Jim Bob Duggar | |
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Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar in 2006 | |
Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from the 6th district |
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In office 1999–2002 |
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Preceded by | Louis McJunkin |
Succeeded by | Jodie Mahony |
Personal details | |
Born | James Robert Duggar July 18, 1965 Springdale, Arkansas, United States |
Nationality | American |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Michelle Duggar (née Ruark) (m. 1984–present) |
Children | 19 |
Occupation | Realtor, investor, reality TV personality (19 Kids and Counting), author |
Religion | Christianity |
Website | www.duggarfamily.com |
James Robert "Jim Bob" Duggar (born July 18, 1965) is an American author, real estate agent, television personality on the reality series 19 Kids and Counting, and a former state legislator who served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1999 to 2002.
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Duggar was born in Springdale, Arkansas. He is the son of Jimmy Lee (1936–2009), who operated several local businesses, and Mary Duggar (born 1941), a homemaker and ice cream store owner. Duggar has an older sister, Deanna.[1][2]
From 1999 to 2002, Duggar served in the the Arkansas House of Representatives for the sixth district, which included part of northern Washington County, Arkansas.[3][4][5] Duggar was vice chair of the House Corrections and Criminal Law Subcommittee and also participated in the Insurance and Commerce Committee and Judiciary Committee.[6]
He also ran in the Republican Party of Arkansas primary election for the United States Senate in 2002, but lost to Tim Hutchinson.[7] Duggar sought the Republican nomination to the Arkansas State Senate District 35 seat in 2006,[8][9] but lost to candidate Bill Pritchard by 200 votes. He is a licensed realtor, and owns several commercial properties in his local area as an investor.[10][11][12]
In 1984, he married Michelle Ruark. Jim Bob and Michelle have 19 children: Joshua, Jana, John-David, Jill, Jessa, Jinger, Joseph, Josiah, Joy-Anna, Jedidiah, Jeremiah, Jason, James, Justin, Jackson, Johannah, Jennifer, Jordyn-Grace and Josie. The family have been featured on their own reality series, 19 Kids and Counting, since September 29, 2008. On November 8, 2011, Michelle announced that she was pregnant with their 20th child,[13] but on December 8, 2011, it was announced that she had miscarried.[14]
Jim Bob and Michelle have two grandchildren from their eldest child Joshua and his wife Anna, a girl named Mackynzie Renee (born October 8, 2009), and a boy named Michael James (born June 15, 2011).[15]
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar have written two books together, both published by Howard Books. The first is titled The Duggars: 20 and Counting!, which was released on December 2, 2008. Their second is A Love That Multiplies, which was released June 7, 2011.[16]
Duggar and his wife endorsed Rick Santorum during his candidacy for the 2012 Republican party presidential primaries.[17]