	6,421
		Supha Xayprasith-Mays	5.0	4,725

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 94,472
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of Arkansas

Sarah Huckabee Sanders defeated Doc Washburn in the Republican primary for Governor of Arkansas on May 24, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Sarah Huckabee Sanders	83.1	289,249
		Doc Washburn	16.9	58,638

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 347,887
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Tim Griffin (R)
• Leslie Rutledge (R)
• Leticia Sanders (R)

Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for Governor of Arkansas

Ricky Dale Harrington Jr. advanced from the Libertarian convention for Governor of Arkansas on February 20, 2022.

		Candidate
✔		Ricky Dale Harrington Jr. (L)

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2020

See also: United States Senate election in Arkansas, 2020

United States Senate election in Arkansas, 2020 (March 3 Republican primary)

General election

General election for U.S. Senate Arkansas

Incumbent Tom Cotton defeated Ricky Dale Harrington Jr. in the general election for U.S. Senate Arkansas on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tom Cotton (R)	66.5	793,871
		Ricky Dale Harrington Jr. (L)	33.5	399,390

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,193,261
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Dan Whitfield (Independent)

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Joshua Mahony (D)

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Tom Cotton advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Arkansas.

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Ricky Dale Harrington Jr. completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Harrington's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Having grown up in the ArkLaTex region and graduating from Jefferson High School (TX), Ricky Harrington enrolled with the Sunset International Bible Institute and served a mission in Scotland. In this role, Ricky was both an assistant primary school teacher and a caregiver to the elderly. After his year-long mission in Scotland, Ricky moved to Arkansas where he attended Harding University. While attending Harding, Ricky also worked at a psychiatric hospital which allowed him to gain insight into the inner workings of our healthcare system. After receiving a Bachelor’s of Ministry from Harding University, Ricky went on to serve a two-year mission in China, where he worked as a university teacher and hospital consultant.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Criminal Justice Reform To reform the criminal justice system in our state, we must focus on three basic principles: Fairness: For years, the system has disproportionately targeted minorities and those who cannot afford to pay court fines and fees. A working criminal justice system does not punish people for being poor or being a person of color. We need to ensure that the punishments applied fit the crime and the law is being applied fairly. Rehabilitation: It is critical that we keep Arkansas’ prison education program intact. Arkansas has an expansive prison education program and we need to make sure we continue to participate in the Pell program. However, education is not enough. We must work to rehabilitate prisoners from their addi
• Lifting Arkansas Up: End debtors prisons in the state. No one should be jailed for being poor. Sadly, in 2022, Arkansas has still not ended this practice. End the remaining grocery tax which takes food off the tables of hungry Arkansans. Give budget surpluses back to the people. If the state is taking more than it needs to carry out its necessary functions, that is theft from Arkansas taxpayers and must be given back. Phase out the state sales tax which is a tax on the poorest Arkansans. Arkansans will have more money to spend on necessities, our economy will grow as people flock from neighboring states to shop in our towns and cities. Stop giving handouts and incentives to big corporations to put small businesses out of business.
• Robust Healthcare for Arkansas: End certificate of need laws that allow hospitals and medical practices to keep out their competitors. Imagine if you wanted to open up a restaurant and your competitors got to lobby the government to keep your business from opening up. That is the reality of certificate of need laws. They delay health care facilities from being built, drive up the cost of health care, lower health care standards, and in some extreme cases led to unnecessary deaths.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I have worked in the healthcare field and corrections, both of my parents worked in these fields and it is a part of who I am. We must get back to the basics of the elements of power. We live in a country that was founded that all are equal under the law, we are still a work in progress.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign website

Harrington's career website stated the following:

“	Priorities Ricky’s first priority, while pursuing the Libertarian party nomination and gathering signatures for ballot access in 2022, is to understand what the priorities and challenges are for Arkansans across the state. The Arkansas State Motto is “Regnat Populus.” Ricky has adopted the plain English translation as his official campaign slogan: The People Rule. In addition to seeking the input of everyday Arkansans, Ricky has prioritized changing the narrative around politics, and hopes to make state government easier to understand and participate in for everyday citizens. Ricky believes it is important for every voter to understand the responsibilities, duties, and privileges the Arkansas office of Governor actually affords, as outlined in the state’s Constitution: “State of the State Addresses.” The Governor is responsible for making periodic speeches to the state lawmakers concerning the condition of the state. These “State of the State Addresses” are traditionally given once a year. It is during this address that the Governor usually makes specific policy recommendations and defines next steps. Veto Power. The Governor has veto power over all legislative actions; however, the Governor’s veto can be overridden by a simple majority vote of both houses. Commissions and Grants. The Governor issues and authorizes all commissions and grants made by the state. Commander in Chief. The Governor is the Commander in Chief of the state’s National Guard. Criminal Justice Reform. The Arkansas Constitution gives the Governor significant influence over criminal justice reform within the state, specifically: “power to grant reprieves, commutations of sentence, and pardons, after conviction; and to remit fines and forfeitures, under such rules and regulations as prescribed by law.” Any time a pardon is granted, the Governor must report back to the legislature his reason for doing so. (This power does not extend to cases of treason). Legislative Session Authorities. The Governor has the authority to call an extraordinary session of legislature to address specific topics outside of when our lawmakers regularly convene. In Arkansas, the legislative session is the second Monday of every other year (odd years), and lasts for 60 days. The Governor has the authority to adjourn legislative sessions, whether regular or extraordinary, when the two houses are unable to pass a resolution to adjourn. Responsible for Filling Vacancies. The Governor is responsible for filling vacancies specifically in the offices of Treasurer of State, Secretary of State, Auditor of State, Attorney General, and any other office that becomes vacant which doesn’t have a predefined legal course for filling said vacancy. Once Ricky secures the Libertarian nomination for Governor and the required signatures for ballot access, he will release the information on what Arkansans consider the top priorities for the state, and work to develop policy recommendations that are inclusively beneficial for all.	”
—Ricky Dale Harrington Jr.'s campaign website (2022)

2020

Ricky Dale Harrington Jr. completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Harrington's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I have been involved in ministry and volunteering all my adult life. I spent 1 year as a missionary in Scotland. When I came back I got a degree in ministry from Harding University. I have worked in the mental health field and spent two years as a missionary in China. When I came back from China I started working as a chaplain for the Arkansas Department of Corrections. All my life I have been dedicated to helping people. Recently I have seen our government overstep the Constitution boundaries set for it. I want to inspire people to take more interest in the democratic process. In places like China a large number of the people can't vote. I have seen what Communism is first hand.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• I want to reform our criminal justice system. I work in corrections and see a lot of the injustices in the system. We must make sure those who break the law are punished, but we must reform the current system.
• Our healthcare system needs a revolution. Healthcare professionals should be heavily involved in the conversation and it must start with them. Any top down governmental changes will make things worse.
• Our foreign policy needs to change. We need to stop the first strike doctrine, and instead use diplomacy and trade first.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

America is considered the leader of the free-world but we hold almost 25% of the world's incarcerated population. This needs to change. Our healthcare system needs a revolution, but it should not be top down government policy. Instead healthcare professionals and patients should take charge.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

It's hard to pick one person. In earthly terms I would like to follow the example of Dwight Eisenhower. He was the Supreme Allied Commander and later became President. He was forward thinking and strategic. I also like Abraham Lincoln because he endured great adversity in his life.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

When I was a teacher in China, I would show the college students Hollywood films that were critical of the US government. I would ask them if movies we're made in China that were like the movies they had watched (which were critical of the US government). The answer was no because the communist government controls everything in China. My political philosophy can be summed up with this, the government does not give me my rights. Every American must work hard and participate in our government or we will lose it.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Honesty, integrity, a strategic mind, loyalty, compassion, and wisdom.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I will always do my best to do the right thing no matter what the cost. I have experience living and working abroad and I have seen the effects of America's foreign policy. I have been trained in crisis prevention, intervention and negotiations. I have spent all my live volunteering and working with people. I will not put special interest groups over the people and our constitution.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Firstly, the Senator elected should represent the people of Arkansas and the people of the United States. I do not support the "corporation over people" or "profits over people" mentality. Whatever committee I would be assigned to, I would do my best to see how it affects the people I serve. A senator should seriously uphold their constitutional duty and make every effort to preserve it for future generations.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would simply like to be remembered as a senator who behaved justly. I what to do my best to help reform America's criminal justice system.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I remember Desert Storm vividly. I was in elementary school at the time.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I sold Cutco knives. I didn't have it long.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis is a wonderful work of satire that communicates deep theological principles that would not have the same gravitas if done any other way.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

The Batman

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Tears for Fears- Everybody wants to rule the world. My son is autistic, and though he can't say the words, he was humming the tune. That made my day.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

When I was 18 years old, I was at a bowling alley in Marshall, TX where three older Caucasian men approached me and threaten to tie a rope around my neck, drag me behind a truck, string my body up in a tree and shoot me. Dealing with racism has been a real struggle in my life, but I do not make others pay for the mistake of those three men. I continue to walk in my Christian faith and not repay evil for evil.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

The deficit spending, hyper-partisanship, and our endless police actions around the world will catch up with us.

What qualities does the U.S. Senate possess that makes it unique as an institution?

The United States Senate is the upper chamber of congress that has a unique power that the house does not have. Many of the actions of the Executive Branch are done with the "advice and consent of the Senate". Judges, Ambassadors, the Cabinet Secretaries, and other high ranking officers of the Executive Branch much be confirmed by the Senate. The Senate also has the sole power to try an impeachment and remove or exonerate the President.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for senators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Donald J. Trump was elected to the highest office in the Executive branch. He is the commander in chief of our Armed Forces, Chief Diplomat, and also can be considered the highest-ranking law enforcement officer. He was elected with zero political background and has inspired several people with no extensive experience in politics to run (such as myself, though I do have experience working in government.) I do believe a senator should know the duties expected of him or her and extensive knowledge of how our government works.

What do you think of the filibuster?

I believe it is a useful action used by the Senate to reconsider bills that may originate in populist movements, or harm the constitutional rights of the people. The bill may harshly affect the state where the senator is from and this is the last chance to stop its passing.

What criteria would you apply when deciding whether to confirm presidential appointees?

When it comes to Cabinet members, he or she must have extensive knowledge in their field and be extremely competent. Judges should have a history of being impartial and following both the letter and spirit of the Constitution. Ambassadors are sometimes political appointments and a sitting President should have the right to such appointments as long as it is not a corrupt action. When gauging these appointments a person should have the utmost integrity, competence and loyalty to the will of the People.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other senators?

I have spent almost 4 years of my life working at the Cummins prison. I have helped inmates and their families, staff and their families, and sometimes provided services to the families of victims of horrific crimes. I have developed the skill to work with people. When you focus on the goal, you can work with anyone. I will give 100% in building cordial relationships with my fellow senators because our goal is to work for the American people.

If you are not a current senator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Foreign Relations

Judiciary
Health Education, Labor, Pension
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

Ethics

If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the U.S. Senate, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?

By default I would be in the party's leadership because, if elected, I would be the first Libertarian in the Senate. I would just focus on ending the hyper partisanship and help Congress work for the people.

Is there a particular senator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

I did not always agree with John McCain, but I respected him. I can't say I will model myself after someone, but I will always put my integrity first.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Candidate

Governor of Arkansas

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Footnotes

[show]

Arkansas' current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

John Boozman (R)

Tom Cotton (R)

Representatives

District 1

Rick Crawford (R)

District 2

French Hill (R)

District 3

Steve Womack (R)

District 4

Bruce Westerman (R)

Republican Party (6)