Last week, in a guest post here, my friend Robb Ryerse asked if a Democrat can win in northwest Arkansas-- where he lives-- if the opponent is named Duggar. Well, we'll never find out. Last night Arkansas held the primaries for the special election for the February 8th general. Lisa Parks won the Democratic primary easily enough-- a landslide with 84.15% of the vote. But Jim Bob Duggar, a former state Rep, with a very troubled family history, flopped very badly. There will be a GOP runoff because no one got 50% of the vote. But Jim Bob won't be in it. Duggar, whose son Josh-- a big time GOP political operative who molested several underage girls including at least two of his sisters, was found guilty of child pornography last week-- and Jim Bob's daughter Jana was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, came in a distant 3rd:
Colby Fulfer- 1,387 (46.67%)
Steve Unger- 941 (31.66%)
Jim Bob Duggar- 456 (15.34%)
Edge Nowlin- 188 (6.33%)
2,972 Republicans voted but just 858 Democrats. 722 people voted for Parks.
Another of Duggar's daughters Jinger, issued a statement on her Instagram account about her brother Josh
We are saddened for the dishonor this has brought upon Christ’s name. Josh claims to be a Christian. When a professing follower of Jesus is exposed as a hypocrite, the response of many will be to challenge the integrity of Jesus himself. They’ll question the legitimacy of a Savior whose so-called followers privately delight in the sins they publicly denounce. This is why the Apostle Paul told religious hypocrites that "the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you” (Romans 2:24). For Josh, we fear for his soul.
Yet, amidst our sadness, there is gratitude. We are grateful that God is a God of justice who cares for the innocent and the helpless. And, of all the people in this world, he especially loves children, who are among the most vulnerable. This reality makes the existence of sex trafficking and child abuse one of the most horrific evils imaginable. It is an evil God hates.
...We are thankful to God for exposing Josh’s actions and to a legal system committed to protecting the innocent and punishing the guilty in this case. We are grateful for justice. We are praying for further justice, vindication, protection, and healing for all those who have been wronged.
Jim Bob, who has 19 children, ran on an anti-Choice/anti-pandemic mandates platform, spent $37,631 of his own money on the campaign, more than any other candidate. He served in the Arkansas House from 1999 to 2003, where he served, ironically as the vice chair of the House Corrections and Criminal Law Subcommittee. He gave up the seat in 2002 to run-- unsuccessfully-- for the U.S. Senate against incumbent Tim Hutchinson (R) who wiped him out 71,576 to 20,546. He tried for a comeback in 2006, running for a state Senate seat and lost the GOP nomination again.