Jake Bequette, former National Football League player, Arkansas Razorback star and military veteran, has announced he will run for U.S. Senate in Arkansas against current Arkansas Senator John Boozman.
In an interview with The Daily Wire, Bequette said, “Today, I am announcing a run for the U.S. Senate in Arkansas. I’m born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas. I’m a third generation Arkansas Razorback. I come from a football family. My grandfather, father, and uncle all played football at the University of Arkansas, and it was a lifelong dream of mine to play football for the Hogs and wear that Razorback on my helmet. And I was very blessed to be able to do so as a team captain and be on some great Razorback football teams.”
Bequette’s football career did not take the usual path, nor was it the traditional background of a Senate candidate. After four years with the New England Patriots, Bequette felt led to join the military.
“I enlisted in the army and commissioned as an infantry Lieutenant, volunteered and graduated from the U.S. Army Ranger School and deployed to Iraq with the 101st Airborne division. Serving in Iraq with the 101st Airborne was the greatest honor of my life, wearing that flag on my shoulder and representing the legacy of one of the greatest units in the entire army, and to represent my country was truly an honor,” he said in the interview.
Bequette said he sees running for office as a continuation of his service to his country. He tweeted his launch video with the words, “As an Army veteran, former NFL player, and Arkansas Razorback, I have lived my life with service and conservative values at the forefront. Now, I have a calling to do more. That is why I am running for the United States Senate.”
Arkansas has been a conservative stronghold and Republicans will likely win the Senate again in 2022. The real battle will be the Republican primary, where Bequette will face Boozman — who will seek his third term as Senator.
Boozman announced his reelection campaign in March. Like Bequette, he played football for the University of Arkansas. He also serves on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee. Bequette will need to find some way to stand out from Boozman to move voters to support his effort, as both he and Boozman sport similar conservative credentials.
Arkansas also serves as home to another interesting race as Sarah Huckabee Sanders seeks to become governor following her service as White House press secretary under former President Donald Trump. If so, she’ll live in the same home she was raised in when her father Mike Huckabee served as governor.
Arkansas offers a strong hub of conservative candidates that would be great to see across the nation. He also offers a strong contrast to many NFL players whose lack of patriotism has led many conservatives to turn the channel on Sundays. Perhaps Bequette can help lead the way to a new patriotism among athletes that will represent the founding values of our nation.
