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{{Short description|American politician and businessman}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Jim Lucas
| birth_place = [[Seymour, Indiana]], U.S.
| party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| state_house = Indiana
| district = 69th
| term_start = November 7, 2012
| children = 3
| spouse = Lynn Lucas
| branch = {{flag|United States Marine Corps}}
| predecessor = [[Dave Cheatham]]
}}

'''Jim Lucas''' is an American politician and businessman serving as a member of the [[Indiana House of Representatives]] from the 69th district. He assumed office on November 7, 2012.

== Early life and education ==
Lucas was born and raised in [[Seymour, Indiana]]. He graduated from [[Seymour High School (Indiana)|Seymour High School]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Jim Lucas' Biography|url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/120405/jim-lucas|access-date=2022-02-20|website=Vote Smart}}</ref>

== Career ==
Lucas served in the [[United States Marine Corps]]. Outside of politics, he operates TAG Graphics, a graphic design company, and the Awning Guy, a construction company. Running as a Republican, he was elected to the [[Indiana House of Representatives]] in November 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Candidates File For Local Offices|url=https://www.eaglecountryonline.com/news/local-news/candidates-file-for-local-offices/|access-date=2022-02-20|website=Eagle Country 99.3|language=en}}</ref> From 2015 to 2017, he served as vice chair of the House Government and Regulatory Reform Committee. During the 2019–2020 legislative session, he served as vice chair of the House Select Committee on Government Reduction.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Jim Lucas|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Jim_Lucas|access-date=2022-02-20|website=Ballotpedia|language=en}}</ref>

== Controversies ==
Lucas has been the subject of numerous controversies over comments made on his social media accounts, causing some to call for his resignation, as well as the removal of his position on several committees.

=== Comments on rape and domestic violence ===
In June 2017, Lucas was caught in controversy for comments he made regarding rape victims, including claims that women who carried weapons had learned "how to not be victims," leading to accusations of [[victim blaming]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Indiana lawmaker under fire for "how not to be a victim" rape post |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jim-lucas-criticized-women-learning-how-not-to-be-a-victim-of-rape/ |access-date=2023-03-08 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Earlier that year, he had been the subject of controversy for a meme which was perceived to be mocking domestic violence victims.<ref name=":0" />

=== Facebook posts about race and slavery ===
In August 2019, Lucas was caught in controversy after posting a photo of a noose under a photo of a black man convicted of rape.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sikich |first=Chris |title=Indiana lawmaker accused of racism after posting nooses under photo of black man guilty of rape |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2019/08/16/jim-lucas-indiana-representative-accused-racism-over-facebook-post/2030742001/ |access-date=2023-03-08 |website=The Indianapolis Star |language=en-US}}</ref> Later, in May of 2020, Lucas was once again caught in controversy for posting a meme that was perceived to contain racist stereotypes of black children, leading to his removal from several study committees by House Speaker [[Todd Huston]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-05-12 |title=Senate Democrats condemn Rep. Jim Lucas' Facebook post as 'degrading and racist' |url=https://fox59.com/news/politics/senate-democrats-condemn-rep-jim-lucas-facebook-post-as-degrading-and-racist/ |access-date=2023-03-08 |website=Fox 59 |language=en-US}}</ref> In March 2021, Lucas received criticism for comments made about slavery in a [[Facebook]] live video.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lange|first=Kaitlin|title=After Facebook exchange, surgeon accuses state lawmaker of making racist comments|url=https://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2021/03/29/facebook-jim-lucas-indiana-racism-slavery/7011303002/|access-date=2022-02-20|website=The Indianapolis Star|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Slisco|first=Aila|date=2021-03-29|title=Indiana Rep. Jim Lucas under fire for slavery comments to Black surgeon was sanctioned for controversial meme|url=https://www.newsweek.com/indiana-rep-jim-lucas-under-fire-slavery-comments-black-surgeon-was-sanctioned-controversial-1579661|access-date=2022-02-20|website=Newsweek|language=en}}</ref>

=== Uvalde shooting ===
In June 2022, Lucas faced widespread backlash over a post on Facebook which suggested that the [[Robb Elementary School shooting]] was a false flag operation, with some comparing the comments Lucas made on the shooting to those made by [[alt-right]] conspiracy theorist [[Alex Jones]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=TheStatehouseFile.com |first=Jack Sells |title=Rep. Jim Lucas suggests Uvalde shooting could be false flag operation |url=https://www.thestatehousefile.com/politics/rep-jim-lucas-suggests-uvalde-shooting-could-be-false-flag-operation/article_9aa4564c-f34b-11ec-9d9b-d7643b35b3d9.html |access-date=2023-03-08 |website=The Statehouse File |date=23 June 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Quoting Joseph Goebbels ===
In August 2022, Lucas received more backlash after posting a quote attributed to Nazi propagandist [[Joseph Goebbels]] on his Facebook account.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sandweiss |first=Ethan |title=State Rep Jim Lucas quotes Nazi propagandist in Facebook photo |url=https://indianapublicmedia.org/news/state-rep-jim-lucas-quotes-nazi-propagandist-in-facebook-photo.php |access-date=2023-03-08 |website=News - Indiana Public Media |language=en}}</ref> Lucas later followed up on the post and refused to issue an apology.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Essex |first=Annie Johnston, Chris |title=Indiana lawmaker defends using Nazi propaganda statement on social media - here's what he said |url=https://www.wthitv.com/news/indiana-lawmaker-defends-using-nazi-propaganda-statement-on-social-media---heres-what-he/article_2dddff3c-1e60-11ed-a3b3-8b7d3efed4dc.html |access-date=2023-03-08 |website=WTHI-TV |date=17 August 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

=== DUI arrest ===

On May 31, 2023, Indiana State Police reported that Lucas was arrested after crashing his vehicle into a guard rail on the I-65 just north of Seymour around midnight. <ref name=drunk>{{Cite web |date=May 31, 2023 |title=Indiana Rep. Jim Lucas arrested Wednesday morning in Jackson County |url=https://www.wthr.com/article/news/politics/indiana-rep-jim-lucas-arrested-drunk-driving-leave-scene-of-crash-jackson-county/531-b1a660a0-bf8d-4947-9613-e31969dc9a6c |access-date=May 31, 2023 |website=wthr.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Lucas had left the scene in the vehicle, driving the wrong way down an entrance ramp. He told officers he had swerved to avoid a deer. The ISP reported officers from the Seymour Police Department found the vehicle parked behind a business almost three miles from the crash site, having been driven there on two bare rims and a flat tire.<ref>[https://tribtown.com/2023/06/07/lucas-accident-report-reveals-more-details/ Lucas accident report reveals more details], ''[[The Tribune (Seymour)]]'', Casey Smith, June 7, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2023.</ref> He was arrested by a trooper from the ISP-Versailles Post for driving while intoxicated and leaving the scene of an accident.<ref name=drunk/> On June 12, 2023, Lucas agreed to enter a plea agreement pleading guilty to two misdemeanor charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and leaving the scene of an accident. He will serve a suspended sentence of 240 days for the two charges and serve one year on probation.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hakim-Shabazz |first=Abdul |title=Lucas Enters Plea Deal|url=https://indypolitics.org/lucas-enters-plea-deal/|work=Indy Politics |date=June 12, 2023}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Lucas and his ex-wife, Lynn,<ref>[https://www.thestatehousefile.com/politics/twitter-beef-raises-specter-of-lucas-2020-divorce-hearing-and-questions-about-how-politicians-use/article_2447ba6e-5c6b-11ed-a989-17fe67cf7b01.html Twitter beef raises specter of Lucas' 2020 divorce hearing—and questions about how politicians use social media], ''TheStatehouseFile.com'', Jack Sells, November 4, 2022. Retrieved May 9, 2023.</ref> have three children.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Jim Lucas {{!}} State of Indiana House of Representatives|url=https://www.indianahouserepublicans.com/members/general/jim-lucas|access-date=2022-02-20|website=www.indianahouserepublicans.com}}</ref>

== Electoral history ==
{{Election box begin|title=Indiana House of Representatives, District 69, 2012 <ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=757611 |title= IN State House 069 |publisher= ourcampaigns.com |access-date= November 30, 2012 |archive-date= May 12, 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230512203207/https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=757611 |url-status= live }}</ref>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate='''Jim Lucas'''|votes=13,787|percentage=57.8%|change=}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Jim McCormick|votes=10,070|percentage=42.2%|change=}}
{{Election box turnout|votes=23,857|percentage=|change=}}
{{Election box gain with party link||winner=Republican Party (United States)|loser=Democratic Party (United States)|swing=}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Indiana House of Representatives, District 69, 2014 <ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=794813 |title= IN State House 069 |publisher= ourcampaigns.com |access-date= December 7, 2014 |archive-date= May 12, 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230512203412/https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=794813 |url-status= live }}</ref>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate='''Jim Lucas''' (incumbent)|votes=12,200|percentage=100%|change=}}
{{Election box turnout|votes=12,200|percentage=|change=}}
{{Election box hold with party link||winner=Republican Party (United States)|swing=}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Indiana House of Representatives, District 69, 2016 <ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=813518 |title= IN State House 069 |publisher= ourcampaigns.com |access-date= March 19, 2017 |archive-date= May 12, 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230512203554/https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=813518 |url-status= live }}</ref>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate='''Jim Lucas''' (incumbent)|votes=20,768|percentage=100%|change=}}
{{Election box turnout|votes=20,768|percentage=|change=}}
{{Election box hold with party link||winner=Republican Party (United States)|swing=}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Indiana House of Representatives, District 69, 2018 <ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=845064 |title= IN State House 069 |publisher= ourcampaigns.com |access-date= December 5, 2018 |archive-date= May 12, 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230512203923/https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=845064 |url-status= live }}</ref>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate='''Jim Lucas''' (incumbent)|votes=14,604|percentage=69.2%|change=}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Steve Schoettmer|votes=6,480|percentage=30.7%|change=}}
{{Election box turnout|votes=21,084|percentage=|change=}}
{{Election box hold with party link||winner=Republican Party (United States)|swing=}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Indiana House of Representatives, District 69, 2020 <ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=896915 |title= IN State House 069 |publisher= ourcampaigns.com |access-date= November 25, 2020 |archive-date= May 12, 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230512204223/https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=896915 |url-status= live }}</ref>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate='''Jim Lucas''' (incumbent)|votes=18,784|percentage=67.3%|change=}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Jeffery W. Prewitt|votes=4,924|percentage=17.6%|change=}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Independent (United States)|candidate=Katrina "Kat" Hardwick|votes=4,186|percentage=15.0%|change=}}
{{Election box turnout|votes=27,894|percentage=|change=}}
{{Election box hold with party link||winner=Republican Party (United States)|swing=}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Indiana House of Representatives, District 69, 2022 <ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=970748 |title= IN State House 069 |publisher= ourcampaigns.com |access-date= January 12, 2023 |archive-date= May 12, 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230512204421/https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=970748 |url-status= live }}</ref>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate='''Jim Lucas''' (incumbent)|votes=12,526|percentage=73.7%|change=}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Chad Harmon|votes=4,475|percentage=26.3%|change=}}
{{Election box turnout|votes=17,001|percentage=|change=}}
{{Election box hold with party link||winner=Republican Party (United States)|swing=}}
{{Election box end}}

== References ==

<references />

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lucas, Jim}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Seymour, Indiana]]
[[Category:Republican Party members of the Indiana House of Representatives]]
[[Category:People from Jackson County, Indiana]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:American conspiracy theorists]]
[[Category:Far-right politicians in the United States]]

Jim Lucas (politician) - Revision history

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