Rep. French Hill wins after unexpected challenge

Rep. French Hill (R-Ark.) is projected to win re-election for a third House term in a race eyed by forecasters as a potential upset against a Republican incumbent.

Hill is projected to retain his House seat representing Little Rock and the state capital’s suburbs, and defeat his Democratic challenger, Arkansas state Rep. Clarke Tucker.

Voting in Arkansas ended at 7:30 p.m. and Associated Press called the race at TK p.m.

Election forecasters rated the race for Arkansas’ 2nd district a “likely Republican” victory but viable to flip amid a mass uprising against the GOP in urban and suburban districts like Hill’s.

Hill, a former Treasury Department deputy assistant secretary and White House economic aide, is a top Republican on the House Financial Services Committee.