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Entrepreneur.
Real Estate Investor.
Successful Business Owner.
Jamie grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, but his Arkansas roots run deep. He is the third generation of his family to work hard for Arkansas. His grandfather was a logger in the Delta, and his father worked for Murphy Oil in El Dorado.
Jamie Atkinson, 53, is a Democratic candidate for the Arkansas House of Representatives in District 19, which includes south Springdale, Johnson, and parts of north Fayetteville. Jamie’s background in real estate development, business ownership, overseas diplomacy, and national security have made him uniquely qualified to serve as the state representative for District 19.
After earning a bachelor’s in history from the University of Georgia and a master’s in European history from the University of Northern Colorado, Jamie began his career in Washington, D.C. and overseas in foreign affairs and national security with the U.S. Department of State, working to keep Americans safe and advancing American interests. He also led the largest international school in La Paz, Bolivia, advocating for quality education for Americans living abroad and stabilizing the school during a period of political upheaval and instability.
While serving overseas, Jamie began investing in Northwest Arkansas, and fell in love with the area. He saw the energy of the people, the beautiful environment, the tremendous talent, and educational opportunities. He knew then that this was home.
Jamie and his wife, Kim, moved to northwest Arkansas full time in 2022 and own successful businesses in the area, helping to provide quality housing in Washington and Benton counties. Jamie lives in Fayetteville with his two dogs, Loki and Zander, while Kim continues her career as a senior level diplomat in the State Department serving in Russia. Jamie and Kim have two loving adult sons in Texas and Kentucky.
In his free time, Jamie loves to backpack the Appalachian Trail, and has his sights set on the Ozark Highlands Trail. He also plays blues guitar and banjo, likes to unwind with yoga, and is an avid ultramarathon runner, having completed over a dozen races on three continents. He speaks Spanish and Bulgarian, as well as some Czech and Russian. He now spends most of his free time campaigning for office.