Steve Allison

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Steve Allison

| image =

| caption =

| state_house = Texas

| district = 121st

| term_start = January 8, 2019

| term_end = January 14, 2025

| preceded = Joe Straus

| succeeded = Marc LaHood

| party = Republican

| birth_name = Stephen Philip Allison

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1947|01|04}}

| death_date =

| death_place =

| death_cause =

| resting_place =

| birth_place =

| residence = San Antonio, Texas, U.S.

| occupation = Attorney

| spouse = Peggy

| children =

| parents =

| alma_mater =

| footnotes =

}}

Stephen Philip Allison (born January 4, 1947){{Cite web|url=https://www.txdirectory.com/online/person/?id=62367&office=16771|title = Rep. Steve Allison - Texas State Directory Online}} 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.{{cite web |title=Texas House of Representatives |url=https://house.texas.gov/members/member-page/?district=121 |website=www.house.texas.gov |accessdate=28 December 2019}}

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.

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.{{cite web |title=Steve Allison |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Steve_Allison |website=Ballotpedia |accessdate=28 December 2019 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Rep. Steve Allison - Texas State Directory Online|url=https://www.txdirectory.com/online/person/?id=62367&office=16771 |website=www.txdirectory.com |accessdate=28 December 2019}} Alison ran with the endorsement of the outgoing state representative for the seat, retiring House Speaker Joe Straus.Patrick Svitek, [https://www.texastribune.org/2018/04/19/straus-endorses-candidate-replace-him-house-district-121/ Straus endorses candidate to replace him in House District 121], Texas Tribune (April 19, 2018).

=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.Zach Despart & Brian Lopez, [https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/16/texas-house-school-vouchers/ 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). After his vote, Allison reported being harassed at his home by pro-school choice activists.{{Cite web |last=Svitek |first=Patrick |date=2024-01-31 |title=Texas Republicans who defied Gov. Greg Abbott on school vouchers face mounting primary attacks |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/31/texas-house-republican-primary-2024-vouchers/ |access-date=2024-02-23 |website=The Texas Tribune |language=en}}

Allion's vote against Abbott's voucher proposal also prompted primary challengers. Primary challenger criminal defense attorney Marc LaHood ran with endorsements from Abbott and other Texas Republicans.{{Cite web |last=Drusch |first=Andrea |date=2024-03-06 |title=GOP state Rep. Steve Allison ousted by Marc LaHood |url=http://sanantonioreport.org/bexar-county-texas-house-district-121-allison-primary-election-results-2024-2/ |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=San Antonio Report |language=en-US}} Allison was also the target of coordinated efforts by several PACs backed by Pennsylvania businessman Jeff Yass to defeat Republicans who opposed the voucher plan.

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). 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 "Rino hunt."[https://www.expressnews.com/opinion/editorial/article/sid-miller-ad-steve-allison-18692044.php Editorial: Sid Miller gun ad 'hunting' Steve Allison is despicable], San Antonio Express-News (February 28, 2024). Allison, meanwhile, was supported by House Speaker Dade Phelan, and ran with the endorsement of the San Antonio Express-News.{{Cite news|title=Editorial: Steve Allison the best choice in GOP primary for District 121|url=https://www.expressnews.com/opinion/editorial/article/steve-allison-gop-primary-18668691.php |access-date=2024-02-23 |work=San Antonio Express-News |language=en}}

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%. The Express-News editorial board described Allison's loss as an intensification of the removal of "traditional, pragmatic conservative Republicans" by the state party.[https://www.expressnews.com/opinion/editorial/article/dade-phelan-greg-abbott-18707497.php Editorial: Super Tuesday was less than super for anti-voucher Texas Republicans], San Antonio Express-News (March 6, 2024).