U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton runs for reelection
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Republican U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton. Photo: Courtesy of the Cotton campaign
Republican Sen. Tom Cotton is making national security the centerpiece of his case for a third term, tying military investment to the state's economy.
State of play: We sat down with Cotton ahead of the election and asked why Arkansans should vote for him.
Context: Cotton, 49, has been in office since 2014 and is running for a third term. He serves on the Energy and Natural Resources, Armed Services, Intelligence and Joint Economic committees. He's an Army veteran who has served in Iraq and Afghanistan. He grew up in Yell County and graduated from Harvard and Harvard Law School.
Friction point: Cotton links foreign policy to economic development in Camden, Fort Smith and Pine Bluff, but the Iran conflict has also increased fuel costs for Arkansas farmers.
On defense: Cotton wants Congress to allocate another $350 billion for defense-industry infrastructure and weapons production. He supports multiyear Pentagon purchases, faster weapons sales to allies and fewer barriers for smaller companies seeking defense contracts.
On the state economy: He points to the F-35 foreign-pilot training mission at Ebbing Air Base near Fort Smith, renewed investment at Pine Bluff Arsenal and continued construction in Camden as evidence of his fostering the defense industry Arkansas.
On Iran: Cotton said he urged President Trump to "finish the job" against Iran with additional airstrikes, without sending ground troops.
- Cotton supports maintaining the blockade while protecting shipping through the southern Strait of Hormuz, which he said would pressure Iran while allowing more oil onto world markets.
On Sept. 2, Cotton said the U.S. was no longer at war with Iran, describing the current conflict as "perennial skirmishes."
- Cotton has repeatedly voted against advancing Senate resolutions intended to rein in Trump's Iran war powers.
Agriculture: Cotton opposed Trump's plan to import 300,000 metric tons of beef, saying it would do little to lower grocery prices while discouraging American cattle producers from rebuilding their herds.
- "We can't keep trying to come up with immediate band-aids," Cotton told Axios. Washington should focus on the medium and long term by encouraging cattle producers to rebuild the nation's herd, he said.
Zoom out: Cotton voted against the 2014 and 2018 farm bills because he objected to their nutrition-assistance spending.
- "I support farm bills, not food stamp bills," Cotton said after his 2018 vote.
Health care: Cotton points to the federal Rural Health Transformation Program as Washington's primary response to pressure on rural hospitals.
- The program provides $50 billion nationally, including $209 million for Arkansas this fiscal year. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has awarded $149.3 million to 50 projects.
Immigration: Cotton supports Trump's border and deportation policies and says federal immigration officers need sufficient money, equipment and political support.
- Cotton said officers are doing "great work" removing immigrants he described as dangerous and violent.
- He wants to end what he calls "chain migration" and move toward a system that favors immigrants with sought-after skills.
AI: Cotton believes that "Congress should approach AI regulation carefully to avoid losing the AI race with China, which would have catastrophic effects on America's national security and economic prosperity," spokesperson James Arnold said in an email.
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