Arkansas Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Hallie Shoffner said an individual who appeared to be armed came to her Little Rock home Friday looking for a member of her campaign staff.
According to Shoffner’s campaign, the individual arrived at the home Friday afternoon while Shoffner was away.
Campaign spokeswoman Anna-Lee Pittman said the man appeared to be carrying a bladed weapon, described by Shoffner in a television interview as a large hunting knife, and asked for a specific member of the campaign staff.
Pittman said neither the individual nor the staff member had any prior relationship.
Shoffner said her husband answered the door, turned the individual away and the person left without further incident. No one was injured.
“My husband turned the individual away who then left without further incident,” Shoffner said in a statement. “We are grateful that my family is safe and appreciate the swift response of the Little Rock Police Department as they continue investigating what occurred.”
The Little Rock Police Department is investigating the incident. As of Wednesday, authorities had not announced any arrests or identified a suspect.
Following the incident, Shoffner’s campaign said it has implemented additional security measures for her family and campaign staff.
In her statement, Shoffner said running for public office brings scrutiny, difficult questions and political disagreement, but said those discussions belong at campaign events, town halls, community meetings and other public forums rather than at a candidate’s home.
She added that political violence and intimidation have no place in the democratic process and emphasized that candidates’ families should be able to feel safe in their homes.
“As a wife and mother, this is deeply disturbing and personal. My husband and our son did not choose to run for office. They deserve the same sense of safety and peace in our home that every Arkansas family deserves in theirs.”
Shoffner also said the incident would not deter her from continuing her campaign and called on people of all political viewpoints to reject intimidation and respect the safety of candidates and their families.
Shoffner, a sixth-generation farmer and first-time political candidate, won Arkansas’ Democratic primary and is challenging incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton in the November election. Libertarian Jeff Wadlin is also running for the seat.
