Ed Guzman for Fort Smith

08/06/2026

SAVE THE DATE: September 21, 2026 🗓️

I was glad to hear that this series was expanding to include Arkansas House and Senate candidates. I look forward to the opportunity to speak with Miles Crawford and to hear directly from the people of Fort Smith.

I’m also interested to see if my opponent decides to participate in this event. As you all have seen, Justin Boyd has mostly been a no-call/no-show for Fort Smith.

Coming Soon: The State House & Senate Sessions.

07/31/2026

A few weeks ago, I spoke at the city podium in favor of the change of government initiative happening right here in Fort Smith. While I have not decided how I will ultimately vote on the issue itself, I stand firm in the truth that the people must always have a direct voice in their government.

During those remarks, I cited the larger, concerning landscape across our state, pointing out that:

“Over the past few years, we have watched politicians in Little Rock systematically attempt to dismantle, restrict, and strip away the historic rights of citizens to utilize ballot initiatives... Elected officials are meant to be the stewards of public trust, not the gatekeepers of the ballot box."

Just this week, that exact pattern played out again in Little Rock. The Secretary of State threw out over 100,000 citizen signatures for the Ballot Measure Rights Amendment—a proposed constitutional amendment designed specifically to protect our direct democracy—tossing the entire effort out over a minor clerical technicality.

When tens of thousands of everyday Arkansans do the hard work—knocking on doors, organizing neighbors, and collecting signatures—the job of state government should be to honor the process, not hunt for administrative excuses to lock the doors of the Capitol.

This isn't an accident; it is the direct result of the laws passed in Little Rock. My opponent, Justin Boyd, didn't just watch this happen—he voted for the very hyper-restrictive legislative hurdles that make it nearly impossible for citizens to exercise their constitutional rights.

Elected officials can make a difference for the better by choosing to represent and amplify the voice of the people—or they can choose to stifle it.

This November, Fort Smith has a choice. Let’s choose leadership that trusts the voters and protects the words enshrined on our state seal “Regnat Populus.”

07/30/2026

This news out of Little Rock is disheartening, to say the least! While I understand that there may have been technical justification in the specific language that was utilized versus the approved language for the ballot initiative, this blatant silencing of the people’s voices speaks to a larger systemic issue within the political establishment in Arkansas.

Shame on the Secretary of State for denying these signatures based on a formality, and shame on the legislators who voted for these restrictive measures to begin with (including my opponent Justin Boyd)!

This November, Arkansas has a choice! 

The Arkansas secretary of state rejected all 108,837 signatures on a petition that would put a possible constitutional amendment to strengthen Arkansas' petition process on the ballot. FULL STORY ⬇️

07/30/2026

I have had the opportunity to meet and talk with almost every candidate running for municipal office in Fort Smith. Between the Mayoral candidates and the Board of Director candidates, we have a full slate of people who are ready to serve and fight for a better Fort Smith.

Of course, there are differences in their ideas about how we get there (and I look forward to hearing more of those specific ideas in the coming weeks), but the good news is that this November, Fort Smith will have plenty of choices!

As the State Senator from Fort Smith, I will be ready to work with the Mayor and City Directors on Day 1 to build a better Fort Smith together. For too long, our city has had Justin Boyd, a checked-out representative, who has been more focused on towing the party line and chasing photo ops with the Governor (with a “yes, Governor” in hand) instead of working with our city officials for a better Fort Smith. Just look at his voting record! 

Election season is officially underway. And it’s past time for a change!

07/12/2026

Our first big order of yard signs is in route to Fort Smith. If you are interested in amplifying the message from this campaign and letting your neighbors know that this November, Fort Smith has a choice, then please follow the link below to request a yard sign (link in bio).

GuzmanForArkansas.com/signmeup

07/09/2026

“Over the past few years, we have watched politicians in Little Rock systematically attempt to dismantle, restrict, and strip away the historic rights of citizens to utilize ballot initiatives. We are seeing a concerted effort from the top down to make it harder for the average Arkansan to have a direct say in their government.”

07/09/2026

Well said, Krystal Cadelli. I am ready to work alongside you to fight for the people of Fort Smith!

07/08/2026

“Little Rock’s agenda should not be handed down to you; Fort Smith’s voice should be carried up to Little Rock. I am ready to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with this Board, bring concrete solutions to the table, and ensure our city finally gets the resources, the respect, and the protection it deserves.”

07/02/2026

Regnat Populus. The People Rule.

It is the definitive motto of the Great State of Arkansas, etched onto our state seal. It is a promise that power belongs to the citizens, not the politicians.

Yesterday, a federal judge robustly upheld that promise by striking down a web of hyper-restrictive state laws designed to cripple our historic, citizen-led ballot initiative process. The court recognized these unconstitutional laws for exactly what they were: an attempt by the political establishment to muzzle the voices of everyday Arkansans who want to propose laws and change our state for the better.

But as we celebrate this massive victory for direct democracy, we must look at how we got here. These unconstitutional barriers didn't create themselves—they were passed by legislators who wanted to put a lock on the Capitol doors.

My opponent, Justin Boyd, didn’t just stand by, and he certainly didn’t fight against it: he actively voted IN FAVOR of the very pieces of legislation that the federal court just struck down as unconstitutional violations of your rights. When given the choice to protect the power of the people or to insulate the political class from the voters, he chose the politicians every single time.

True leadership means trusting the people you represent, not trying to change the rules of the game when you don't like how they vote.

I will always stand up for the constitutional right of Arkansans to have their voices heard. Let’s return to a state government that remembers the words we were founded on. Let’s make sure the people rule once again.

07/01/2026

In this Substack, Dustin Lowrey shares his thoughts about the ongoing news out of Baptist Health and the future implications of not shoring up our healthcare system in Fort Smith.

I agree with his statement that “healthcare is not simply another industry. Access to quality healthcare is one of the most important things for a community.”

Thank you to Director Christina Catsavis for being a voice of advocacy around this issue. Thank you to State Representative Jay Richardson for showing up and starting the process of working the problem. And thank you to the physicians, nurses, and support staff who continue to serve during this time of uncertainty.

I believe we can make positive change happen for our city and for Arkansans across the state. The need exists. The will of the people is clear. Now we need our elected officials to fight like hell for us! 

Dustin makes commentary on the winding back of services at Baptist-Health in Fort Smith, Arkansas.