Arkansas Democrats pick House minority leader as party chair

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Arkansas Democrats have selected state Rep. Michael John Gray as chairman of the party.

Democrats on Saturday selected Gray, who defeated Fayetteville nonprofit executive Denise Garner by a vote of 120-107.

Gray will replace outgoing chairman Vincent Insalaco, who announced last year that he wouldn’t seek a third term.

Gray, an Augusta farmer, said his party needed to develop a sharper focus on economic issues and pick up support in poor and rural areas.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports (https://bit.ly/2o6vtlc ) that Gray will step down as leader of the House Democratic caucus but will continue to serve in the state Legislature.

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Information from: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, https://www.arkansasonline.com