Republican Rep. French Hill held a narrow lead over Democrat Chris Jones in Arkansas’ 2nd Congressional District on Wednesday, leaving the contest unresolved as vote counting continued.
The Associated Press estimated that 99% of the votes had been counted. Hill had 127,427 votes and Jones had 123,025, a difference of 4,402 votes. The totals were reported as an estimate rather than a certified result.
The candidates
Hill, the incumbent, is seeking to continue representing a district that includes much of central Arkansas. He is in his sixth term and was first elected to the seat in 2014. Before entering Congress, Hill was the chief executive officer of a banking corporation.
Hill’s campaign website identified taxes, jobs and economic prosperity as key issues. House Democrats had included the district among their targets for the November midterm elections.
- French Hill: 127,427 votes
- Chris Jones: 123,025 votes
- Estimated vote count: 99%
Jones’ campaign focused on the economy, health care and education, according to KATV, the ABC affiliate in Little Rock. Jones previously ran for governor in 2022, when he received about 35% of the vote in a loss to Republican Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
The district has not been represented by a Democrat since Vic Snyder retired in 2011. The reported totals remain subject to the election-counting and certification process.
