James Robert "Jim Bob" Duggar is an American real estate agent, politician, and television
personality on the reality series 19 Kids and Counting.
He is a former state legislator who served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from
1999 to 2002.
Biography Duggar was born in Springdale, Arkansas, the
son of Jimmy Lee Duggar, who operated several local businesses, and Mary Duggar, a homemaker
and ice cream store owner.
Duggar has an older sister, Deanna.
Arkansas House of Representatives From 1999 to 2002, Duggar served in the Arkansas
House of Representatives for the sixth district, which included part of northern Washington
County, Arkansas.
Duggar was vice chair of the House Corrections and Criminal Law Subcommittee and also participated
in the Insurance and Commerce Committee and Judiciary Committee.
He also ran in the Republican Party of Arkansas primary election for the United States Senate
in 2002, but lost to Tim Hutchinson.
Duggar sought the Republican nomination to the Arkansas State Senate District 35 seat
in 2006, 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.
Marriage and children In 1984, he married Michelle Ruark.
Jim Bob and Michelle have 19 children: Joshua, twins Jana and John-David, Jill, Jessa, Jinger,
Joseph, Josiah, Joy-Anna, twins Jedidiah and Jeremiah, Jason, James, Justin, Jackson, Johannah,
Jennifer, Jordyn-Grace, and Josie.
The family has been featured on their own hit reality series, 19 Kids and Counting,
since September 29, 2008.
On November 8, 2011, Michelle announced that she was pregnant with their 20th child, whom
they named Jubilee Shalom, but on December 8, 2011, it was announced that she had miscarried.
He and his family are Independent Baptist Christians and members of the Institute in
Basic Life Principles organization.
His oldest daughter, Jana, is a leader at the IBLP's Journey to the Heart youth ministry.
As with other evangelical Christians, the Duggars are adherents of, what is sometimes
called, Christian patriarchy.
Jim Bob and Michelle have three grandchildren from their eldest child, Josh, and his wife,
Anna; daughter Mackynzie, and sons Michael and Marcus.
They are expecting their fourth grandchild from Jill in March 2015.
Jim Bob and Michelle's second oldest daughter and fourth child, Jill, married Derick Dillard
on June 21, 2014.
Books 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.
Their four oldest daughters, Jana, Jill, Jessa and Jinger, followed in their footsteps by
writing a book titled Growing Up Duggar, which was released March 4, 2014.
Other political activities Duggar and his wife endorsed Mike Huckabee
in 2008 during his campaign for the Republican Party presidential primaries.
In January 2012, the Duggars endorsed former Republican U.S. Senator Rick Santorum for
president.
In October 2013, the Duggar family began campaigning for Ken Cuccinelli, the unsuccessful Republican
gubernatorial candidate in Virginia.
See also List of people with the most children
United Bates of America References
External links Duggar family website.
Arkansas House of Representatives page