State Rep. Donnie Copeland of North Little Rock is collecting funds for a campaign for the seat now held by state Sen. Jane English of North Little Rock.
Copeland -- who hasn't announced his bid for the Senate District 34 seat -- filed a campaign-finance report for the seat late last week.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Tuesday that he'll be backing English.
"She has been a friend for many years and her work for Arkansas and her district has been outstanding," Hutchinson, a Republican, said in a written statement. "She has sponsored key legislation to improve workforce training and that's been a priority of mine."
Copeland, 54, is serving his first term in the state House of Representatives. He narrowly lost his 2010 bid for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor to Mark Darr of Springdale.
English, 74, also a Republican, has served in the Senate since 2013 and chairs the Senate Education Committee. She was in the state House of Representatives from 2009-2013. March 1 is the party primary and the general election is Nov. 8, 2016.
Copeland could not be reached for comment by telephone on Tuesday.
He reported raising $24,550 and spending nothing last month on the Senate campaign. Businessman Joe Maynard and attorney Brenda Vassaur Taylor, who are co-founders of the anti-private option group Conduit for Action, are among nine Fayetteville residents who contributed $2,700 apiece to Copeland on Sept. 30.
Earlier this year, English voted to authorize the use of federal funds to purchase private health insurance for some low-income Arkansans as part of the state Department of Human Services' appropriation, while Copeland voted against it. A legislative health-care task force is considering proposing an overhaul of the private-option program in 2017 for lawmakers to consider adopting.
In 2014, English voted to authorize the use of federal funds for the private option after she voted against authorizing that funding in 2013. At that time, she said that she switched sides in exchange for what she called "a game changer" for the state -- an agreement with then-Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe to restructure and increase funding for the state's job-training programs.
English said Tuesday that she is "running against Conduit for Action from Northwest Arkansas, and my opponent is the volunteer who stepped forward to be the place taker.
"They are the ones who want me out of the Senate. But they don't represent the district down here," she said.
Maynard said Conduit for Action "takes policy positions and enlightens the public" and "doesn't have anything to do with elections."
"What happens in every Senate district affects the state. Growing government under any administration affects everybody in the state in a negative way," he said.
According to its website, Conduit for Action is a 501c4 nonprofit group that will focus and dedicate its operations to promoting accountability of government agencies; a more open and less restricted economic climate; and the election of like-minded government officials.
English reported raising $48,956.64 and spending $520.84 through Sept. 30. Her contributors include $2,700 each from political action committees for Wal-Mart Stores of Bentonville and Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin of Little Rock, $2,000 from businessman Jim Walton of Bentonville, and $1,000 apiece from investment banker Warren Stephens of Little Rock, the Poultry Federation PAC of Little Rock and Oaklawn Park owner Charles Cella of St. Louis, Mo.
In July, attorney Joseph Woodson Jr. of North Little Rock announced that he would run as a Democrat in Senate District 34. Through Sept. 30, he reported raising $14,189.20 and spending $7,610.92.
The party filing period will be from noon Nov. 2 until noon Nov. 9 in the state Capitol, according to the secretary of state's office. The primary will be March 1, the primary runoff on March 21, and the general election on Nov. 8.
Elsewhere, Clark County Justice of the Peace Richard Bright of Arkadelphia, who is an attorney, announced Tuesday his Democratic bid to oust state Rep. Richard Womack, a Republican from Arkadelphia, in District 18. Womack has been in the House since 2013.
Paragould attorney Jimmy Gazaway on Monday announced his Republican bid for the state House District 57 seat held by Paragould Democrat Mary Broadaway, who isn't seeking re-election. Paragould Republicans Shawn D. Strouss and Ronnie Spence have said they're seeking the seat, too.
Yellville talk-radio host Jack Fortner announced Saturday that he's running for the Republican nomination in House District 99, whose seat is held by Flippin Republican Kelley Linck, who isn't seeking re-election. Pyatt turkey farmer Bruce Emerson has said he's seeking the GOP nomination for the House seat.
Metro on 10/21/2015