Who's running in Arkansas's 2nd congressional district
2 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
2 candidates · ballot order · French Hill currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Cryptocurrency and financial services regulation from the Financial Services Committee.
Keeping a Republican House majority.
Gun rights and abortion restrictions, per Arkansas Times.
Support for the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
US Representative for Arkansas's 2nd District since January 2015; chairman, House Financial Services Committee.
Won the March 3, 2026 Republican primary over Chase McDowell; won about 60% in each of his last two elections, per Arkansas Times.
Led the effort to repeal a Biden-era cap on bank overdraft fees, per Arkansas Times.
Voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Endorsed by President Trump and Sens. John Boozman and Tom Cotton, per Wikipedia.
Arguments in favor
President Trump and Arkansas Sens. John Boozman and Tom Cotton have endorsed Hill for re-election.
— Listed endorsements, Wikipedia's race page
Arguments against
'French Hill is the most powerful banker in Congress, and he's made it clear that he won't use his power for working families across Arkansas … He may be a nice guy, but we cannot afford him any longer.'
— Chris Jones, Democratic opponent (KTLO, Arkansas Times)
As Financial Services chairman, Hill led the repeal of an overdraft-fee cap projected to save paycheck-to-paycheck customers $5 billion a year, and his health care record, including support for the 2025 bill's federal health funding cuts, 'might be a bigger issue for him in 2026.'
— Arkansas Times
What we couldn’t verify
No NRCC or Hill campaign case for his re-election was found in a loaded source beyond endorsements.
His campaign website address could not be confirmed from a loaded page.
Whether debates will be held had not been reported in a loaded source.
Lowering the cost of housing, groceries, gas, health care and child care.
Making health care, housing, child care and education accessible and affordable.
Protecting Arkansas farmers, including opposing the pause on tariffs on imported beef.
Accountability for 'crony capitalism' and a 'rigged system'.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Has not held elected office; 2022 Democratic nominee for governor.
Won the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary over Zack Huffman.
Endorsed by former Vice President Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Jones by name from Hill, the NRCC or the Republican Party of Arkansas could be found, so his endorsements are listed in his record rather than as arguments. Harris said he 'has made it clear that he will work every day to lower costs.' Searched: 'Chris Jones' with Hill, NRCC, Arkansas GOP, Harris endorsement response and criticism; KATV, THV11, KARK, Arkansas Times, Arkansas Advocate and Talk Business & Politics coverage.
His campaign website and fundraising were not found in a loaded source.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
November 3, 2026 is Arkansas's general election. US House races are decided by plurality; Arkansas's general-election runoffs apply only to county and municipal offices. The map did not change for 2026: the 2021 districts remain in use, and a federal panel dismissed Christian Ministerial Alliance v. Thurston, which alleged the map split Little Rock among three districts to dilute Black voting power. No 2026 redraw was found. Primaries were held March 3, 2026. Roster confirmed against Ballotpedia, Politics1 and KATV: Republican Rep. French Hill, who beat Chase McDowell, and Democrat Chris Jones, who beat Zack Huffman. No Libertarian or independent candidate was found on the November ballot. The Arkansas Secretary of State's certified list was not loaded. The district covers central Arkansas, including most of Little Rock and all of Faulkner, Conway, Cleburne and Perry counties. The DCCC has listed it as a 'District in Play'. The candidate order here follows the published candidate listings, with the incumbent first; it is not verified ballot order and implies no ranking.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Arkansas ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.