Hill’s ‘Solid’ GOP seat now ‘Likely’

The Cook Political Report has its eye on Arkansas’ 2nd Congressional District.

The independent, nonpartisan newsletter ranks House and Senate races, categorizing most as either “Solid” Republican or “Solid” Democrat. Others are classified as either “Likely” or “Lean” or “Toss Up.”

For months, all four Arkansas U.S. House seats were on the “Solid Republican” list for the 2018 election cycle.

Last week, Cook switched the central Arkansas seat from “Solid” to “Likely” Republican.

Those in the “Likely” column “are not considered competitive at this point, but have the potential to become engaged,” the publication’s website states.

The classification changed after state Rep. Clarke Tucker, D-Little Rock, announced that he would challenge incumbent U.S. Rep. French Hill, a Republican from Little Rock.

Tucker is one of three Democrats hoping to face Hill in the fall. The primary is May 22.