Former Vice President Kamala D. Harris has endorsed Democratic congressional candidate Dr. Chris Jones in Arkansas’ 2nd Congressional District, adding another nationally recognized name to Jones’ campaign as he challenges Republican incumbent French Hill.
Harris announced her support Wednesday, pointing to the rising cost of housing, groceries, gas, health care and child care as key concerns facing Arkansas families.
“Arkansans deserve a fighter in their corner, and Chris Jones has shown he is already fighting for the people.”
Jones, a Pine Bluff native, physicist and ordained minister, thanked Harris while directing the spotlight back toward Arkansas voters.
“Arkansans are fed up with rising costs and have been putting in the work to make their voices heard,” Jones said. “I’m honored Vice President Harris is standing with us.”
The endorsement comes as the race receives increased national attention. A recent Talk Business & Politics/Hendrix College poll has Jones at 48% and Hill at 44%, although the contest remains highly competitive.
Jones has built his campaign around affordability and accountability, emphasizing issues including health care, housing, child care and education. The AR-02 race is scheduled for November 3, 2026.
Harris is the latest nationally prominent Democrat to back Jones. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg endorsed him earlier this year, joining other Democratic leaders who have rallied behind his campaign. Additionally, he is backed by:
Mayor Terry Coleman of Menifee, Arkansas
Bob J. Nash, businessman and Director of Presidential Personnel
Rodney Slater, the first African American director of the Federal Highway Administration, and U.S. secretary of transportation
Janis F. Kearney, author and first and only officially appointed U.S. Presidential Diarist
Bennie G. Thompson, U.S. Representative for Mississippi's 2nd Congressional District
Tim Campbell, Executive Director of the Emerging Scholars Leadership Institute at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB)
Denise Firmin Garner, 84th district Arkansas House of Representatives
Senator Janie Scott, the youngest African-American female to be elected to the Arkansas Senate
Vic Snyder, physician, lawyer, and former U.S. representative for Arkansas's 2nd congressional district
For Jones, however, the endorsement is less about Washington politics and more about the work happening on the ground.
“Arkansans built this,” Jones wrote following the announcement, encouraging supporters to knock doors, make calls and organize ahead of November.
URBANE Readers: Get to Know Chris Jones
Jones is featured in URBANE Magazine Issue 33 as part of the issue’s political coverage, “A Bigger Table: Dr. Chris Jones Runs for Congress.” The issue explores Jones’ background and his campaign to represent Arkansas’ 2nd Congressional District.
Issue 33 is sold out in the URBANE Store, but printed copies are available at Pyramid Art, Books & Custom Framing, 1001 Wright Avenue, Little Rock.
For more coverage of Arkansas politics, culture and the people shaping the state, follow URBANE Magazine — Amplifying Black Arkansas.