District: AR-02
Cook Political Ranking: Solid R
Performance Voter Index: R+8
Chris Jones is a nuclear engineer who is running to flip Arkansas’s 2nd congressional district. Jones grew up in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and is the son of two ministers. At an early age, he was taught that education and hard work could open doors. With this in mind, after high school, Jones was accepted to and attended the historically black men’s liberal arts institution, Morehouse College. There he studied physics and mathematics. Following this he attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he earned multiple degrees and worked on research connected to NASA. Jones eventually decided to return back home to Arkansas, as he wanted to come back and “ help build communities, expand opportunity, and create pathways for innovation and economic growth”. Jones has worked in housing, community development, and economic innovation. Jones is now running in for the House in Arkansas because he believes “Arkansas deserves leadership that believes in its future … we need leadership that brings people together, invests in families and communities, and builds an economy that works for everyone.”

Arkansas’s 2nd Congressional District is based in the central part of the state and includes the Little Rock metropolitan area. Ahead of the 2022 race, this district became redder under redistricting. Under the old district lines, in 2020, President Trump won the district by just 9 points; in 2024, Trump won this district by 15 points under the new lines. This seat is currently held by GOP Rep. French Hill (R). In 2024, the race for AR-02 saw very little in outside spending, with Democratic candidate Marcus Jones raising just over $475,000 and Rep. Hill raising $3.7 million. In 2026, Chris Jones is running against Rep. Hill. The Democratic primary election for AR-02 was held on March 3, 2026; Jones only faced one primary opponent and secured the Democratic nomination by 85 points. V4P PAC has not yet endorsed in this race.