Pete Buttigieg Endorses Chris Jones for Arkansas's 2nd Congressional District

Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg arrived in Little Rock to back Democrat Chris Jones for the House seat in Arkansas’s 2nd Congressional District. His endorsement, announced at a rally set for 5:30 p.m. Central Time, joins 15 other politicians and community leaders who have already endorsed Jones.

The Advocate

Arkansas has voted Republican in federal elections since the 1960s. Jones, who holds degrees in mathematics, physics and nuclear engineering, lost the 2022 gubernatorial race to Republican Sarah Huckabee Sanders. His opponent, Rep. French Hill, has been criticized for 2018 racially-charged campaign ads and for repeatedly voting to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Unspecified polls indicate Jones leads Hill by a narrow margin.

The Advocate

Buttigieg praised Jones as a community-focused leader with a vision for Arkansas prosperity, emphasizing entrepreneurship, good-paying jobs and accountability. Jones thanked Buttigieg, describing him as a top messenger for the country and noting his focus on everyday issues such as gas, groceries, housing and health care. Hill’s record includes the 2018 ads and multiple votes to repeal the ACA, which critics label far-right.

The Advocate

Republican critics argue Hill’s past racially-charged ads and repeated attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act conflict with the district’s health-care needs and civil-rights concerns.

The Advocate

A Jones win would be a rare Democratic pickup in a historically Republican region, potentially reshaping Arkansas’s congressional delegation and signaling a broader shift for progressive strategies in the South.

The Advocate

• “Chris Jones is a leader rooted in his community, with a vision for building prosperity in Arkansas brick by brick,” — Pete Buttigieg, Former U.S. Transportation Secretary

The Advocate

• “At a time when politics can feel like it’s punching you in the face, Chris is focused on a better future where entrepreneurs thrive, young people can find good-paying jobs, and politicians are held accountable.” — Pete Buttigieg

The Advocate

• “I’m honored to have Pete Buttigieg’s endorsement and excited to welcome him to Little Rock,” — Chris Jones, Congressional Candidate

The Advocate

• “Those are the same issues I hear about every day from families across Arkansas’s Second Congressional District.” — Chris Jones

The Advocate

The source material does not provide exact poll margins, nor does it detail the specific content of Hill’s 2018 advertisements, leaving a quantitative gap in assessing the race.

The Advocate

The rally with Jones and Buttigieg starts tonight at 5:30 p.m. in Little Rock. Voters will decide the seat in the November 2024 election, and both campaigns will intensify outreach in the weeks ahead.

The Advocate