GOP US Rep. French Hill wins seventh term to central Arkansas seat

Republican U.S. Rep. French Hill has won a seventh term, fending off his challenger Chris Jones despite efforts from national Democrats to flip the seat.

The Associated Press called the race Thursday at 11:01 a.m.

Jones hoped to capitalize on the sour national mood toward Republicans, with voters deeply unhappy about the cost of living and stubbornly high gas prices amid the war in Iran.

The 2nd Congressional District was the bluest of Arkansas’ four House seats, covering central Arkansas, including most of Little Rock, but Democrats were unable to capitalize on the blue wave that swept across much of America Tuesday night. Redistricting in 2021 made the map more favorable to Hill, who won reelection in 2024 with 59% of the vote.

Democrats have tried for years to unseat Hill, who first took office in 2015, but have not succeeded. Polling from Hendrix College and Talk Business and Politics found Jones with a slim lead over Hill in August, though the results were within the poll’s margin of error. 

Hill outspent and outraised Jones throughout the campaign, which saw congressional Democrats’ campaign arm spending more in the final weeks.

President Donald Trump won the district by more than 15 percentage points in 2024.

During the campaign, Jones criticized Hill as being too closely aligned with the president.

Hill has split with Trump on some issues, including opposing the president’s plan to allow more beef imports into the U.S.  Hill, who chairs the House Financial Services Committee, sponsored the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a bipartisan bill that became law in July without Trump’s signature.