# Jim Olsen
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{{short description|Oklahoma politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Jim Olsen
|image = Jim_Olsen_official_portrait.jpg
|state_house = Oklahoma
|district = 2nd
|term_start = 2019
|term_end =
|predecessor = [John R. Bennett](/source/John_R._Bennett)
|successor =
|birth_name =
|birth_date =
|birth_place =
|death_date =
|death_place =
|spouse = Becky
|children = 7
|party = [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States))
|education = [Nassau Community College](/source/Nassau_Community_College) ([AA](/source/Associate_degree))
[State University of New York](/source/State_University_of_New_York) ([BA](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts))
|signature =
}}
'''Jim Olsen''' is an American politician who serves in the [Oklahoma House of Representatives](/source/Oklahoma_House_of_Representatives) from the 2nd district as a member of the [Republican Party](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)). He was elected to the state house in the 2018 election to succeed [John R. Bennett](/source/John_R._Bennett). During his tenure he has been criticized by other members of the state house for his positions and statements on abortion, [slavery](/source/slavery), and education.
==Early life==
Jim Olsen graduated from [Nassau Community College](/source/Nassau_Community_College) with an [associate of arts](/source/Associate_degree) degree, the [University at Albany, SUNY](/source/University_at_Albany%2C_SUNY) with a [Bachelor of Arts](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts) degree, and the Free Gospel Bible Institute. He married Becky, with whom he had seven children. He worked as a Sunday School teacher at Watts Holiness Church.[{{Cite news |date=April 27, 2018 |title=Olsen |page=5 |work=Sequoyah County Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78654204/sequoyah-county-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210531050006/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78654204/sequoyah-county-times/ |archive-date=May 31, 2021 |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}}][{{Cite news |title=Rep. Jim Olsen |work=[Oklahoma Legislature](/source/Oklahoma_Legislature) |url=http://ddcapp.oklegislature.gov/legislatordetail.aspx?LegisID=OLSEXJIMXXXXXXOK |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211221094135/http://ddcapp.oklegislature.gov/legislatordetail.aspx?LegisID=OLSEXJIMXXXXXXOK |archive-date=December 21, 2021}}]
==Oklahoma House of Representatives==
thumb|right|Oklahoma House of Representatives 2nd district
Olsen ran for the Republican nomination in the [2018 election](/source/2018_Oklahoma_elections) to succeed retiring Representative [John R. Bennett](/source/John_R._Bennett) for a seat in the [Oklahoma House of Representatives](/source/Oklahoma_House_of_Representatives) from the 2nd district.[{{Cite news |date=April 27, 2018 |title=Olsen enters District 2 race |page=1 |work=Sequoyah County Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78654062/sequoyah-county-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210531045541/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78654062/sequoyah-county-times/ |archive-date=May 31, 2021 |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}}] During the campaign he was endorsed by U.S. Representative [Markwayne Mullin](/source/Markwayne_Mullin), Senator [Mark Allen](/source/Mark_Allen_(politician)), and Representative Bennett.[{{Cite news |date=October 31, 2018 |title=Olsen enters District 2 race |page=1 |work=Sequoyah County Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78654577/sequoyah-county-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210531050831/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78654577/sequoyah-county-times/ |archive-date=May 31, 2021 |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}}] He defeated [Democratic](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)) nominee Tom Stites in the general election.[{{Cite news |url=https://results.okelections.us/OKER/?elecDate=20181106 |title=2018 Oklahoma election results |work=[Oklahoma State Election Board](/source/Oklahoma_State_Election_Board) |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211221090335/https://results.okelections.us/OKER/?elecDate=20181106 |archive-date=December 21, 2021}}] He was reelected without opposition in the 2020 election.[{{Cite news |date=April 10, 2020 |title=More than 40 Oklahoma legislators re-elected by default |work=NonDoc |url=https://nondoc.com/2020/04/10/46-oklahoma-legislators-re-elected-by-default/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325212322/https://nondoc.com/2020/04/10/46-oklahoma-legislators-re-elected-by-default/ |archive-date=March 25, 2023}}]
During his tenure he has served on the Administrative Rules, A&B Public Safety, Judiciary, and State and Federal Redistricting committees. He has served as chair of the Elections and Ethics committee.[{{Cite news |title=Representative Jim Olsen |work=[Oklahoma Legislature](/source/Oklahoma_Legislature) |url=https://www.okhouse.gov/members/District.aspx?District=2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211221091157/https://www.okhouse.gov/members/District.aspx?District=2 |archive-date=December 21, 2021}}] He is an assistant majority whip.[{{Cite news |date=December 23, 2020 |title=Oklahoma House, Senate Republicans Urge Congressional Delegation to Challenge Election Result |work=[KWGS](/source/KWGS) |url=https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/local-regional/2020-12-23/oklahoma-house-senate-republicans-urge-congressional-delegation-to-challenge-election-result |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211221093542/https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/local-regional/2020-12-23/oklahoma-house-senate-republicans-urge-congressional-delegation-to-challenge-election-result |archive-date=December 21, 2021}}]
==Political positions==
During the 2018 election Olsen was endorsed by the [NRA Political Victory Fund](/source/NRA_Political_Victory_Fund) and the Oklahoma Second Amendment Association, with the association giving him an A rating.[{{Cite news |date=October 12, 2018 |title=NRA and Oklahoma Second Amendment Association Endorse |page=7 |work=Sequoyah County Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78654743/sequoyah-county-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210531051536/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78654743/sequoyah-county-times/ |archive-date=May 31, 2021 |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}}][{{cite news |author1=Jamison Faught |title=NRA, OK2A endorse Jim Olsen in OK House District 2 |url=https://www.muskogeepolitico.com/2018/10/nra-ok2a-endorse-jim-olsen-in-ok-house.html |access-date=19 September 2023 |work=Muskogee Politico |date=October 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181014012649/https://www.muskogeepolitico.com/2018/10/nra-ok2a-endorse-jim-olsen-in-ok-house.html |archive-date=October 14, 2018 |language=en-US}}] He was one of four members of the Oklahoma legislature to receive a 100% rating from the Oklahoma Constitution's Conservative Index.[{{Cite news |date=August 14, 2019 |title=Olsen achieves perfect score on OK Constitution Conservative Index |page=14 |work=Sequoyah County Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78655158/sequoyah-county-times/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210531052742/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78655158/sequoyah-county-times/ |archive-date=May 31, 2021 |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}}] He has received a lifetime score of 75% from the [Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs](/source/Oklahoma_Council_of_Public_Affairs).[{{Cite news |title=Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs Legislative Scorecard |work=[Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs](/source/Oklahoma_Council_of_Public_Affairs) |url=https://scorecard.ocpathink.org/#/legislator/23087 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211221095505/https://scorecard.ocpathink.org/%23/legislator/23087 |archive-date=December 21, 2021}}]
Olsen opposed Governor [Kevin Stitt](/source/Kevin_Stitt)'s commutation of [Julius Jones](/source/Julius_Jones_(prisoner))'s death sentence to life without parole stating that "It is with great sadness and grief that I reflect on the events of yesterday. Justice was not carried out." and that "The death penalty serves the interests of justice, order and peace in our society".[{{Cite news |date=November 18, 2021 |title=Oklahoma leaders react to Gov. Stitt's commutation of Julius Jones' death sentence to life in prison without parole |work=[KFOR-TV](/source/KFOR-TV) |url=https://kfor.com/news/local/oklahoma-leaders-react-to-gov-stitts-commutation-of-julius-jones-death-sentence-to-life-in-prison-without-parole/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211218222133/https://kfor.com/news/local/oklahoma-leaders-react-to-gov-stitts-commutation-of-julius-jones-death-sentence-to-life-in-prison-without-parole/ |archive-date=December 18, 2021}}]
Olsen is against abortion and has compared abortion to [the Holocaust](/source/the_Holocaust).[{{Cite news |date=April 7, 2021 |title=Democratic Party Demands Apology, Censure For Lawmaker Comparing Fights Against Abortion And Slavery |work=[KWGS](/source/KWGS) |url=https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/post/democratic-party-demands-apology-censure-lawmaker-comparing-fights-against-abortion-and-slavery#stream/0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210531053813/https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/post/democratic-party-demands-apology-censure-lawmaker-comparing-fights-against-abortion-and-slavery%23stream/0 |archive-date=May 31, 2021}}] In 2021, Olsen introduced legislation to prohibit abortion by making it a felony to perform abortions. During the bill's committee hearing he compared the movement to prohibit abortion to the [slavery abolitionist](/source/Abolitionism) movement and stated "the context that I was addressing that, none of us would like to be killed. None of us would like to be a slave. If I had my choice, I guess I’d be a slave. At least the slave has his life. Once your life is gone, it’s gone," in response to Representative [Ajay Pittman](/source/Ajay_Pittman). The legislation was approved by the public health committee by a vote of eight to one.[{{Cite news |date=April 7, 2021 |title=Oklahoma House Rep makes controversial comparison of abortion to slavery |work=[KFOR-TV](/source/KFOR-TV) |url=https://kfor.com/news/local/oklahoma-house-rep-makes-controversial-comparison-of-abortion-to-slavery/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210530200822/https://kfor.com/news/local/oklahoma-house-rep-makes-controversial-comparison-of-abortion-to-slavery/ |archive-date=May 30, 2021}}] He has co-authored legislation to ban the distribution of drugs used for abortion.[{{Cite news |date=February 23, 2024 |title=As more women leave Oklahoma to end pregnancies or order pills online, lawmakers seek tougher laws |work=[The Frontier](/source/The_Frontier_(website)) |url=https://www.readfrontier.org/stories/as-more-women-leave-oklahoma-to-end-pregnancies-or-order-pills-online-lawmakers-seek-tougher-laws/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223145312/https://www.readfrontier.org/stories/as-more-women-leave-oklahoma-to-end-pregnancies-or-order-pills-online-lawmakers-seek-tougher-laws/ |archive-date=February 23, 2024}}]
Olsen was among twenty-four members of the state house and fifteen members of the state senate who sent a letter to [Oklahoma's delegation](/source/Oklahoma's_congressional_delegations) to the [United States Congress](/source/United_States_Congress) asking from them to [not certify](/source/Attempts_to_overturn_the_2020_United_States_presidential_election) the electoral college results of the [2020 presidential election](/source/2020_United_States_presidential_election).[{{Cite news |date=January 8, 2021 |title=After Capitol Siege, Pro-Trump Legislators in Oklahoma Stand By Election Challenge |work=[Oklahoma Watch](/source/Oklahoma_Watch) |url=https://oklahomawatch.org/2021/01/08/after-capitol-siege-pro-trump-legislators-in-oklahoma-stand-by-election-challenge/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211221095223/https://oklahomawatch.org/2021/01/08/after-capitol-siege-pro-trump-legislators-in-oklahoma-stand-by-election-challenge/ |archive-date=December 21, 2021}}]
Olsen proposed legislation to limit the teaching of slavery by state agencies and public school districts and prohibit the usage of [The 1619 Project](/source/The_1619_Project). Representative [Forrest Bennett](/source/Forrest_Bennett) stated that the legislation was "embarrassing" and Representative [Monroe Nichols](/source/Monroe_Nichols) criticized Olsen "for his denial & romanticizing of American slavery".[{{Cite news |date=December 17, 2021 |title=Oklahoma Republican introduces bill to limit how slavery is taught in schools |work=[KWGS](/source/KWGS) |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/republican-oklahoma-lawmaker-introduces-bill-limit-slavery-taught-scho-rcna9132 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211218220947/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/republican-oklahoma-lawmaker-introduces-bill-limit-slavery-taught-scho-rcna9132 |archive-date=December 18, 2021}}]
==Electoral history==
{{Election box begin no change|title = 2018 Oklahoma House of Representatives 2nd district election[{{cite web|url=https://results.okelections.gov/OKER/?elecDate=20240618|title=June 18 2024 Official Results|website=Oklahoma State Election Board|accessdate=1 April 2025}}]
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Jim Olsen
|votes = 1,936
|percentage = 58.24%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = E.O. Smith Jr.
|votes = 1,388
|percentage = 41.76%
}}
{{Election box total no change
|votes = 3,324
|percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Oklahoma House of Representatives|state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Olsen, Jim}}
Category:Living people
Category:Republican Party members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
Category:21st-century members of the Oklahoma Legislature
Category:University at Albany alumni
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Jim Olsen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Olsen) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Olsen?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.