LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — On Monday, representatives for the presidential hopefuls went to the Arkansas State Capitol to file to be on our 2024 ballot.
We're about one year from the 2024 election and some Arkansas voters that we spoke with said they're looking more closely at the issues this year rather than strictly at party lines.
Now candidates in the state have decided to lean into that
Alongside dozens of others— congressional house candidate Marcus Jones filed for the 2024 ballot at the capitol to run against Representative French Hill.
"I'm probably what you would call a moderate Democrat. What I would like to bring to Congress is more of that, reaching across the aisle that I don't see happening in the current," Jones explained.
State representative candidates that also filed on Monday include Republican Ken Yang for a district covering a portion of Saline County.
"Local is where the rubber meets the road. So a lot of people are frustrated with the federal government. And so how do we stop that? Well, we do that at the state level," Yang said.
Former candidate for governor Chris Jones also stopped by, not to file himself, but rather to support Democrats under his political action group and to push for voter turnout.
"If you're concerned about the educational system it's politics that shaped the education system, whether it's taxes, or health care, or criminal justice reform, it all goes back to politics," Jones said.
Political analyst Charles King explained how the politics in Arkansas are typically pretty red but there are some signs of change.
"Less than a year ago, we elected a governor with the largest margin in recent history. And now just less than a year forward, that same person has an approval rating lower than any other governor in recent history," King said.
In about one year, it will all come down to a vote.
"The need for education over the next year in political participation is the most important thing, voters should care because this is the most important election in recent history," King said.