Jed Duggar to challenge incumbent State Rep. Megan Godfrey in District 89

Jedidiah “Jed” Duggar of Springdale announced his candidacy Sunday (Nov. 3) to represent Arkansas House District 89.

Duggar, 20, is running in 2020 as a Republican against incumbent Democrat State Rep. Megan Godfrey. Godfrey narrowly unseated Republican State Rep. Jeff Williams in November 2018 by a final vote of 1,857 to 1,827 (50.5%-49.5%).

District 89 includes a portion of Springdale in Washington County.

Duggar grew up in Springdale and is the 10th of 19 biological children of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar. Their family was the subject of a popular TLC reality show “19 Kids and Counting.” It aired from 2008 to 2015.

Duggar owns Champion Motorcars in Springdale. He was most recently the campaign manager for State Sen. Bob Ballinger’s successful 2018 campaign. Prior to that, Duggar served as a legislative assistant at the Arkansas State Capitol during the 2017 legislation session.

“I have grown up in the Springdale area all my life and as a local small-business owner, I understand the important issues facing the residents and businesses of District 89,” Duggar said on a statement at his campaign website. “I will fight for sound economic policies, push for more tax relief for all Arkansans, and advocate for conservative values. I am a Christian and I will stand up for religious liberty, I am pro-life and I will be an advocate for the unborn, and I will always defend our Second Amendment. With your support, I will be a strong, conservative voice in Little Rock for District 89.”

Duggar is the only candidate to announce a campaign to challenge Godfrey in District 89. The candidate filing period begins Monday (Nov. 4) and ends at noon Nov. 12. Partisan primaries are March 3. The general election is Nov. 3, 2020.