More good news for Chris Jones in race against French Hill

Little by little, Democrat Chris Jones keeps elbowing his way into the 2nd District Congressional conversation.

Two polls showing Jones ahead and an announcement earlier this year by a national Democratic group that the district is “in play” already had the spotlight a little brighter on Jones, who is trying to unseat six-term Republican French Hill. 

And on Monday that same group, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, moved the Jones-Hill race into the Red to Blue program, meaning they are certain enough that Jones has a shot that they’re willing to commit extra money to get him across the finish line. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is now labeling Jones a “top-tier candidate” and providing him with additional operational and fundraising support.

“French Hill has met his match in Chris Jones,” said Suzan DelBene, chair of the Democratic campaign committee, the campaign arm of the Democratic Party in the U.S. House. “Chris has built a campaign with undeniable momentum that is tapping into what folks in Arkansas want to see from their leaders: someone dedicated to lowering costs, fighting for good jobs, and who will put workers over billionaire donors. While French Hill is cutting health care and voting for cost-raising tariffs crushing Arkansas businesses, Chris is running to make sure Arkansas has real leadership that works for them.”

The in-your-face move shows how Democrats are going after U.S. House seats that have been considered safe for Republicans. The Democratic committee in the House not only moved the Jones-Hill position into the Red to Blue program but added five others, all of which were carried by Trump by an average of about 16 percentage points in 2024, according to Politico. Trump carried Arkansas’ 2nd District by more than 15% that year. 

Underdog Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate are also roaring along mightily, with Democrats either ahead of Republicans in what have been easily Republican seats or polling within the margins of error. Arkansas voters have a front-row seat for this phenomenon too, thanks to political newcomer Hallie Shoffner’s energetic challenge to two-term incumbent Republican Tom Cotton.

“The candidates added to our Red to Blue program today are winning over voters with their message of lowering costs — from gas and groceries to health care and housing,” DelBene said in a news release. “At a time when so many families are struggling to pay the bills, Americans deserve representatives who will actually fight to make their lives better. Less than one month out from Election Day, voters are ready to turn the page on House Republicans’ broken promises and elect Democrats to the House Majority.”

Jones welcomed the news on Monday.

“I’m honored to be named to the DCCC’s Red to Blue program,” Jones texted the Arkansas Times. “This recognition reflects the momentum we’re building across Arkansas and the growing demand for leadership that puts working families first.”

Jones said Hill has had enough time in Washington to address those concerns, “but too often he’s sided with big banks and powerful interests instead of the people he was elected to serve.”

“Arkansans deserve a representative who understands the challenges they’re facing and is focused on lowering costs and delivering results,” Jones said. “I’m grateful for the support, and I’m going to keep earning the trust of voters by showing up, listening, and fighting for Arkansas families.”

Hill told Politico he wasn’t worried about losing his own race but said other Republican candidates might be in trouble because the public has had to “live under an inflated economy the last four years.”

In May, a survey of of 660 registered voters put Jones 3 percentage points ahead of Hill – 46 to 43. The survey’s margin of error was 3.5%. The results showed that independent voters were deeply dissatisfied with Republicans, with 63% of them favoring Jones and 15% favoring Hill. The survey also showed soft support from Republicans for Hill, with 26% saying the incumbent did not deserve to be reelected. 

In late August, another poll put Jones 4 percentage points ahead of Hill. That survey had a margin of error of 5.3%.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee moved the 2nd District race into the “in play” category in early August. 

Jones has also received national endorsements from several high-profile Democrats, including Pete Buttigieg, former secretary of transportation, who came to Little Rock in June for a fundraising event for Jones, and former Vice President Kamala Harris.

Jones follows several popular Democrats who have run unsuccessfully against Hill. Joyce Elliott in 2020 and Clarke Tucker in 2018 got close but fell short – Hill got 55.4% against Elliott and 52.1% against Tucker – but the margins were close enough to scare Republicans in 2021 into redrawing the district, carving up Pulaski County into three congressional districts, thereby diluting the Democratic-leaning Black vote. Since then, Hill has won with close to 60% of the vote.

Will the gerrymander deliver for Hill again? Jones has arguably more widespread name recognition than some previous candidates, considering his unsuccessful run for governor in 2022.