LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Retired Army Col. Marcus Jones held a press conference this week as he kicked off his campaign against Rep. French Hill in Arkansas’s Second Congressional District, which includes parts of Pulaski and Cleburne counties and all of Saline, Faulkner, Conway, White, Perry, and Van Buren counties.
On Thursday, Jones announced that Terri Hollingsworth, the Pulaski County Circuit and County Clerk, will serve as his fist campaign chair.
"His military career is exceptional. For three decades, top military and civilian leaders trusted him to lead and supervise vital national security efforts and missions," Hollingsworth said.
While at the press conference, Jones also took time to unveil his veteran's outreach program called "Veterans for Marcus."
“I’m in this race because I’ve been looking out for Americans for 30 years, and I want to continue that service to Arkansans in Congress. I want to serve our Veterans like only a Veteran can,” Col. Jones (Ret.) said at the press conference.
Jones originally announced his campaign back in October of 2023 with the intention of challenging Rep. Hill for the congressional seat.
At this week's press conference, Jones described the Army as "the most diverse and talented workforce in the history of the world" and acknowledged the difficulties that veterans face upon returning home when it comes to services such as medical care and mental health services.
"When [veterans] come home, our veterans should be receiving the highest quality medical care, mental health services, and administrative services that we’ve got," Col. Jones said. "They’ve earned it, and it’s not enough to pay lip service to this issue. We need someone who knows what’s at stake in Congress.”
If elected, Jones said that he plans to visit with Arkansas families, workers, veterans, farmers, students, and seniors across every community in all eight counties of the Second District to help 'provide active service, optimism, and patriotism'.
Jones will be competing against Rep. French Hill, who has held the position since 2015.
In 2022, Hill defeated Quintessa Hathaway (D) and Michael White (L) to retain his seat, garnering 60% of the total votes casted.