Chris Jones wins Democratic nomination for Arkansas governor
Nuclear engineer Chris Jones has won the Democratic primary for governor of Arkansas, the Associated Press projects. Follow this link for election results.
Jones will face Sarah Huckabee Sanders, winner of Arkansas Republican primary and Libertarian nominee Ricky Dale Harrington in November.
Jones is a nuclear engineer, holds a Ph.D. in urban planning, and led the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub. He is the son of two preachers and is an ordained minister himself. He has three children.
Chris Jones’ campaign has emphasized infrastructure and education reform. He said the state can help people with college and trade schools.
“Education is both about the foundation you get from pre-K to 12 and it’s also the direction you go after that,” Jones told 40/29’s Yuna Lee in an interview on 40/29 On The Record before the primary. “And, when I think about how Arkansas can be most successful, how can we support all Arkansans, it is certainly higher education, but it is also trades, it is also support for entrepreneurship. I think across the board we have to provide the resources d so once individuals once they graduate, they can take one of those tracks and really lead successful lives.”
Jones defeated candidates Anthony Bland, Jay Martin, James “Rus” Russell and Supha Xayprasith-Mays in the primary.
History Made
Jones’ nomination marks the first time in state history either the Democratic or Republican parties have nominated a Black candidate for governor.
Libertarian Ricky Dale Harrington secured his party’s nomination earlier this year, meaning two of the three gubernatorial candidates on November’s ballot will be Black.
In 1920, Black businessman Josiah H. Blount attempted to run for governor on the Republican ticket, according to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas. However, the party held its convention at a segregated hotel. Blount and his supporters were unable to attend and started their own party faction known as the “Black and Tans.”
The secretary of the state put Blount on the ballot as an independent candidate. He came in third place with 8 percent of the vote.
If Jones wins in November’s general election, he will become the first Black person elected governor in the state. Arkansas would become the 15th state in the country to elect a nonwhite governor.
The winner of November’s election will replace Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who is term limited. Hutchinson, a Republican, is considering a run for president.