Arkansas Democrats Choose Marcus Jones, a Retired Colonel, as New Party Chair

For more than a decade, the Democratic Party of Arkansas has faced a steady decline, weighed down by financial troubles, leadership challenges, and repeated electoral defeats that have left Republicans dominating nearly every office. Once the dominant political force in the state, Democrats have collapsed dramatically but managed to keep the party alive under the leadership of Grant Tenille.

After four years as chair, Tenille stepped down in July, saying he was tired and felt it was the best time to hand over responsibility to new leadership. With the next gubernatorial race approaching, Democrats are working to avoid another round of setbacks and to reestablish their footing in a state where victories have become increasingly rare.

As part of that effort, on Saturday, August 16, party members elected former congressional candidate Marcus Jones as chair of the state committee. A retired Army colonel, Jones’ victory marked both a change in leadership and a renewed push to revive Democratic influence in Arkansas.

Jones Over Cotton

Marcus Jones, a retired Army colonel, senior advisor to the Arkansas National Guard, and Democratic candidate for Arkansas’s 2nd Congressional District in the 2024 election, won the state party’s leadership race with 128 votes. He defeated Vice Chair Jannie Cotton, who received 76.

Cotton, widely viewed as the natural successor to former chair Grant Tenille, had been serving as interim chair since mid July after Tenille stepped down following four years in the position. A longtime party activist, she has been vice chair since 2023, serves as regional vice president of the Association of State Democratic Committees in an area that includes several Democratic strongholds, and also leads the national party’s candidate recruitment effort.

Still, Democrats ultimately chose Jones to lead the party.

Jones Sets Priorities 

In his acceptance speech at the Sheraton Four Points hotel in Little Rock, Marcus Jones acknowledged the spirited contest against Jannie Cotton. He referenced a scripture passage out of respect for Cotton, saying that as iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend, highlighting the importance of respect, discussion, and dialogue.

“Now’s the time we come back together. Now’s the time we move forward … and carry those Democratic values outside of this room,” Jones told the crowd. “Outside, not everybody shares those same values. And we’ve got to be the people that carry that forward for Arkansas. We’ve got to be the people that do that for our nation.”

Jones outlined his priorities for the party’s future, beginning with a pledge to increase the number of active county Democratic committees to 70. “Right now, we’ve got somewhere between 52 and 55, so we’ve all got some work to do,” he said.

He also committed to delivering a five-year strategic plan within 90 days. The plan, he said, would draw on the skills and talents of county and auxiliary committees to strengthen recruitment efforts and help elect more Democrats.

“‘Raise money and elect Democrats’ isn’t a plan,” Jones wrote in his candidacy statement. “The next Chair must establish a strategic vision for our party and collaborate with every team member to meet a long-term goal.”

Jones, who challenged Rep. French Hill in last year’s congressional race, demonstrated strong fundraising ability during that campaign. According to his biography, he has continued raising money in support of Democratic candidates across Arkansas.

Building on Tenille’s Legacy

State Rep. Andrew Collins of Little Rock opened Saturday’s meeting by commending outgoing chair Grant Tenille, praising his role in stabilizing and rebuilding the Democratic Party after years of decline. Although Tenille did not deliver major electoral victories, Collins said he provided the party with a vital lifeline that no one could deny.

Collins highlighted Tenille’s support in the election of Rep. Diana Gonzales Worthen of Springdale, the first Latina to serve in the Arkansas Legislature, as well as his role in helping Democrats secure their first net gain in the state House in nearly two decades. For many in the party, Tenille deserves credit for keeping Democrats afloat during one of their most difficult chapters. The challenge now is to protect that foundation and continue building on it.

With Marcus Jones stepping into the leadership role, Democrats hope to build on that momentum. Jones has pledged to prioritize long-term strategy, stronger organization, and expanded outreach as the party positions itself to compete in a state where Republicans continue to dominate.