Physicist and ordained minister Dr. Chris Jones launched his Democratic campaign for governor of Arkansas with a viral video, earning over 10,000 retweets and 30,000 likes on Twitter. In the video, Jones highlights his family history in Arkansas and his educational background in physics and nuclear engineering. He emphasizes his focus on infrastructure, rural broadband access, and economic development.
Jones, alongside three other Democratic challengers, hopes to flip the state blue as current Republican Governor Asa Hutchinson nears his term limits. If elected, Jones or fellow candidate Anthony Bland would be Arkansas’ first Black governor, while Supha Xayprasith-Mays would be the state’s first woman to govern. However, Arkansas has historically favored Republican candidates, with 62% voting for former President Trump in the 2020 election.
University of Arkansas professor Janine Parry believes Jones could shake up the political landscape in Arkansas but acknowledges the challenges facing any Democratic candidate. The state has traditionally leaned Democrat until 2010, with only around a third of voters choosing Democrats in recent elections. The highly publicized Republican primary race between Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Leslie Rutledge has also garnered national attention, with Trump endorsing Sanders.
Jones recognizes the tough road ahead but remains optimistic about the tenacity of Arkansans to push through challenges. He believes in the state’s ability to tackle difficult tasks through hard work and grit, highlighting his own journey from Arkansas to NASA. Jones’s campaign has brought attention to the state race, offering a new perspective and potential changes to the political landscape in Arkansas.
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