Greg Leding

#ARleg Update: Candidate filing opens today The 2026 election cycle is officially here.

Here’s the newsletter I sent out this morning. If you’d like to get delivered right to your inbox, sign up at gregleding.com/newsletter.

Get the #ARleg Update — Greg Leding | Arkansas Senate Keep tabs on the Arkansas legislature with my newsletter.

Okay, for real this time, I'm gonna put out a newsletter tomorrow morning—my first since the session ended back in April. Keep an eye on your inbox.

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SNAP benefits run out in days. Arkansas has billions in reserve funds. What will Sarah Sanders do? - Arkansas Times Arkansas has the money to pay for food assistance if SNAP lapses. The state could also make up for a loss of federal child care funds.

Every $1 in SNAP benefits spent generates $1.80 in economic activity.

Just so happens that feeding hungry people is also the good and right thing to do.

The push to feed people isn’t exclusively partisan. At least 62 senators, including 15 Republicans, want to extend SNAP benefits through the federal government shutdown.

As the shutdown drags on, these people will lose if health care subsidies expire Millions of Americans with Affordable Care Act marketplace health insurance will face higher costs next year if Congress doesn't extend enhanced premium tax credits that have made the plans more affor...

Among the 24 million Americans who could see their health care premiums skyrocket should the ACA subsidies expire are farmers, ranchers, small-business owners, and the self-employed.

Senate Democrats don't want the subsidies to expire.

Determined Constituent Guide — Greg Leding | Arkansas Senate The 2025 Determined Constituent Guide includes information about the Arkansas State Capitol, how best to contact lawmakers, information specific to this year's fiscal session, and more.

The number for the US Capitol switchboard is (202) 224-3121. That's an easy way to reach your two senators and your US House member.

When you need to reach your state lawmakers, and you aren't sure what to do, there's a guide for that: gregleding.com/guide

#ARpx

Louisiana prepares to continue SNAP benefits with $150M in state funding monthly The federal government typically covers the cost of the SNAP program but is not doing so while the U.S. government closed.

Louisiana—with its Republican governor and Republican legislature—is prepared to spend $150 million a month to continue SNAP benefits.

My math says somewhere between $40 million and $45 million could get the job done here in Arkansas.

As the shutdown drags on, these people will lose if health care subsidies expire Millions of Americans with Affordable Care Act marketplace health insurance will face higher costs next year if Congress doesn't extend enhanced premium tax credits that have made the plans more affor...

Among the 24 million Americans who could lose their health care if Congress lets ACA subsidies expire are farmers, ranchers, small business owners, and the self-employed.

The US Capitol switchboard number is (202) 224-3121.

Mike Johnson hit with new Republican dissent over shutdown strategy in private call "I do think we should be negotiating the ACA tax credits," one House Republican told Axios.

A growing number of House Republicans question the shutdown, wondering why they're not working or trying to negotiate a compromise.

At stake: 24 million Americans are set to see their health care premiums skyrocket if ACA subsidies expire.

I'm grateful to people who take the time to contact their elected officials. A couple of things:

1. I have no role in the federal government shutdown.

2. The number for the U.S. Capitol switchboard is (202) 224-3121.

3. Republicans control both Congress and the White House.

My afternoon:

– Bears-Ravens at noon
– Nets-Spurs at 1:00p
– Mexico City Grand Prix at 3:00p
– Packers-Steelers tonight

Not a bad Sunday.

#GoPackGo 
#GoSpursGo
#mclaren

Our governor and secretary of state are appealing the judge’s ruling.

This overwhelmingly-Republican Senate district deserves representation. Our Republican-led Senate deserves full membership.

I hope Republican voters remember this.

#ARpx

By setting the special election for next June, the governor left SD26 without representation for the next eight-plus months, a period that includes next April's fiscal session.

Whatever the party, whatever the district, seats should be filled as promptly as possible.

(2/2)

A judge has ruled in favor of Colt Shelby in his lawsuit against Governor Sanders.

Shelby sued the governor after she set a special election to fill Senate District 26, the seat left vacant by Senator Gary Stubblefield's passing, for next June.

(1/2)

Happy birthday to Senator Steve Crowell of Magnolia.

Democrats in Congress want to keep ACA subsidies in place to keep health care costs from rising for more than 20 million Americans—and a lot of Republican and independent voters agree with them.

Democrats also want to reverse cuts made to Medicaid to fund the Big Beautiful Bill.

And my anger here isn’t partisan; there’s essentially zero chance this district elects a Democratic lawmaker. But that doesn’t matter. Those Arkansas deserve a voice in the Senate. The Senate deserves full membership. And I hope more colleagues speak out on this. #ARleg (2/2)

I know our governor made an exceedingly rare course correction when she moved the special election up a few months, but she’s still in violation of the law, and the people of Senate District 26—and my former colleague—deserve more respect. #ARpx (1/2)

Happy birthday to friend and House colleague Representative Tippi McCullough of Little Rock.

Take a few seconds to watch this graph change over time.

If you can’t make today’s legislative hearing over changes to child-care vouchers, you can watch online at 1:00p: arkleg.state.ar.us. #ARleg

Quick reminder about tomorrow’s legislative hearing concerning changes coming to child-care vouchers. The House Early Childhood Permanent Subcommittee is going to hear from Secretary Oliva at a meeting in Big MAC, Room A, next Tuesday, September 30, at 1:00p. #ARpx

Next June's special election is still too late for the people of Senate District 26 to have a voice during next April's fiscal session, and it leaves them without a voice for nine months, but it's better than January 2027. (2/2)

‘Feedback’ results in Gov. Sanders changing date for Senate District 26 election - Talk Business & Politics Gov. Sarah Sanders late Friday (Sept. 26) reversed her decision announced earlier in the day and has called for a June 2026 special election in the Senate District 26 race....

Credit to all the Arkansans who called out our governor's plan to have the late Senator Gary Stubblefield's seat filled until 2027. And credit to our governor for reversing course.

A special election is now set for next June.

(1/2)

Leaving 90,000 Arkansans without a voice in the Senate for the next 15 months is unacceptable. Set aside next April’s fiscal session, possible special sessions, and months of committee hearings; Arkansans reach out to their lawmakers every day with questions, for help accessing resources, and more.

It’s Friday. Who’s got questions? #ARlegAMA

Good morning.

What a dumb sports weekend.

I’ve only followed F1 since early June. I picked McLaren before I knew about the standings, so I pull for Lando and Oscar, but I like Lewis, George, Nico, and Charles. Not sure today’s practices tell us much about Sunday. Assume it’ll be some combo of McLaren and Red Bull, maybe Ferrari. #ARlegAMA

Haven't done one of these in awhile, but it's Friday afternoon, it's nice out, and I'm looking forward to this weekend's F1 race in Baku and the Packers game Sunday.

Who's got questions?

#ARlegAMA