Chris Jones

Jones supports affordable healthcare for all families, including extending new mothers' access to Medicaid past 12 months after birth, comprehensive maternal health support, and addiction recovery services. He opposed cuts to the WIC program that would reduce food assistance for low-income women and children, arguing that feeding children is not a partisan issue. He supports extending Affordable Care Act subsidies and criticized his opponent's vote for the Keep Kids Fed Act, which ended pandemic-era school meal waivers.

Jones advocates for an economy that lifts every community through good jobs, fair wages, small business growth, high-quality internet access, and hospitals that stay open in rural towns. His campaign emphasizes 'Affordability for All,' focusing on lowering costs for Arkansas families. He supports price stability and affordability for the farming industry, which has been hit hard by tariffs.

Jones, as a nuclear engineer with a Ph.D. in urban planning whose doctoral dissertation examined how energy policy intersects with race and class, advocates for clean energy investment and a practical energy policy. He was endorsed by the 314 Action Fund, which supports scientists and engineers who advocate for climate action and evidence-based policy.

Jones supports reproductive rights and has called for safeguarding and expanding reproductive freedom in Arkansas. He has criticized the state's restrictive abortion bans and emphasized the need for comprehensive maternal health support, including extending new mothers' access to Medicaid to 12 months after birth in a state with among the nation's highest maternal mortality rates.

Jones has expressed support for birthright citizenship, calling the Supreme Court's ruling upholding it 'a victory for the Constitution' and stating that 'the Constitution stands.' He has emphasized that immigration policy should respect constitutional guarantees and an independent judiciary.

Jones supports a 'balanced conversation on gun violence and safety,' calling for a plan to end gun violence through common-sense measures while also supporting law enforcement. He has participated in a virtual rally demanding action on gun violence and stated that his campaign is not about taking away guns. He has emphasized investing in community safety alongside supporting law enforcement.

Jones has questioned the Trump administration's Iran peace plan, asking how compliance will be verified and whether the agreement actually prevents Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. He emphasized that as a scientist and engineer, he starts with evidence and that verification matters.

Jones has emphasized civil rights, economic justice, and voting rights as central to his campaign. He has spoken about the importance of including all Arkansans in the democratic process and has advocated for protecting the constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship, an independent judiciary, and fair maps. His campaign platform of 'Opportunity for All' focuses on ensuring equality reaches every community.

Jones supports investing in education, workforce training, and lifelong learning opportunities. He has criticized his opponent for voting for the Keep Kids Fed Act that ended pandemic-era school meal waivers, arguing that making sure children are fed improves educational outcomes. He supports fully funding public schools instead of redirecting federal money to private schools.

Jones has been a leading voice on innovation and technology through his work as Executive Director of the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub. He has participated in AI conferences and emphasized the importance of technology and training for economic development.

Jones is a strong advocate for voting rights, supporting fair maps, secure and accessible elections, and government accountability. He has spoken against voter suppression laws in Arkansas, including signature matching requirements and line warming bans, and has called for expanded voter registration and education. His campaign emphasizes 'Accountability for All,' which includes protecting democratic institutions and ensuring government transparency.

Jones has focused on Arkansas-specific issues including opposing cuts to the WIC program that would affect 48,000 individuals in Arkansas, supporting rural infrastructure and water/waste disposal grants, and advocating for extending Medicaid coverage for new mothers to 12 months after birth in a state with among the nation's highest maternal mortality rates. He supports price stability and affordability for Arkansas's farming industry.