Sen. Breanne Davis, R-Russellville, (left) will face Democratic opponent Michelle Justice of Russellville during the general election. (Courtesy photos)
Sen. Breanne Davis, a Russellville Republican seeking reelection to Arkansas’ Senate District 25, was a lead sponsor of the LEARNS Act last year, and her Democratic opponent is using it against her.
The LEARNS Act made significant changes to the state education system — chief among them, a school voucher program that has provided Arkansans with what supporters have coined “school choice.” 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’ opponent, Michelle Justice of Russellville, told the Advocate that the LEARNS Act has “been a major setback for public schools, as it has effectively transferred wealth to private institutions.”
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Davis, who entered the Senate in 2018 after winning a special election, was a lead sponsor of the education bill. She often sat alongside Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva during committee meetings and fielded questions from her colleagues during the legislative session.
Davis consistently defended components of the 145-page bill 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’s education system.
“We believe that every child should have access to a quality education that fits their educational journey,” she said at the time. “We will no longer be defenders of the status quo. We have been failing our children for far too long.”
Justice, a former educator and current stay-at-home mom, said she thought Davis’ “actions should speak for themselves.”
“The 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,” Justice, 39, said. “It appears to prioritize the interests of the wealthy over those of the general public.”
If elected, Justice said she would work on reforms to the LEARNS Act.
Davis did not respond to multiple interview requests for this article.
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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’s office. She stands for “pro-gun, pro-life, pro-freedom [and] pro-constitution” policies, according to her website.
Further, Davis’ website notes her support for economic growth, educational choices and less government involvement in everyday life.
Justice referred to Arkansas’ Republican party supermajority as a “dilemma,” 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.
“Bills 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,” Justice said in a written statement to the Advocate.
Since 2018, Davis has sponsored a variety of bills ranging from implementing standards for breast milk and the development of milk banks, to the creation of “Lila’s Law,” which prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities who need an organ transplant.
Davis has also supported cuts to the state income tax and amendments to limit public documents accessible through the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.
The Republican Party of Arkansas did not respond to an inquiry about Davis’ campaign.
Grant Tennille, chair, Democratic Party of Arkansas (Democratic Party of Arkansas)
Grant Tennille, chair of the Democratic Party of Arkansas stands behind Justice’s campaign.
“We 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,” Tennille said in a statement. “Incumbent 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.”
According to campaign finance reports, 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’s political action committee; and “Team SHS,” Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ political action committee.
Justice is listed as a “paper filer” in the secretary of state’s 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 — which oversees the campaign finance reports — said it was uncommon for a state campaign to not exceed a $500 donation trigger to require a report.
“I 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,” Justice said. “While 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.”
Justice is a mother of three. She has a bachelor’s degree in engineering physics and a master’s degree in education from Arkansas Tech University.
Davis has four children — one of whom made her the only lawmaker in Arkansas history to give birth while in office — and previously served on the Russellville School Board of Education. Davis has a bachelor’s degree in speech communication and political science from Ouachita Baptist University.
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