Steve Womack

Stephen Allen Womack ( ; born February 18, 1957) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for since 2011. The district, which was once represented by former Senator J. William Fulbright, covers much of northwestern Arkansas, including Fort Smith, Fayetteville, Springdale, and Womack's hometown of Rogers. A member of the Republican Party, Womack was mayor of Rogers before his election to Congress.

Womack chaired the House Budget Committee from 2018 to 2019, and was its ranking member from 2019 to 2021.

Early life, education and career before politics

Womack was born in Russellville, Arkansas. His parents were Elisabeth (née Canerday) and James Womack. Womack graduated from Russellville High School in 1975.

He graduated with a B.A. in communications from Arkansas Tech University in 1979. That same year, his father founded KURM (AM). Womack served as station manager. Also in 1979, he enlisted in the Arkansas Army National Guard.

He left the radio station in 1990 and became executive officer for the Arkansas Reserve Officers' Training Corps at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. He left that role in 1996. He then became a financial consultant for Merrill Lynch, while still serving in the national guard. He retired from the national guard in 2009 as a colonel.

Entry into politics

In 1998, Womack was elected mayor of Rogers, Arkansas, holding the post for 12 years. During his mayoralty, Womack sought to crack down on illegal immigration by assigning two Immigration and Naturalization Service agents to the Rogers Police Department. As a result, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund filed a class-action suit against the city's police force, accusing it of racial profiling.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2010

In late 2009, Womack jumped into the race for the 3rd District after incumbent Representative John Boozman announced that he would run for the United States Senate. The 3rd is one of the most Republican districts in the South and the nation (Republicans have held it since 1967), and it was generally believed that whoever won the Republican primary would be the district's next representative. Womack ranked first in the seven-candidate primary with 31% of the vote. In the June runoff, he defeated state Senator and fellow Rogers resident Cecile Bledsoe, 52%-48%.

In the general election, Womack defeated Democratic nominee David Whitaker, 72%-28%.

2012

Womack was originally set to face veteran Ken Aden in his reelection bid, but Aden withdrew from the race on July 8, after admitting to exaggerating his military record. As it was too late to select a replacement candidate for Aden (under Arkansas law, the Democratic Party could only name a replacement at that date if the original candidate died, moved out of the district or opted to seek another office), Womack faced no major-party opposition in November. He was reelected with 76% of the vote, defeating Rebekah Kennedy ( Green Party of the United States, 16%) and David Pangrac ( Libertarian Party (United States), 8%).

2014

Thomas Brewer, a math teacher and minister, originally announced he was challenging Womack for the Republican nomination, and Troy Gittings, a high school English teacher and stand-up comedian, had announced he was running for the Democratic nomination. But neither Brewer nor Gittings ended up filing, leaving Libertarian Grant Brand as Womack's only challenger. He was reelected with 79% of the vote to Brand's 21%.

2016

Womack again faced no Democratic candidate in the general election. He defeated Libertarian Steve Isaacson 77%-23%.

2018

Womack faced a Republican primary challenge from Robb Ryerse, a self-described "progressive Republican." He defeated Ryerse, 84%-16%.

In the general election, Womack faced Democratic opposition for the first time as an incumbent. Womack defeated Josh Mahoney, president of the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund and former chairman of the Fayetteville Airport Commission, and Libertarian Michael Kalagias, on election day, 65%-33%-2%, his smallest margin of victory to date.

2020

Womack did not face a challenge in the Republican primary, and he defeated the Democratic nominee, nurse practitioner Celeste Williams, and Kalagias, 64%-32%-4%.

2022

Womack won reelection against Democratic nominee, Lauren Mallett-Hays, and Kalagias, with 63.7% to 32.9% and 3.4%.

2024

Womack faced a primary challenge from state senator Clint Penzo. Womack defeated Penzo, receiving 54%.

Tenure

In 2010, Womack signed a pledge sponsored by Americans for Prosperity promising to vote against any global warming legislation that would raise taxes.

Womack was a member of the House Appropriations Committee when in 2014 lawmakers inserted a prohibition into an appropriations bill that would prevent USDA staff from working on finishing regulations related to the meat industry.

In a 2015 episode of his show '' Last Week Tonight with John Oliver'', John Oliver criticized Womack for blocking the enforcement of laws proposed by the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration that were designed to protect chicken farmers from being threatened or punished by the companies they work for if they spoke out regarding their farming experiences.

In 2015, Womack condemned the Supreme Court ruling in '' Obergefell v. Hodges'', which held that same-sex marriage bans violated the constitution.

In December 2017, Womack voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

Womack did not join the majority of Republican members of Congress who signed an amicus brief in support of '' Texas v. Pennsylvania'', a lawsuit filed at the United States Supreme Court contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election. Womack voted to certify both Arizona's and Pennsylvania's results in the 2021 United States Electoral College vote count. On May 19, 2021, Womack was one of 35 Republicans to join all 217 Democrats present in voting to approve legislation to establish the January 6 commission meant to investigate the storming of the U.S. Capitol.

On November 30, Womack voted in favor of H.R. 550: Immunization Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2021. The bill helps create confidential, population-based databases that maintain a record of vaccine administrations.

As of October 2021, Womack had voted in line with Joe Biden's stated position 15% of the time.

In 2022, Womack was one of 39 Republicans to vote for the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act of 2022, an antitrust package that would crack down on corporations for anti-competitive behavior.

A staunch Kevin McCarthy ally, Womack presided over the process to remove McCarthy as Speaker he opposed, in the October 2023 Speaker of the House election, Womack along with over 20 of his Republican colleagues voted for Steve Scalise in protest over Jim Jordan for the first three ballots before voting for Mike Johnson in the fourth and final ballot.

Committee assignments

For the 118th Congress:
* Committee on Appropriations
** Subcommittee on Defense
** Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government
** Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (Chair)

Caucus memberships

* United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus
* Republican Governance Group
* House Republican Conference
* House Republican Steering Committee
* House Republican Policy Committee
* Congressional Caucus on Turkey and Turkish Americans

Political positions

Womack supported the overturning of ''Roe v. Wade'' by the Supreme Court, saying it "protect dbabies and recognize the science-backed truths of the humanity of the unborn".

Personal life

Womack attends Cross Church Pinnacle Hills, a Southern Baptist church in Rogers, Arkansas. He and his wife, Terri, have been married since August 4, 1984. They have three sons and three grandsons. The couple live in Rogers.

Electoral history

References

External links

Congressman Steve Womack
official U.S. House website
Steve Womack for Congress

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Womack, Stephen Allen
1957 births
Arkansas Tech University alumni
Baptists from Arkansas
Living people
Mayors of places in Arkansas
Merrill (company) people
Arkansas National Guard personnel
National Guard (United States) colonels
People from Moberly, Missouri
People from Randolph County, Missouri
People from Russellville, Arkansas
Recipients of the Legion of Merit
Southern Baptists
Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Arkansas
People from Rogers, Arkansas
21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives