Former state Senator Joyce Elliott suffered a stroke earlier this week while in Texas, according to a press release from Get Loud Arkansas, the voter-registration group Elliott launched in 2021.
Kristin Foster, deputy director of Get Loud, issued the following statement on behalf of the organization: “The GLA team truly appreciates everyone who has reached out to show support and love for Senator Elliott. She is a fighter, and her dedication to a just and equitable democracy propels us forward.”
The full press release from Get Loud:
This week, while in Dallas, former state Senator Joyce Elliott experienced a stroke. After two days of treatment in Texas, Senator Elliott was transferred to Little Rock and is now receiving care where she can be close to home. She underwent a successful surgery, but doctors have not made any determinations about her long-term prognosis. It is expected that she will begin a rehabilitation program as soon as she is able.
Joyce Elliott, known as the state’s liberal lioness, is a life-long educator. She served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 2001 to 2007 and in the Arkansas Senate from 2009 to 2023. She currently serves as the Executive Director of Get Loud Arkansas where she seeks to increase civic participation. She is a proud native of Willisville, Arkansas (Nevada County) and a graduate of Southern Arkansas University and Ouachita Baptist University.
The next week is critical. We respectfully ask that you honor her family’s request for much needed privacy and refrain from calls or visits at this time. We will issue another statement in the upcoming days. In the interim, we humbly ask for your prayers.
The Democratic Party of Arkansas also issued a statement:
“The entire state should lift up Senator Joyce Elliott,” said Democratic Party of Arkansas Chair Grant Tennille. “Her love of Arkansas and her compassion for its people have motivated thousands to public service and advocacy for decades. We all have a better home because of her selflessness. Today, we are rallying behind her, praying for her health, and respecting her privacy.”