MILWAUKEE — Tuesday marked day two of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where Arkansas politicians took the national stage.
Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge said Arkansas is in the national spotlight more this year mainly because of Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders' connection to former President Donald Trump.
Arkansas delegates at this year's Republican National Convention are pledging all 40 delegates to Trump just days after an assassination attempt on the former president at a rally in Pennsylvania.
"In 2016, President Trump was a presumptive nominee," Rutledge said. "There was a lot of excitement there, but you still had some holdouts that weren't quite sure... this convention... we are seeing the Republican party unified behind President Trump."
However, not all Republicans agree, including former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson.
"I'm not there yet," Hutchinson said. "I still have trouble with the character. I am very pleased, though, that he's come out with a different tone since this last week's attempt on his life... I hope that the new tone carries on into the fall. It's very important for our country, so I'm keeping my options open."
Ginny Lauren Dowden, a first-time Arkansas delegate and communications director for Conduit News, also said she's noticing a ton of national recognition for the Natural State.
"To have the governor on the stage tonight," Dowden said. "We recently found out that U.S. Senator Tom Cotton will be speaking tonight. Arkansas is showing up in a big way."
Dowden said delegates are reflecting on this weekend while putting Arkansas votes toward Trump as the Republican nominee.
"I think that people are looking at things with a completely new perspective and understand where we are as a nation," Dowden said. "What needs to happen to shift the dynamic to bring more unity, to tone the temperament."
Delegates also shared that security is noticeably tighter, but they feel safe walking around the convention.
The Republican National Convention runs through Thursday with Trump and JD Vance as the Republican ticket for the White House.