Allen West
Allen B. West (Republican Party) was a member of the U.S. House, representing Florida's 22nd Congressional District. He assumed office on January 3, 2011. He left office on January 3, 2013.
West (Republican Party) ran for election for Governor of Texas. He lost in the Republican primary on March 1, 2022.
West completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.
West was the first Black Republican elected from Florida since Reconstruction.[1]
On June 4, 2021, West announced that he would be resigning his position as the chair of the Texas Republican Party, a position he had held since 2020.[2]
Biography
West was born in Atlanta, GA. West joined the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program in the tenth grade and entered the United States Army in 1983 after he graduated from the University of Tennessee. West was a member of the third of four consecutive generations in his family to serve in the United States armed forces.[3]
West received his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Tennessee and his master's degree in political science from Kansas State University. He also earned a master of military arts and sciences degree from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff Officer College in political theory and military history and operations. His career experience includes working as an author and speaker.[4][5]
Committee assignments
U.S. House
2011-2012
West served on the following committees:[6]
- Armed Services Committee
- Subcommittee on Military Personnel
- Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities[7]
- Small Business Committee
Issues
Specific votes
Fiscal Cliff
West voted against the fiscal cliff compromise bill, which made permanent most of the Bush tax cuts originally passed in 2001 and 2003 while also raising tax rates on the highest income levels. He was 1 of 151 Republicans that voted against the bill. The bill was passed in the House by a 257 - 167 vote on January 1, 2013.[8]
American response in Syria
- See also: United States involvement in Syria
West criticized President Barack Obama on September 2, 2013, for his failure to recognize the tactical consequences of his decision to delay a strike on Syria until after seeking approval from Congress.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many
“I think what you just saw play out was a president who has a history of voting ‘present,’ and all of a sudden he got out ahead of himself, and he realized that, ‘If I take an action on my own, I’m going to own this,’” West said. “And no one is thinking like the military mindset, what are the branches and sequels of an action? What is the counter-reaction? What is the follow-on, second- and third-order effects we’re going to have to contend with? And I believe that is something President Obama does not want to deal with.”[9]
Criticizing Congress
In an email to supporters on August 1, 2013, West attacked the Democratic Senate and the Republican House for going into recess in August 2013.[10]
West wrote in the message, “I’m disgusted by Congress. No legislation worth mentioning has passed both chambers to reach the president's desk, but next week the House and the Senate will kick off their August recess anyway. Let me tell you -- the U.S. Army never granted me leave unless I had fulfilled my obligations, and I'm willing to guess your employer won't let you take vacation if you don't finish your work! So why are we letting Congress off the hook?”[10]
West also argued “Congress should cancel August recess” attacking its “inability to do anything ... cut spending, pass a budget, secure the border, protect religious liberty, uncover the truth about what happened in Benghazi.”[10]
Elections
2022
See also: Texas gubernatorial election, 2022
General election
General election for Governor of Texas
The following candidates ran in the general election for Governor of Texas on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Greg Abbott (R) | 54.8 | 4,437,099 |
 | Beto O'Rourke (D) | 43.9 | 3,553,656 | |
 | Mark Tippetts (L)  | 1.0 | 81,932 | |
 | Delilah Barrios (G) | 0.4 | 28,584 | |
 | Jacqueline Abernathy (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 1,243 | |
 | Mark Goloby (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 394 | |
| Total votes: 8,102,908 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Reginald Jennings II (Independent)
- Jorge Franco (Independent)
- Jeremy Rios (Independent)
- Ricardo Turullols-Bonilla (Independent)
- Justin Cunneen (Independent)
- Sean Sharp (Independent)
- Demetra Wysinger (Independent)
- Chioma Okoro (Independent)
- Star Locke (Independent)
- Raul Cortina (Independent)
- Patrick Wynne (Reform Party)
- Jal Dennis (Independent)
- Deirdre Dickson-Gilbert (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Governor of Texas
Beto O'Rourke defeated Joy Diaz, Michael Cooper, Rich Wakeland, and Inocencio Barrientez in the Democratic primary for Governor of Texas on March 1, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Beto O'Rourke | 91.4 | 983,182 |
 | Joy Diaz | 3.1 | 33,622 | |
 | Michael Cooper | 3.0 | 32,673 | |
 | Rich Wakeland | 1.2 | 13,237 | |
 | Inocencio Barrientez | 1.2 | 12,887 | |
| Total votes: 1,075,601 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Governor of Texas
The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for Governor of Texas on March 1, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Greg Abbott | 66.5 | 1,299,059 |
 | Allen B. West | 12.3 | 239,557 | |
 | Donald Huffines | 12.0 | 234,138 | |
 | Chad Prather | 3.8 | 74,173 | |
| Rick Perry | 3.1 | 61,424 | |
 | Kandy Kaye Horn | 1.2 | 23,605 | |
| Paul Belew | 0.6 | 11,387 | |
 | Daniel Harrison | 0.6 | 10,829 | |
| Total votes: 1,954,172 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Green convention
Green convention for Governor of Texas
Delilah Barrios advanced from the Green convention for Governor of Texas on April 9, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Delilah Barrios (G) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for Governor of Texas
Mark Tippetts defeated Fidel Castillo in the Libertarian convention for Governor of Texas on April 10, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| Fidel Castillo (L) | |
| ✔ | | Mark Tippetts (L) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Andrew Jewell (L)
- Daniel Behrman (L)
Campaign finance
2012
West ran in the 2012 election for the U.S. House to represent Florida's 18th District. West won the nomination on the Republican ticket.[11] The signature filing deadline was June 8, 2012, with the primary taking place on August 14, 2012. West defeated Robert Crowder in the Republican primary on August 14, 2012.[12] West was defeated by challenger Patrick Murphy (D) in the general election on November 6, 2012.[13]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic |  Patrick Murphy |
50.3% | 166,257 | |
| Republican | Allen West Incumbent | 49.7% | 164,353 | |
| Write-In | Marilyn Davis Holloman | 0% | 55 | |
| Total Votes | 330,665 | |||
| Source: Florida Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election" | ||||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Allen West Incumbent |
74.4% | 45,761 |
| Robert Crowder | 25.6% | 15,744 |
| Total Votes | 61,505 | |
2010
On November 2, 2010, Allen West won election to the United States House. He defeated Ron Klein (D) in the general election.[14]
| U.S. House, Florida District 22 General Election, 2010 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Allen West |
54.4% | 118,890 | |
| Democratic | Ron Klein incumbent | 45.6% | 99,804 | |
| Total Votes | 218,694 | |||
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Allen B. West completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by West's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
| Collapse all
Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) Allen B. West is a Christian constitutional conservative, combat veteran, and former member of the US Congress. His life has been defined as one of service, sacrifice, and commitment to this Republic, the United States of America. He believes it will be conservative, free market policies, not politics that secures a sound economic future for Americans – with growth, opportunity and returning the promise of the American dream for this generation and those to come.
- Defending the Texas Republic
- It is within us, as human beings, to create and establish a legacy that will transcend our own lives. I believe our Founding Fathers reflected upon this creation, these United States of America. I believe that these seemingly ordinary men, and women, breathed life into something that was unheard of: a nation founded upon individual liberty, rights, and sovereignty.
- As Governor of Texas, I will strenuously defend the sovereignty of Texas and will never support an open borders policy. Such policies put the safety and security of Texans at risk. Such policies have resulted in Texas’ designation as the number one state in America for human and sex trafficking. Dallas and Houston are the top two cities in America for the same. Illegal immigration is a multi-headed hydra that undermines our national security, endangers our local communities, threatens our educational and healthcare systems, and supports the cartels . . . It must be stopped.
Rule of Law
Border Security
Property Taxes
Energy Independence
Protecting Texas Children and Families
Defending Education
Curtailing Foreign Influence
Medical Freedom
Election Integrity
Gun Rights
Booker T. Washington’s autobiography Up from Slavery.
The legacy of being one who honored his oath to the constitution and safeguarded individual rights, freedoms, and liberty.
The shooting of Dr Martin Luther King Jr. I was 8 years old and was raised in the same neighborhood where Dr King was born and preached.
"Amarillo by Morning"
It means that I am the top servant of the people and guardian of their rights.
The impeccable grandeur of Texas, it’s vastness and varying terrain.
Over the next decade, our state's greatest challenge is combatting federal overreach.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign advertisements
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Analysis
Congressional staff salaries
The website Legistorm compiles staff salary information for members of Congress. West paid his congressional staff a total of $765,425 in 2011. He ranked 33rd on the list of the lowest paid Republican representative staff salaries and ranked 37th overall of the lowest paid representative staff salaries in 2011. Overall, Florida ranked 36th in average salary for representative staff. The average U.S. House of Representatives congressional staff was paid $954,912.20 in fiscal year 2011.[15]
Net worth
Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org, West's net worth as of 2010 was estimated between $-102,992 and $454,998. That averages to $176,003, which is lower than the average net worth of Republican representatives in 2010 of $7,561,133.[16]
National Journal vote ratings
2011
- See also: National Journal vote ratings
Each year National Journal publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of Congress voted in the previous year. West ranked 174th in the conservative rankings in 2011.[17]
Voting with party
2011
Allen B. West voted with the Republican Party 92 of the time, which ranked 135 among the 242 House Republican members as of November 2011.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
West married Dr. Angela M. Graham on Christmas Eve in 1989. His wife, Angela, holds an MBA and Ph.D. and works as a financial planner. The couple has two daughters.[18]
See also
2022 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ National Journal, "The Making of Allen West Inc." accessed August 5, 2013
- ↑ Republican Party of Texas, "Chairman Allen West Announces Resignation as Chairman of the TXGOP," June 4, 2021
- ↑ Broward Politics, "Allen West: from controversy to Congress" accessed October 20, 2011
- ↑ Allen West for Congress, "About Allen West" accessed October 20, 2011
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on January 25, 2022
- ↑ Congressman Allen West, Representing the 22nd District of Florida, "Committees & Legislation"
- ↑ Armed Services Committee, "Emerging Threats and Capabilities"
- ↑ U.S. House, "Roll Call Vote on the Fiscal Cliff," accessed January 4, 2013
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedsyria - ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Sunshine State News, "Allen West Bashes Congress, Looks Ahead to 2014" accessed August 2, 2013
- ↑ Washington Post, "Rep. Allen West to seek re-election in new district" accessed February 14, 2012
- ↑ AP Results, "U.S. House Results," accessed August 14, 2012
- ↑ Yahoo News, "After a Recount, Allen West Loses Even Harder," accessed November 19, 2012
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ LegiStorm, "Allen West"
- ↑ OpenSecrets, "West, (R-Florida), 2010"
- ↑ National Journal, "Searchable Vote Ratings Tables: House," accessed February 23, 2012
- ↑ Congressman Allen West, "Biography" accessed October 20, 2011
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ron Klein |
U.S. House of Representatives - Florida, District 22 2011–2013 |
Succeeded by Lois Frankel (D) |
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State of Texas Austin (capital) |
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