ARKADELPHIA — U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton will deliver the keynote speech at this year’s Lincoln Day Dinner, the Clark County Republican Committee announced.

Expected to run as a presidential candidate in 2024, the Dardanelle native and U.S. Army veteran currently sits on the Senate Armed Services, Intelligence and Judiciary committees.

“The Clark County Republican Committee is honored to have Sen. Tom Cotton as our keynote speaker at our annual Lincoln Day Dinner,” said Eddie Arnold, CCRC chair. The event will be held Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, at Henderson State University’s Garrison Center Ballroom. A reception will begin at 5 p.m., with dinner to follow at 6 p.m.

Cotton grew up on his family’s cattle farm in Yell County and graduated from Dardanelle High School, Harvard, and Harvard Law School. After a clerkship with the U.S. Court of Appeals and private law practice, Cotton halted practicing law following the September 11th attacks. He served nearly five years on active duty in the Army as an Infantry Officer. He served in Iraq with the 101st Airborne and in Afghanistan with a Provincial Reconstruction Team.

Between his two combat tours, Cotton served with The Old Guard at Arlington National Cemetery. His military decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Combat Infantry Badge and Ranger Tab. He is also the author of the New York Times Best Seller, “Sacred Duty: A Soldier’s Tour at Arlington National Cemetery,” an intimate portrait of The Old Guard whose mission is to honor our country’s fallen heroes on the most hallowed ground in America.

Between the Army and the Senate, Cotton worked for McKinsey & Co. and served one term in the U.S. House of Representatives. He and his wife Anna have two sons, Gabriel and Daniel.

Cotton’s Arkadelphia appearance is expected to draw a large crowd of GOP supporters. “The Clark County Lincoln Day Dinner has traditionally been the largest in Arkansas,” Arnold said. “A record number of Republican candidates are running in the November primary. The citizens of Clark County have continued to support the platform of the GOP, and vote overwhelmingly for Republican candidates.”

Arnold said a “sellout crowd” of 500 is expected. For tickets contact Jenna Scott at 870-220-2987.