Folks, 

It’s Chris, your Democratic candidate for governor of Arkansas. 

The election results are finalized, and they’re not what we hoped for. But that won’t stop me from being incredibly proud of every single member of Team Jones and the tangible impact we made here in Arkansas. And it won’t stop me from being deeply grateful for everything you’ve done to make this campaign possible.

I entered this race a year and a half ago because I wholeheartedly believe in a better future for our families. As a seventh-generation Arkansan, my love for our state and its people runs deep. My wife Jerrilyn and I chose to raise our three girls as eighth-generation Arkansans because we know they can have a fulfilling life here. And after running for governor and meeting with folks in every corner of the state, I’m even more sure of that. 

The best way to get to know someone is by walking a mile in their shoes. And that’s exactly what Team Jones did — we put one foot in front of the other and walked millions of steps alongside hardworking Arkansans in all 75 counties. We listened intently to the issues they’re facing, and we delivered detailed solutions to deal with some of Arkansas’ biggest challenges. We led with Faith, Hope, and Hard Work every single day. We met with Arkansans at their businesses, their doorsteps, their places of worship, and their schools. And we had a whole lot of fun. 

We started off this campaign with zero name recognition, running in a state that experts said was too “red” for a Democrat to ever compete in. But you know what? Against all odds, we won the nomination, we gave our opponent a heck of a race, and we built an undeniably powerful grassroots movement here in Arkansas — which is not going away anytime soon. 

Our movement is just getting started. Those detailed plans I mentioned aren’t just pipedreams — they’re on the table for future lawmakers to put into action. All across this great state of ours, people who’ve linked arms for the first time, volunteered for the first time, and voted for the first time have built new habits of civic and political engagement that will last a lifetime. I may not be the first Black governor of Arkansas, but our team sure did make history.

My neighborhood is Arkansas — every last street and every single county. And I know I’ll see you out there, continuing to work towards change in your community. 

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for helping to build this campaign from the ground up. I’ll never forget it.

Let’s keep the faith,

Chris Jones