Dem Senate nominee distances herself from Kamala Harris ahead of visit: 'Will not be attending'

"Arkansas is a very independent state. In fact, if you look at our voting history, we are often split-ticket voters," Hallie Shoffner told Fox News Digital.

"I feel that both of the parties just walked away from rural America - Democrats included," added Shoffner, who is pushing back on claims that she invited Harris to campaign with her.

Shoffner strongly denied she had any intention of campaigning with Harris at her upcoming appearance.

"We had nothing to do with bringing the former vice president here. She's speaking at a Democratic Party of Arkansas event, an event I will not be attending," Shoffner said.

"This woman is coming, and she's going to be here for all of two hours," she said.

Shoffner believes the party should focus on its future, rather than highlighting high-profile names of the past. She blasted Republican attempts to link Harris' appearance to her Senate bid.

"The Republican Party of Arkansas is talking like I'm the one who's responsible. Why? Tom Cotton and the Republican Party, why are we relitigating the 2024 election right now?" Shoffner said, referring to her political opponent, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark.

"If I were Hallie Shoffner, I'd pretend like I didn't know Kamala Harris either," Joseph Wood, the chairman of the Republican Party of Arkansas, said in a fiery response to her comments. "But Shoffner can't hide two very important things: her 25 donations to Harris, or that Harris is coming to Arkansas to raise money that will be used to try and help her failing campaign." 

Shoffner mentioned former Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., who was defeated in 2024, as an example of a different Democrat.

Tester represented Montana as a senator from 2007 to 2025. He lost his re-election bid to newcomer Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont.

Despite asserting confidence in charting her own course, Shoffner faces an uphill race against Cotton, the current chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

Shoffner believes that's a weakness she can exploit.

Shoffner will face off against Cotton in the state's general election on Nov. 3.