Arkansas Democrats’ Chair Candidates Release Statements of Candidacy Ahead of Saturday, August 16 Election

LITTLE ROCK - After officially submitting the signatures to qualify for the ballot, Arkansas Democratic Party Chair candidates Colonel (Retired) Marcus Jones and Jannie Marie Cotton submitted 500-word statements to the State Committee as outlined in party vacancy rules.

The statements are included below as well as a media advisory for the State Committee meeting. The statements are listed in the order that the candidates will appear on the ballot.

Colonel (Retired) Marcus Jones submitted the following statement and biographical information:

"'Raise money and elect Democrats,' isn't a plan. The next Chair must establish a strategic vision for our party and collaborate with every team member to meet a long-term goal. Looking out on a five-year planning horizon, which incorporates two election cycles, and developing that way ahead is the step we should take now. Once we understand where we're going, all other enabling functions - communications, growing capacity in our county parties and auxiliaries, training and recruiting candidates, financial planning, and the fundraising that supports all of these - can find synergy."

Colonel (Retired) Marcus Jones is a proud Arkansas Democrat, a proven organizational performance professional, a U.S. Army Combat Veteran, and former Candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives (AR-02). With three decades of experience driving strategic initiatives, optimizing operations, and leading high-performing teams in complex, fast-paced environments, he's ready to serve as Chair of the Democratic Party of Arkansas.

Marcus' demonstrated success in both fundraising and communications serves as a testament to his readiness to lead the DPA. During his 2024 campaign for Congress, he raised an amount equal to that of all other Arkansas Democratic Congressional Campaigns in both the 2022 and 2024 election cycles combined. COL(R) Jones continues to fundraise in support of the DPA, his efforts accounting for more than $24,000 in 2025. Marcus is a voice for Arkansas Democratic Party initiatives and values, and a trusted international and military affairs expert: NewsNation (International & Military Affairs), KATV (Military Affairs), KARK (Guest-Capital View/TBP), Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Arkansas Times (Guest Lecturer), Little Rock Congressional Town Hall (Speaker), LR/NLR 'No Kings' Rally (Keynote Speaker).

Working with other Democratic campaigns on the 2024 Ballot, Marcus developed a comprehensive field engagement plan that canvassed over 18,000 homes in Central Arkansas. His collaborative and communicative style is exactly the approach needed to grow the Democratic base and increase the capacity of our county parties and auxiliaries.

Marcus holds a Bachelor's in Political Science from the University of Arkansas, and Master's Degrees from the U.S. Army War College and Webster University. He currently serves on the boards of the Arkansas Coalition Against Sexual Assault and the UofA Army ROTC Alumni Society. Marcus' military awards include the Legion of Merit (1 OLC), the Bronze Star Medal (1 OLC), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (3 OLC), the Iraqi Campaign Medal (4 Campaign Stars), and the Meritorious Unit Citation (2 OLC).

Marcus and his wife of 30 years, Carrie, live in Little Rock and are the proud parents of two adult children, Will & Abby, and are members of Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church.

Having successfully led organizations, large and small, in the most arduous conditions, Marcus Jones is a natural choice for Chair in the current Arkansas political environment. His decades of strategic and operational planning expertise, extensive leadership experience, and established track record of delivering multi-million dollar programs on time and budget are exactly what the DPA needs as we move into the 2026 election cycle.

Interim Chair Jannie Marie Cotton submitted the following statement and biographical information:

"Your vote for Jannie Cotton as Chair of the Democratic Party of Arkansas is a vote to WIN! My aim as your next Chair is to make sustaining fundraising a top priority. We must have the resources to help candidates fuel their campaigns and expand their voter outreach to win competitive races. We must attract new donors, increase our Heart of the Party, and engage disengaged voters and donors alike. We must audit, measure, and learn from our fundraising efforts to adjust our fundraising strategies.

Policy is still at the forefront of my purview. Our democracy is under attack. Our Party must continue to assess our current strategies & data to engage stakeholders, increase voters' registration and turnout, and organize our outreach from county to county. Let's win back Democratic seats in Republican-held districts through the recruitment of candidates. Win back the working-class voters. Win back the trust of Arkansans who fear their local concerns will not reach our national leaders. Win back young Democrats who are frustrated with traditional approaches to solving problems and seek innovative solutions. My fellow state committee members, I am revved up to lead this charge!"

Elected, Appointed & Leadership Positions

• Interim Chair, DPA, 7/2025 - Current
• Appointed to the National Democratic Committee (DNC) Standing Resolution Committee - 5/ 2025 - Current Vice President, Southern District of the Associated State Democratic Committee (ASDC), consisting of 13 states - 2/2025 - Current
• Chair of Recruitment of Candidates - 2024 & 2026 Election Cycles
• Vice Chair, DPA - 1/2023 - Current
• Member, National Credential Committee for the Biden-Harris Administration
• 5-year appointment with the Audit & Finance Committee, City of Sherwood
• 5-year appointment as Commissioner for Pulaski County Fire Department Protection District 5. Democratic nominee for State Representative, Sherwood and Jacksonville, 2020 & 2022
• Served 13 years as CEO of Professional Counseling Associates (PCA) with six locations across Pulaski, Lonoke, and Prairie Counties
• Licensed Professional Counselor, MS, LPC
• Served on the Healthcare Reform and Legislative Committee for Children & Adult Services; ensured the health and welfare of mental health clients in the state of Arkansas from 2005-2014
• Served on the Executive Board as Secretary and Past President of the Mental Health Council, which represented 15 community mental health centers from across the state
• Served as a delegate from Arkansas representing mental health for Hill Day in DC through the National Association of Behavioral Health for 10+ years
• Member, Democratic National Committee
• Past Second Vice President and Lifetime member of the Democratic Black Caucus
• 2024 Lifetime Young Democrat Award
• Past President, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., LRAC

How has Jannie helped advance the Democratic Party of Arkansas?

• Recruitment of Candidates 2024 & 2026
• Call Time/Heart of the Party/Donors
• Voters Registration & Statewide Engagement
• Vice Chair - over 4,000 volunteer hours
• Lead of Fisher Shackelford: 2025 ($44,254.35), 2024 ($46,797.88), 2023 ($35,185.37) net gain. Chair of King Kennedy: 2025 ($30K), 2024 ($40K), 2023 ($15K) net gain.

A media advisory for the meeting is included below:

WHO: Candidates for Party Chair: Interim Chair Jannie Cotton and Ret. Army Col. Marcus Jones; House Minority Leader Rep. Andrew Collins will provide the welcome for the meeting; Arkansas Democratic Black Caucus President David Ashley will provide the invocation; Young Democrats of Arkansas Vice President and former College Democrats of America President Aliah Rowe will do the pledge of allegiance; Leaders and Officers of the Democratic Party of Arkansas

WHAT: The State Committee of the Democratic Party of Arkansas will meet to hold elections for Party Chair and discuss changes to party rules.

WHEN: Saturday, August 16 at 2 PM

WHERE: Four Points Sheraton in Little Rock (925 S University Ave.)

WHY: The party will meet to hold elections for Party Chair, discuss candidate filing, and approve rule changes recommended by the Rules Committee.

MEDIA ARE INVITED TO ATTEND and are encouraged to RSVP at the Google Form linked here.