Stephen Philip Allison (born January 4, 1947)[1] is a Texas politician representing District 121 in the Texas House of Representatives.
Personal life
Allison is a graduate of Texas Christian University, he met his wife Peggy while attending the school. He also attended University of Houston Law Center. Allison and his wife Peggy have 2 children, and are both members of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church where they both have taught Sunday school. He is an attorney.[2]
Political career
Early political career
Allison has served on the Alamo Heights Independent School District Early Childhood Task Force, and on the VIA Metropolitan Transit Authority Board of Trustees for 8 years and the last 2 as Vice Chairman.[2]
Allison was elected to represent District 121 in the Texas House of Representatives on November 6, 2018 and was sworn in on January 8, 2019.[3][4] Alison ran with the endorsement of the outgoing state representative for the seat, retiring House Speaker Joe Straus.[5]
Voucher vote and 2024 primary defeat
In November 2023, Allison voted against Republican Governor Greg Abbott's proposal for state-funded vouchers for private schools. Allison was one of 21 Republicans who joined all Democrats in voting to remove Abbott's voucher plan from the education funding bill; the amendment to drop the voucher proposal passed 83–64.[6] After his vote, Allison reported being harassed at his home by pro-school choice activists.[7]
Allion's vote against Abbott's voucher proposal also prompted primary challengers.[7] Primary challenger criminal defense attorney Marc LaHood ran with endorsements from Abbott and his faction of Texas Republicans.[8] Allison was also the target of coordinated efforts by several PACs backed by Pennsylvania businessman Jeff Yass to defeat Republicans who opposed the boucher plan.[7]
Although Allison had a conservative voting record on nearly every issue, LaHood ran to his right, and his primary challenge was boosted by support from Abbott (who spent $672,000 on LaHood's behalf in the final months of the primary campaign).[8] Texas's Republican Agriculture Commissioner, Sid Miller, ran a pro-LaHood ad in which he posed with a rifle and declared that Allison was the target of his "hunt."[9] Allison, meanwhile, was supported by House Speaker Dade Phelan,[8] and ran with the endorsement of the San Antonio Express-News.[10]
In the March 2024 primary, Allison was defeated for renomination: LaHood won with some 54% of the vote; Allison received 34%, and a third candidate, Michael Champion, received 7%.[8] The Express-News editorial board described Allison's loss as an intensification of the purge of "traditional, pragmatic conservative Republicans" by a state party "increasingly consumed by retribution, culture warmongering and disinformation-fueled conspiracy theories."[11]
Elections
2018
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Steve Allison | 6,054 | 57.5% | |
| Republican | Matt Beebe | 4,482 | 42.5% | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Steve Allison | 38,843 | 53.2 | |
| Democratic | Celina Montoya | 32,679 | 44.7 | |
| Libertarian | Mallory Olfers | 1,529 | 2.1 | |
References
- ^ "Rep. Steve Allison - Texas State Directory Online".
- ^ a b "Texas House of Representatives". www.house.texas.gov. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
- ^ a b c "Steve Allison". Ballotpedia. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
- ^ "Rep. Steve Allison - Texas State Directory Online". www.txdirectory.com. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
- ^ Patrick Svitek, Straus endorses candidate to replace him in House District 121, Texas Tribune (April 19, 2018).
- ^ Zach Despart & Brian Lopez, Texas House votes to remove school vouchers from massive education bill Texas House votes to remove school vouchers from massive education bill, Texas Tribune (November 16, 2023).
- ^ a b c Svitek, Patrick (January 31, 2024). "Texas Republicans who defied Gov. Greg Abbott on school vouchers face mounting primary attacks". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Drusch, Andrea (March 6, 2024). "GOP state Rep. Steve Allison ousted by Marc LaHood". San Antonio Report. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
- ^ Editorial: Sid Miller gun ad 'hunting' Steve Allison is despicable, San Antonio Express-News (February 28, 2024).
- ^ "Editorial: Steve Allison the best choice in GOP primary for District 121". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ Editorial: Super Tuesday was less than super for anti-voucher Texas Republicans, San Antonio Express-News (March 6, 2024).
