Rick Crawford Reaches ‘Contender’ Status

Washington- The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) announced today that Republican Rick Crawford (AR-01) has reached ‘Contender’ status as part of its Young Guns program. ‘Contender’ status is the second step in the three-level program. Crawford now faces a new set of benchmarks to reach ‘Young Gun’ status in his bid to represent Arkansas’ First Congressional District. After scoring a resounding primary win last week, he now awaits the results of the June 8 Democratic primary run-off between lobbyist and career politician Tim Wooldridge and Washington insider Chad Causey.

Founded in the 2007-2008 election cycle by Reps. Eric Cantor (R-VA), Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Paul Ryan (R-WI), the Young Guns program is a member-driven organization dedicated to electing open-seat and challenger candidates nationwide. By achieving ‘Contender’ status, Crawford has already proven his ability to build a successful campaign structure and achieve vital fundraising goals.

“Rick Crawford has already proven that he will be a formidable candidate by meeting the Young Guns program’s rigorous goals and winning his primary convincingly. He is well on his way to building a winning general election campaign that will put this seat in the Republican column,” said NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions (R-TX). “Rick is part of a strong and growing pool of candidates who are frustrated with the Democrat majority’s big-government ways and aren’t willing to stand by any longer. The successes of his campaign have put congressional Democrats on notice that Americans are ready to turn the page on the failed experiment known as the Obama-Pelosi agenda.”

After completing his term of service in the Army, where he achieved a top-secret clearance, Rick earned a B.A. in Agriculture Business and Economics from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. Since his graduation, Rick has worked in the agricultural field in both agri-communications and general agri-business. He now owns and operates the AgWatch Network, a farm news network heard on 39 radio stations in Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi and Kentucky as well as TV stations in Little Rock and Jonesboro. Rick and his wife Stacy live in Jonesboro with their two children.

Rick Crawford now faces a new set of rigorous goals that will elevate him to the top level of the Young Guns program and help him build a competitive, effective and winning campaign.

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