In The Arena with Mindy McAlindon - Secretary of State Cole Jester

Cole Jester is Arkansas’ 35th Secretary of State, appointed by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders on January 1, 2025, to succeed John Thurston. A lifelong Arkansan and constitutional lawyer, Jester previously served as Deputy Chief Legal Counsel for Governor Sanders for two years, where he tackled significant issues like restricting Chinese Communist Party farmland purchases, reducing government regulations, and overseeing litigation against Big Tech for its addictive designs. Born in Benton, Arkansas, he graduated valedictorian from Benton High School and summa cum laude from Ouachita Baptist University before earning his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.
As Secretary of State, Jester is committed to enhancing election security, streamlining corporate filings, and providing intentional service to Arkansans, aiming to make Arkansas a national model for election integrity and government efficiency. Before joining the governor’s office, he worked as an appellate clerk for the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit and held roles with the U.S. Air Force and the law firm Friday, Eldridge, & Clark during his legal studies. Jester is the youngest secretary of state in the U.S., bringing a blend of youthful energy and legal expertise to the role, alongside his personal life as a husband to Elizabeth and father to their daughter, Charlotte.

Mindy McAlindon represents Arkansans in the10th House district. She continues to fight for parental empowerment, strong schools, lower taxes and securing Arkansas' quality of life.
In 2023, she was awarded the Legislator of the Year award by ALEC and in 2024 she received the National Consumer Champion award by Consumers’ Research for her bills protecting
state pensions.
Outside of politics, Mindy is a Vanderbilt and Indiana University alum who works as a Brand and Marketing Strategist. Mindy resides in Benton County, AR with her husband and their four children.