Who is Sarah Huckabee Sanders? Arkansas governor slammed for ‘shaming’ Kamala Harris – Times of India

Arkansas Republican governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders criticised vice president Kamala Harris on Tuesday night during a campaign event for former Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in Michigan. Sanders remarked that her children help keep her “humble,” while Harris “doesn’t have anything keeping her humble.”
In her speech in Flint, Sanders shared a personal anecdote about her daughter, recounting how, while preparing for a father-daughter dance, her daughter told her, “It’s OK, Mommy, one day you can be pretty too,” noting how her kids keep her grounded.Sanders contrasted this with Harris, asserting, “Unfortunately, Kamala Harris doesn’t have anything keeping her humble.”
Sanders further criticized Harris’s performance over the past four years, focusing on issues such as the southern border and inflation.
Sanders said, “The future of my kids and the future of our country depends so much on who our next president is.”

Sarah Huckabee Sanders, inaugurated as the 47th governor of Arkansas on January 10, 2023, made history as the first woman to hold the office and is currently the youngest governor in the country.
Prior to becoming governor, Sanders served as White House press secretary for former President Trump from 2017 to 2019. As a key advisor, she shaped the Trump’s communications strategy, personnel decisions, and policy initiatives. Sanders was notable for being the third woman and the first mother to hold the position of White House press secretary.

Her political career includes serving as a senior advisor on Trump’s 2016 campaign. She has also held leadership roles in various other campaigns, including those for Senators Tom Cotton and John Boozman, and her father, former governor Mike Huckabee. Sanders also worked in the Department of Education during President George W Bush’s administration.
Since taking office, Sanders has introduced several significant conservative reforms. Her initiatives include the Arkansas LEARNS program, which overhauls the state’s education system with higher teacher pay and universal school choice. She has also implemented public safety reforms, tax cuts, and launched the Natural State Initiative to boost Arkansas’ outdoor economy. Additionally, Sanders has focused on streamlining state government operations.

Raised in Pine Bluff and Texarkana, Sanders is a graduate of Little Rock Central High and Ouachita Baptist University. She resides in Little Rock with her husband, Bryan, their children Scarlett, Huck, and George, and their golden retriever, Traveler.
Sanders has been featured in Fortune and TIME Magazine’s “40 under 40” lists. She is the author of the New York Times bestseller Speaking for Myself, a former Fox News Channel contributor, and has served on the Fulbright board.

Criticism on Sanders’ comment

On social media platform X, attorney and writer Amee Vanderpool criticised Sanders for shaming Harris. “Sarah Huckabee Sanders gets down lower than JD Vance’s level by shaming another woman for not having biological children while she intentionally mispronounces her name,” she wrote on X.

Arkansas Democratic US House candidate Daniel Parker called Sanders’ comments “despicable,” asserting, “Arkansas, we are better than this,” according to Newsweek.
Political analyst Craig Agranoff suggested that Sanders’ remarks could alienate voters who find personal attacks based on family circumstances offensive. Agranoff warned that such rhetoric might backfire as voters may prefer candidates who emphasize unity over division.