Steve Allison

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Steve Allison
Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from the 121st district
Assumed office
January 8, 2019
Preceded byJoe Straus
Personal details
Born
Stephen Philip Allison

(1947-01-04) January 4, 1947 (age 77)
Political partyRepublican
SpousePeggy
Residence(s)San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
OccupationAttorney

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

Republican primary runoff for Texas House of Representatives District 121, 2018[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Steve Allison 6,054 57.5%
Republican Matt Beebe 4,482 42.5%
General election for Texas House of Representatives District 121, 2018[3]
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

  1. ^ "Rep. Steve Allison - Texas State Directory Online".
  2. ^ a b "Texas House of Representatives". www.house.texas.gov. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c "Steve Allison". Ballotpedia. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  4. ^ "Rep. Steve Allison - Texas State Directory Online". www.txdirectory.com. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  5. ^ Patrick Svitek, Straus endorses candidate to replace him in House District 121, Texas Tribune (April 19, 2018).
  6. ^ 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).
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ Editorial: Sid Miller gun ad 'hunting' Steve Allison is despicable, San Antonio Express-News (February 28, 2024).
  10. ^ "Editorial: Steve Allison the best choice in GOP primary for District 121". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  11. ^ Editorial: Super Tuesday was less than super for anti-voucher Texas Republicans, San Antonio Express-News (March 6, 2024).