Indiana House District 69 Rep. Jim Lucas, a Seymour Republican, now has a challenger in the race for the office he has held since 2012.
J. Michael Davisson, R-Salem, is currently representing Indiana House District 73 after his father, Steve Davisson, the former representative, died in September 2021 after a battle with cancer. He was selected to finish the rest of his father’s term during a party caucus in October. That term will be complete at the end of the year.
The primary election, set for May 3, will determine the Democratic and Republican nominees for the Nov. 8 general election.
Davisson, 40, recently announced his candidacy for Indiana House District 69 in a news release. He finds himself campaigning in a new district after lines were redrawn last year.
“The district moved, but I haven’t,” Davisson said. “The other thing that hasn’t changed is my commitment to serving my community and the surrounding region.”
Indiana House District 69 includes parts of Bartholomew, Jackson, Scott and Washington counties starting Jan. 1, 2023.
House District 73 used to include Carr, Driftwood and Grassy Fork townships and part of Brownstown Township. Jackson County is no longer a part of the district after the new lines were drawn. The district now consists of parts of Jennings, Bartholomew, Decatur and Shelby counties.
Davisson is a lifelong resident of Salem and raising his two children after having lost his wife to cancer earlier last year. He graduated from Salem High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University.
“I am grateful for the chance to serve and looking forward to earning the opportunity to continue to serve the area I know and love,” Davisson said.
Lucas filed to run for re-election last week at the Indiana Statehouse.
“I love serving the people of my district and am running again to continue my service to them,” he said. “As a Marine Corps veteran, small business owner for 22 years and current state representative, I have proven my commitment to stand and fight for everyone’s shared constitutional rights and make Indiana a state where people want to raise a family, go to work, or start a business. I make myself extremely accessible to the people I serve and I am running to win to continue to serve the people of District 69.”