[4] In 2014, Thurston was elected as the president of the Western States Land Commissioners Association;[5] the organization's winter conference was held in Little Rock that year.

Thurston came under fire in 2018 for spending nearly $30,000 on a 18.5-foot War Eagle model 860LDSV boat for debris removal in state waterways four years prior while serving as Land Commissioner.

The boat, which is designed for hunting and fishing and not debris removal, became a problem after it was discovered that it had never been used for official state business,[11] and that Thurston had also "bought clothes to go along with it".

The issue became a focal point in Thurston's campaign for secretary of state, during which his opponent, Susan Inman, highlighted the inefficiency and wastefulness of the boat purchase.

[13] In the lead up to the 2024 election, Thurston, in his role as secretary of state, rejected legal petitions to add amendments to the November 5 ballot, despite various groups' coordination with his office.

[14] Despite this, the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled 5–4 against AFLG, holding up Thurston's original claim that they had not followed procedure because they did not submit the paid canvasser training certification on time.

In his request filed with the state Supreme Court, he asked that votes for a November ballot initiative, which could revoke the Pope County casino license, not be counted.

In contrast, the initiative's sponsor, Local Voters in Charge, contends that procedures were followed and that a special master appointed by the court confirmed sufficient valid signatures.