(Little Rock) (AP) – Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel says he’s seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2014.
McDaniel on Wednesday said he had filed papers with the state to begin raising money and organizing for the governor’s race. McDaniel is the first candidate to announce a bid for the state’s top office.
A former state representative from Jonesboro, McDaniel was elected attorney general in 2006 and won re-election in 2010. McDaniel says he expects a “hard fought” campaign and plans a formal announcement later.
Democratic Congressman Mike Ross announced last month that he would not run for governor in 2014. Former Lt. Gov. Bill Halter also is considering running for the Democratic nomination.
Gov. Mike Beebe, a Democrat, has been in office since 2007 and is barred by term limits from running for re-election.