Jim Evans (politician)

Jim Evans (born July 12, 1948) is a retired American businessman, teacher, U.S. Army veteran, and candidate for the United States House of Representatives' 7th Congressional district in Missouri, having run in 2012 and again for the 2014 U.S. Congressional elections, as the Democratic nominee in both elections. He also challenged incumbent Representative Billy Long in the Republican Party primary in 2018.[1][2][3]

Jim Evans
Born
James Evans

(1948-07-12) 12 July 1948
Springfield, Missouri, United States
OccupationBusinessman, teacher
Years active1970–present
Political partyRepublican (2018-present)
Democratic (before 2018)
Spouse(s)Teresa Posey
WebsiteCampaign website

Biography

Evans was born in Republic, Missouri July 12, 1948, and later graduated from Republic High School in 1966. From 1970 to 1971, Evans served in the United States Army at Fort Sill, Oklahoma during the Vietnam War as a Pershing missile crewman.[1] After leaving the Army, he went on to earn a Bachelor's degree in Education and a Master's degree in Mathematics from Southwest Missouri State University (now Missouri State University).[4] Evans married Teresa D. Posey on January 10, 1972.

In addition to teaching junior high and high school math and computer science at Logan-Rogersville and Springfield public schools, Evans raised beef cattle for ten years and owned a real estate investment and property management business.[4]

Electoral campaign history

2012 election

In the 2012 Missouri 7th district election, Evans, having run unopposed in the Democratic primary, lost the general election against Republican incumbent Billy Long, receiving 30.9% of votes.[5] Despite the loss, Evans received 98,498 votes—more votes in the general election than any Democratic candidate for the 7th district U.S. House seat since 1992 and the third highest number of votes cast for a 7th district Democratic candidate for Congress in history.[6]

2014 election
See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Missouri, 2014 § District 7

On March 20, 2014, Evans officially filed for candidacy in the Missouri 7th district congressional race.[1][2] He narrowly defeated millennial candidate Genevieve Williams by a margin of 53.8% to 46.2% in the Democratic primary race on August 5.[7] Williams subsequently endorsed Evans' candidacy, writing "I am repeating here what I have told Jim many times, he has my full support and I will do everything in my power to help him defeat Billy Long."[8] Evans faced Republican incumbent Billy Long in the November 4th general election and lost by a margin of 63% to 29%, with the remaining 8% of votes going to Libertarian candidate Kevin Craig.

2018 election

Evans announced his candidacy on August 3, 2017.[3] He will be challenging Benjamin Holcomb, Lance Norris, and incumbent Representative Billy Long in the Republican primary on August 7.

Political positions

Evans, an independent-minded candidate, described himself as an "Eisenhower Democrat" when announcing his candidacy for the 2014 congressional race, further stating:

I am not a conventional candidate. I'm a progressive conservative who believes we must build the future by honoring and learning from our past. I'm an old-school Republican with an Eisenhower-era ideology. I grew up during the postwar period of shared prosperity and public purpose. I believe America can benefit again from a renewal of the successful economic policies of the past."[1]

Environmental activism

An advocate of minimizing human impact on the environment, Evans favors decreasing reliance on coal and petroleum as energy sources in favor of alternative means.[4]

In 1976, he and his wife built their own energy efficient home outside of Republic, Missouri, complete with 160 square feet of solar thermal collectors on its roof which transfer heat to a 500-gallon tank for water heating. They later fitted the residence with an array of photovoltaic solar panels in 2010, which produce 128% of the home's energy needs.[9]

Electoral history
United States House of Representatives elections, 2012 Missouri 7th[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Billy Long (incumbent) 203,565 63.87 +0.48
Democratic Jim Evans 98,498 30.90 +0.52
Libertarian Kevin Craig 16,668 5.23 −1.00
Write-in Kenneth Joe Brown 9 0.00
Total votes 318,740 100.0
Majority
Turnout 318,740 51.27 +15.49
Republican hold Swing
Missouri's 7th district Democratic primary, August 5, 2014[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jim Evans 8,671 53.76
Democratic Genevieve Williams 7,457 46.24
Total votes 16,128 100.00
United States House of Representatives elections, 2014 Missouri 7th[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Billy Long (incumbent) 104,054 63.46 −0.41
Democratic Jim Evans 47,282 28.84 −2.06
Libertarian Kevin Craig 12,584 7.68 +2.45
Write-Ins 37 0.02
Total votes 163,957 100
Majority
Turnout 163,957 26.37 −24.91
Republican hold Swing
Missouri's 7th district Republican primary, August 7, 2018[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Billy Long 68,438 65.10
Republican Jim Evans 18,383 17.49
Republican Lance Norris 10,884 10.35
Republican Darrell Moore 7,416 7.06
Total votes 105,121 100.00

References
  1. Greene, Julie (March 19, 2014). "Jim Evans Announces Candidacy for Congress". KSMU. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
  2. Shorman, Jonathan (March 20, 2014). "Retired teacher, student seek Democratic nod for Congress". Springfield News-Leader. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
  3. Shorman, Jonathan (August 3, 2017). "Jim Evans announces unconventional primary challenge against Billy Long". Springfield News-Leader. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  4. "Jim Evans (D) Candidate View". The Wall Street Journal. 2012. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  5. "Nov 6, 2012 General Election: Election Night Reporting: Missouri Secretary of State". Missouri Secretary of State. Archived from the original on November 15, 2012. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
  6. "MO-District 07-History". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
  7. "2014 Missouri House Primaries Results". Politico. August 6, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  8. Williams, Genevieve (August 5, 2014). "Join me in support of Jim Evans". Genevieve Williams for Congress. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  9. "Republic Homeowner Expects 7- to 10-year Payback on Solar Array". Ozarks New Energy. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
  10. 2012 Election Results
  11. 2018 Democratic Primary Results
  12. 2014 Election Results
  13. 2018 Republican Primary Results
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