LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas’ 2nd Congressional District is up for grabs, with Republican U.S. Rep. French Hill slightly ahead of state Sen. Joyce Elliott, D-Little Rock, according to a poll released Sunday.
Among 698 likely voters in Central Arkansas, the Little Rock incumbent led 47.5% to 46%.
The Talk Business & Politics-Hendrix College survey, done between Sept. 4 and Wednesday, had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.3 percentage points.
Elliott is polling stronger at this stage of the race than Hill’s last Democratic challenger, who trailed 49.5% to 40.5% in a September 2018 Talk Business survey.
Hill went on to defeat then-state Rep. Clarke Tucker of Little Rock 52.1% to 45.8%, with Libertarian Joe Swafford capturing 2%.
Hill campaign chairwoman Judith Goodson expressed confidence.
“Our campaign is on the path to victory and is executing its plan to ensure French Hill is reelected. Congressman Hill has an immovable base of support in AR2, and that support will only grow over the coming weeks as voters find out what Joyce Elliott really stands for — higher taxes and a radical leftist agenda,” she said.
The Democratic challenger called the results a “statistical tie,” noting Hill’s lead was within the margin of error.
“This unprecedented show of support makes it clear that Arkansans want to fire French Hill for putting Wall Street and special interests before our interests here. We have a lot more work to do, but I promise to keep using what I learned in the classroom and in the legislature to bring people together,” Elliott said.
The polling showed a sizable gender gap, with men favoring Hill 57.5% to 39%, and women backing Elliott 52.5% to 38.5%. Hill led in Van Buren, Conway, Perry, Faulkner, White and Saline counties — 61.5% to 34%. Elliott led in Pulaski County, the district’s largest, 56.5% to 35%, with 8.5% undecided.