Where Principles Meets People

I recently had the opportunity to attend the Saline County Republican Women’s candidate forum in Bryant. Some may wonder why a Democratic candidate for State Senate would spend an evening at a Republican event. The answer is simple: listening matters.

My wife will be voting in the Republican primary. I wanted to take the time to hear from the candidates who are seeking to serve and who could very well become our representatives in government. I wanted to be able to honestly share my thoughts as she makes her decision in the weeks ahead.

First, I want to thank the Saline County Republican Women for hosting the forum and giving voters the chance to hear directly from those running for office. I also want to thank every candidate who showed up. Engagement begins with presence. My father used to tell me that ninety percent of any job is simply showing up, and he was right.

During the opening remarks, one statement especially resonated with me. The speaker called for meaningful dialogue and respectful engagement. I wrote the words down and added a note to myself: This is the source of common ground.

After the candidates finished their remarks and questions concluded, there was time for conversation. I met a lot of thoughtful, welcoming people. Some were understandably curious why I was there. I was glad to tell them I came to take notes for my wife, but also because I genuinely wanted to listen and learn what concerns were on their minds.

I was especially happy to talk about something I believe firmly: conservative and liberal principles work best when they operate hand in hand, counterbalancing each other so that the extremes of one side never overwhelm the other. That tension, when rooted in respect, is not a weakness of our system—it is one of its greatest strengths. Republicans need Democrats to keep them honest, just as Democrats need Republicans to do the same. That is how government works at its best.

The day before the event, I was asked, “Why should independents and Republicans consider voting for you?”

Standing in that room, visiting with so many people who care deeply about our community, the answer felt even clearer.

I am not running to be the Democratic state senator. I am running to be their state senator. If I am elected, I will represent every constituent—those who vote for me and those who do not. Public service is not meant to serve a party; it is meant to serve the people.

What struck me most throughout the evening was how much common ground exists when people are willing to talk to one another. We may differ in policy preferences or in how we interpret solutions, but we may be surprised by how much we actually agree on, and we all share a commitment to our communities, to our families, and to the future of Arkansas.

The challenges facing our district are not Republican problems or Democratic problems. They are the everyday concerns we all share: access to quality and affordable health care, good-paying jobs, responsible economic development, making sure our education system is truly serving our students and preparing them for the opportunities ahead, and having a government that is truly responsive and accountable to the people it serves.

In my conversations, I spoke plainly about where I believe that common ground ultimately rests: in the Constitution. It is not a document of the left or the right. It is the foundation of our laws and of our system of self-government. We can and will debate interpretation—that is part of the American tradition—but the commitment to it is something we can all share.

I left the forum grateful. Grateful for the hospitality, grateful for the conversations, and grateful to be reminded that when we approach one another with respect, disagreement does not have to mean division.

Sometimes leadership starts with something very simple.

It starts with showing up.

With respect for all Arkansans,

Joshua Irby

Paid for by Joshua Irby