Things went off the rails Thursday night at a Saline County Republican Committee meeting when a heated argument exploded into a full-on brawl, leaving one guy bloodied and an entire community reeling. Local radio host Jimmie Cavin threw the first punch at resident Jon Newcomb in a melee that was caught on camera and live-streamed on Rumble. Now, the video is part of a police investigation.
The fight only highlights the deepening dysfunction within the local GOP, and officials are scrambling to distance themselves from the mess. Saline County leaders and justices of the peace issued a statement slamming not just the violence, but also what they’re calling the “toxic culture” within the committee. Judge Matt Brumley didn’t mince words either, calling the whole thing “pathetic, disgusting, and embarrassing,” adding that the brawl sent the worst possible message to young people watching.
Brumley, clearly emotional, later apologized in an interview, calling the whole thing a disaster and pushing for the Arkansas GOP to intervene by removing the committee’s leadership and even dissolving the group. Cavin’s attorney, Clint Lancaster, agreed with that call.
The Saline County Republican Committee quickly clarified that Cavin, who sparked the fight, isn’t even a member or a resident. But that’s just the surface of the chaos. Last month, the committee booted four Justice of the Peace candidates—Stephanie Johnson, Scott Gray, Allison Gray, and Angela Gray—accusing them of “toxic” behavior. Conservative lawyer Clint Lancaster, who led the charge to kick them out, labeled them as divisive figures harming the party.
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Everything boiled over when Stephanie Gray stepped up to the mic to speak, and Cavin lost it, apparently thinking Newcomb was intimidating another woman. Fists flew, leaving Newcomb bleeding and Cavin’s shirt in shreds. While Cavin’s actions shocked many, some attendees say tensions had been simmering for a while.
This wild fight is just the latest chapter in the ongoing civil war within the Saline County GOP, where ideological rifts are tearing the group apart. Recently, the committee was evicted from its regular meeting spot by former state GOP chair Doyle Webb, who leads a rival Republican group. The eviction, sparked by both political differences and claims of unpaid insurance, shows just how deep the fractures go.
As the dust settles from Thursday night’s brawl, it’s clear this isn’t the end of the drama. The GOP in Saline County is in free fall, and the punches—both literal and metaphorical—are far from over.
Featured image via screenshot.
