Bryan Norris bets Arkansas Republicans want an outsider, not the establishment

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — As Arkansas Republicans head toward a high-stakes runoff for Secretary of State, candidate Bryan Norris is making a clear case to voters: he is not a politician — and he says that is exactly why he should win.

The retired First Sergeant is positioning himself as the outsider in the March 31 Republican runoff against longtime state lawmaker Sen. Kim Hammer, arguing Arkansans are frustrated with what he calls “politics as usual” and ready for a different kind of leadership.

“I’m tired of feeling like I’m being ruled, not represented,” Norris said.

That frustration has become a central theme of his campaign.

Norris says voters are weary of elected officials moving from one office to the next, without delivering meaningful results.

“They rotate from one office to the next to the next,” Norris said. “I think the people of Arkansas are ready to see some results instead of seeing rotations.”

Norris repeatedly framed himself as a military veteran — not a career politician — and made election security the heart of his campaign message.

He says restoring public trust in Arkansas elections starts with transparency.

“The number one thing that we can do to bring back confidence is to be transparent,” Norris said.

Norris says that lack of visibility is fueling voter mistrust, and if elected, he wants to pursue expanded oversight — including what he describes as a first-of-its-kind audit.

“I want to perform the first ever 100% audit of an election in a primary and a general and release those results to the people of Arkansas,” he said.

But Norris says his concerns go beyond ballots and ballot boxes.

He also warned Arkansas should be more aggressive when it comes to cybersecurity, particularly as artificial intelligence advances and foreign threats grow more sophisticated.

“No one’s leaning forward in the foxhole of AI, and I’m extremely concerned about that,” Norris said.“One person with a laptop can have a huge impact.”

When asked whether the cost of stronger protections could ultimately fall on taxpayers, Norris argued the greater risk is failing to act.

“What’s the cost if they hack into our entire infrastructure and just degrade it and turn it off?”he asked. “What’s the cost if they hack into an election? What’s the cost if they hack into the treasury?”

Still, Norris insists his campaign is about more than election systems.

He says after traveling what he estimates to be more than 40,000 miles across Arkansas, he has heard a familiar set of concerns from voters — and says affordability is at the top of the list.

“Number one is the affordability,” Norris said.“They feel like things are getting really tough on them.”

And beneath those economic worries, he says, is a deeper frustration he believes many Arkansans share.

“They’re tired of feeling like they’re being ruled and not represented,” he said.

On the business side of the Secretary of State’s office, Norris says he would begin by cutting regulations and reevaluating internal processes from day one.

“First day is my office doors coming off the hinges,” Norris said. “I want to do a DOGE-style audit of it. If it’s not codified in law, it’s going to go away.”

The interview also touched on controversy surrounding now-deleted social media posts in which Norris used profanity.

When asked about the language, Norris acknowledged the posts and said he regrets them.

“I’m a soldier. I’m a military guy. We use some salty language from time to time,” Norris said.“I’m a work in progress. I’m a human being that makes mistakes from time to time. You’re never going to hear me talk or speak that way again.”

As the runoff approaches, Norris says his message remains simple: accountability.

“I just want the opportunity to earn your vote from you,” he said. “After you elect me, I’m going to be held accountable to you.”

Norris will face Senator Kim Hammer in the March 31st Republican runoff for Arkansas Secretary of State. You can watch both full candidate interviews on KATV’s YouTube page.