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==U.S. Senate campaign 2014== ==U.S. Senate campaign 2014==
On December 9, 2013, Stockman filed for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate for Texas against incumbent U.S. Senator ].<ref name="WoodruffNR12092013">Woodruff, Betsy. , '']'', December 9, 2013.</ref><ref name="GlueckPolitico12092013">{{cite web | last = Glueck | first = Katie | title = In surprise, Steve Stockman challenges John Cornyn | work = ] | date = December 9, 2013 | url = http://www.politico.com/story/2013/12/steve-stockman-john-cornyn-texas-senate-primary-100924.html?hp=f3}}</ref> Senator ] voted for the Wall Street Bailout, <ref>http://www.freedomworks.org/blog/jwithrow/senator-john-cornyns-top-ten-bad-votes</ref>, Medicare Part D, Fiscal Cliff Tax Hike, and other spending and tax increase programs and Senator ] vote to fund ] was the breaking point where Stockman decided not to seek reelection on his safe congressional seat and on December 9, 2013, Stockman filed for the Republican nomination of U.S. Senate for Texas against incumbent U.S. Senator ].<ref name="WoodruffNR12092013">Woodruff, Betsy. , '']'', December 9, 2013.</ref><ref name="GlueckPolitico12092013">{{cite web | last = Glueck | first = Katie | title = In surprise, Steve Stockman challenges John Cornyn | work = ] | date = December 9, 2013 | url = http://www.politico.com/story/2013/12/steve-stockman-john-cornyn-texas-senate-primary-100924.html?hp=f3}}</ref>


== References == == References ==

Revision as of 05:22, 1 February 2014

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Steve Stockman
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 36th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2013
Preceded byConstituency established
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 9th district
In office
January 3, 1995 – January 3, 1997
Preceded byJack Brooks
Succeeded byNick Lampson
Personal details
BornStephen Ernest Stockman
(1956-11-14) November 14, 1956 (age 68)
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpousePatti Ferguson (1988–present)
Alma materUniversity of Houston, Clear Lake
WebsiteHouse website

Stephen Ernest "Steve" Stockman (born November 14, 1956) is an American politician who is the current United States Representative for Texas's 36th congressional district since 2013. A Republican, Stockman previously served as the U.S. Representative for Texas's 9th congressional district from 1995 to 1997. Stockman is running against Texas U.S. Senator John Cornyn in the 2014 Republican primary.

Early life, education, and business career

Stockman was born in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan; outside Detroit. He graduated from Dondero High School in Royal Oak, Michigan. From 1985 to 1986, he attended San Jacinto College but dropped out because he suffered from what he called “partying syndrome". When he was a teenager Police officers allegedly found valium in his possession after a girlfriend allegedly hid the substance in his clothes. He was charged with possession of a controlled substance, but the charge was later dropped. He was homeless for a time. He later turned around his life and became a born-again Christian. In 1990, he earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Houston–Clear Lake. He worked as a computer salesman in Friendswood, Texas.

U.S. House of Representatives (1995–1997)

Elections (1990-1996)

1990

He first ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1990 against Democratic U.S. Representative Jack Brooks. Beaumont, Texas mayor Maury Meyers ranked first in the Republican primary with 45% of the vote, but failed to reach the 50% threshold. Stockman, who earned 41% of the vote, faced Meyers in a run-off. Meyers defeated Stockman 61%-39%. In the general election, Meyers lost to Brooks, 58%-42%.

1992

Stockman ran again in 1992. This time, he was unopposed in the primary. Brooks defeated him 54%-43%.

1994

He ran again in the Republican 1994 election cycle. He had two challengers in the primary, but won with 73% of the vote. In the general election, he defeated 42-year incumbent Brooks 52%-46%.

1996

The 1996 general election for Texas's 9th Congressional District was unusual. After the normal primaries had been held, the district boundaries of the 18th, 29th, and 30th districts were struck down as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander in Bush v. Vera, necessitating redistricting of the 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 18th, 22nd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 28th, and 30th Districts. Because the redistricting was held after the normal primaries, those results were discarded and new votes for these districts were held as special elections; open to all candidates without a primary, and requiring a majority to win the seat outright.

These elections were held concurrently with the November general election for other elective positions. Stockman ranked first with 46%, but needed 50% to win outright. He faced Jefferson County assessor Nick Lampson, a member of the Democratic Party, in the runoff election. Lampson won the runoff election 53%-47%.

Past Tenure (District 9)

During Stockman's past term in Congress, the district represented Chambers, Galveston, Jefferson, and part of Harris counties, including portions of metropolitan Houston. He was unable to win reelection in this Majority Democratic District.

During his term, Stockman opposed the U.S. bailout of the Mexican peso which was supported by House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

Committee assignments

Inter-congressional career (1997—2013)

Advocacy

He was a faculty member who conducted training for the conservative Leadership Institute, a non-partisan educational organization based in Arlington, Virginia. He worked as director of the Leadership Institute's Campus Leadership Program 2005-07. Stockman has been involved with the Young Conservatives of Texas, and has represented the Republican National Committee at International Democrat Union meetings. He has received a 100 percent rating from the American Conservative Union. He is supported by Gun Owners of America and Citizens United, and conservative U.S. Representative Louie Gohmert of Tyler, Texas.

1998 election for Railroad Commissioner

In 1998, Stockman was an unsuccessful Republican primary candidate for the Texas Railroad Commission. By a margin of 53% to 47%, he lost to Tony Garza, the choice of Governor George W. Bush. Garza then was elected to the Railroad Commission position but left midway in the term to become United States Ambassador to Mexico after George W. Bush was elected President.

2002 bankruptcy

During his time away from Congress, Stockman cared for his decorated World War 2 veteran father, who had Alzheimer's disease. The cost of caring for him meant that Stockman declared bankruptcy and, when his father's disease became too severe, Stockman moved him to a veteran's home. When his father died, Stockman decided to run for Congress in the 2012 elections.

2006 congressional election

Main article: Texas's 22nd congressional district elections, 2006

In 2006, he attempted to run as an Independent candidate for Texas's 22nd congressional district, Tom DeLay's former seat, but he failed to gather enough signatures to be placed on the ballot. However, Stockman did register for the special election to fill out the remainder of the term for the district, one of five candidates. He came in third with 10.75% of the vote.

U.S. House of Representatives (2013—Present)

2012 election

Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Texas, 2012

In 2011 Stockman formed an exploratory committee, Friends of Steve Stockman, to consider a run for the 14th district seat being vacated by unsuccessful presidential candidate Ron Paul. Stockman instead ran in 2012 in the newly created 36th District, which includes his home in Friendswood. This district was drawn to be heavily Republican, and it was understood that whoever won the Republican primary would be the district's first congressman. In the May 29 primary, Stockman finished second in the first round behind Stephen Vincent Takach, a financial planner who spent heavily from his own funds. Takach finished with 22 percent of the vote, far short of the 50 percent threshold required to win. Stockman won the July 31 runoff election, defeating Takach 55%-45%--thus assuring his return to Congress after a 16-year absence.

In the November 6 general election, Stockman defeated the Democrat Max Owen Martin (born 1946), a retired pilot from Clear Lake City, Texas. A supporter of U.S. President Barack Obama, Martin was unopposed for his party's congressional nomination. Stockman defeated Martin 71%-27%.

Current tenure (District 36)

In his term representing District 36, Stockman has been a major proponent of job growth . The District includes Baytown, Pasadena, Deer Park, Mount Bellvieu and is the largest Petrochemical Industrial District of United States. With the advent of production of shale gas, over 100 billion dollars are expected to be invested in the U.S. petrochemical sector over the next few years (most of it in Texas), and over 40 billion dollars in Stockman’s district which will create thousands of new jobs . These plants include Ethylene Crackers, PDH Plants, Methanol manufacturing facilities and others. Stockman as consistently chased the EPA to expedite permits for new plant construction. Stockman has called on Vice-President Biden to obtain a lifting of what he argues is an EPA blockade on American jobs. In a statement, Stockman has said that unless the EPA is reformed by streamlining permits and studies and approving the REINS Act, the United States will cease to be an economic power. The "Regulations from the Executive In Need of Scrutiny," or REINS, Act would require that any proposed federal regulation costing more than $100 million be approved by Congress and signed by the President.

At 3.5 cents per kilowatt hour, Texas industrial facilities enjoy one of the cheapest power costs in the world which Stockman argues is conducive to investment and job growth and encourages employment. Stockman has favored keeping power costs low .

Stockman is a supporter of American Energy Independence and has used his position on the technology committee to question the EPA's technological criteria for evaluating applications on hydraulic fracking. He has worked on improving the current technologies being used on shale oil and gas production.

Stockman decided not to vote for John Boehner (R-OH) for Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. He was one of just ten Republicans to not vote for Boehner: Justin Amash, Steve Pearce, Jim Bridenstine, Ted Yoho, Paul Broun, Louie Gohmert, Walter Jones, Thomas Massie, Tim Huelskamp, Mick Mulvaney, and Raúl Labrador, but the only representative to vote "Present" as his protest vote. Stockman stated "I will not vote for or support Congressman Boehner’s bid to remain Speaker of the House. This is not something I do lightly, but out of bedrock conservative principle and a dire need to save this nation from its current course. We cannot tolerate betrayal of conservative principle and economic reality. I have known Congressman Boehner since I first came to the House in 1995. He is a decent man. But I have sharp disagreements with the manner in which he has handled President Obama and House conservatives. While he is all too eager to favorably negotiate with a liberal White House that has outmaneuvered him at every turn, he has been harsh and punitive in dealing with conservatives."

Stockman is a vehement believer in small government and considers government intrusion into healthcare Obamacare, as being tantamount to socialism. He has been a strong opponent of Obamacare in the U.S. Congress, and has sponsored a bill to defund it. He felt led down by fellow Republicans such as John Cornyn in not standing up to Obamacare and other spending programs which is the main reason he decided to run for US Senate.

Working with Rand Paul, Stockman introduced “Restore The Constitution Act.” That provision is the House companion to Sen. Rand Paul’s “Separation of Powers Restoration and Second Amendment Protection Act.” Stockman and Paul are working together on the effort.

Stockman introduced “The Safe Schools Act,” a bill that would repeal federal laws mandating “gun free zones” around schools in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting which took place in the previous month. He said "I have one concern, protecting children from dangerous predators. By disarming qualified citizens and officials in schools we have created a dangerous situation for our children. In the 22 years before enactment of ‘gun free school zones’ there were two mass school shootings. In the 22 years since enactment of ‘gun free schools’ there have been 10 mass school shootings. Not only has the bill utterly failed to protect our children it appears to have placed them in danger.” The same month, Stockman issued a press release condemning gun control executive orders issued by President Barack Obama post-Sandy Hook, stating, "I will seek to thwart this action by any means necessary, including but not limited to eliminating funding for implementation, defunding the White House, and even filing articles of impeachment."

In February 2013, Stockman voted against the re-authorization of the Violence Against Women Act which allowed gays and transgender the same rights as those to biological women.

In March 2013, Stockman introduced a measure to make it easier to open a Native American gaming casino in Texas in exchange for the end of tribal claims to disputed land and the cessation of their lawsuit.

In December 2013, Stockman started accepting donations in Bitcoin, the online currency, during a New Year's Eve party while carrying a Bitcoin QR-Code.

Committee assignments

U.S. Senate campaign 2014

Senator John Cornyn voted for the Wall Street Bailout, , Medicare Part D, Fiscal Cliff Tax Hike, and other spending and tax increase programs and Senator John Cornyn vote to fund Obamacare was the breaking point where Stockman decided not to seek reelection on his safe congressional seat and on December 9, 2013, Stockman filed for the Republican nomination of U.S. Senate for Texas against incumbent U.S. Senator John Cornyn.

References

  1. "Stephen Stockman and Patti Ferguson, Married December 10, 1988". texasmarriagerecords.org. Retrieved August 2, 2012.
  2. Reiner, Anne (2012-11-12). "Southern Baptist contingent in Congress grows". Erlc.com. Retrieved 2013-01-16.
  3. ^ Woodruff, Betsy. Stockman Will Primary Cornyn, National Review, December 9, 2013.
  4. ^ Glueck, Katie (December 9, 2013). "In surprise, Steve Stockman challenges John Cornyn". Politico.
  5. Mimi Swartz, "Congressman Clueless," Texas Monthly, Feb. 1996, at .
  6. Steve Stockman (R-Texas) Washington Post. Retrieved 17 December 2013
  7. ^ John Gizzi, Steve Stockman Vies for 36th Texas District Seat, Human Events, 07/07/2012
  8. Christoper Hooks, "Steve Stockman Can't Lose," Dec. 20, 2013, politico.com, at .
  9. "TX District 9 - R Primary Race - Mar 13, 1990". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2013-01-16.
  10. "TX District 9 - R Runoff Race - Apr 10, 1990". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2013-01-16.
  11. "TX District 9 Race - Nov 6, 1990". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2013-01-16.
  12. "TX District 9 Race - Nov 03, 1992". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2013-01-16.
  13. "TX District 9 - R Primary Race - Mar 08, 1994". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2013-01-16.
  14. "TX District 9 Race - Nov 08, 1994". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2013-01-16.
  15. Bush v. Vera, 517 U.S. 952 (1996)
  16. "Race Summary Report: 1996 November Special Election". Office of the Secretary of State of Texas. November 5, 1996. Retrieved 2006-09-02.
  17. "Race Summary Report: 1996 Special Runoff Election". Office of the Secretary of State of Texas. December 10, 1996. Retrieved 2006-09-02.
  18. Sangillo, Gregg (1 November 2012). "Texas, 36th House District". National Journal. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  19. Griffith, Pat (Feb 11, 1995). "Kaptur calls for date on Mexico bailout". Toledo Blade. Washington. p. 3. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  20. "Washington Digest". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. November 8, 1995. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  21. http://congressmanstevestockman.com/meet-steve/
  22. ^ Woodruff, Betsy (18 March 2013). "Back in the Saddle" (Press release). National Review. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  23. Texas, 36th House DistrictNational Journal. Retrieved 17 December 2013
  24. "Stockman fails to get enough names - Houston Chronicle". Chron.com. 2006-06-23. Retrieved 2013-01-16.
  25. "Races with Candidates with Addresses Report" (PDF). Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved 2006-09-01.
  26. "Republican primary election returns, May 29, 2012". enr.sos.state.tx.us. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  27. ^ "Texas Congressional Primaries - Election Results". The New York Times. March 7, 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2012. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  28. "Your Friend & Neighbor for Over 25 Years". max4congress.com. Retrieved August 2, 2012.
  29. "Texas general election returns, November 6, 2012". Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  30. ^ .
  31. Blake, Aaron (January 3, 2013). "Who voted against Boehner for speaker and why?". Washington Post. Retrieved 2013-08-03.
  32. Kasperowicz, Pete (January 3, 2013). "Boehner reelected as Speaker; nine Republicans defect in vote - The Hill's Floor Action". Thehill.com. Retrieved 2013-01-16.
  33. "STOCKMAN TO VOTE NO ON SPEAKER BOEHNER | Re-Elect Congressman Stockman, Nov. 6!". Congressmanstevestockman.com. 2013-01-02. Retrieved 2013-01-16.
  34. http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/17237-texas-cornyn-stockman-u-s-senate-race
  35. "Stockman introduces Audit The Fed Act, Safe Schools Act to repeal ‘Gun Free School Zones’ - Your Houston News: News". Your Houston News. 2013-01-07. Retrieved 2013-01-16.
  36. Stockman, Steve (January 14, 2013). "Obama's gun grab an unconstitutional threat to the nation" (Press release). Washington DC: House.gov. Retrieved 2013-01-18. The White House's recent announcement they will use executive orders and executive actions to infringe on our constitutionally-protected right to keep and bear arms is an unconstitutional and unconscionable attack on the very founding principles of this republic. I will seek to thwart this action by any means necessary, including but not limited to eliminating funding for implementation, defunding the White House, and even filing articles of impeachment.
  37. Calouro, Eric (1 January 2014). "Congressman Accepts Bitcoin Donations at New Year's Eve Party". www.newsbtc.com. NewsBTC. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  38. Reddit.com, Eric (1 January 2013). "Steve Stockman (R-TX) accepts Bitcoin donations". www.reddit.com. Reddit. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  39. "Stockman named to Science, Foreign Affairs committees - The Vindicator: News". The Vindicator. 2013-01-10. Retrieved 2013-01-16.
  40. http://www.freedomworks.org/blog/jwithrow/senator-john-cornyns-top-ten-bad-votes

External links

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded byJack Brooks Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 9th congressional district
1995–1997 		Succeeded byNick Lampson
New constituency Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 36th congressional district
2013–present 		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byDan Maffei United States Representatives by seniority
359th 		Succeeded byDina Titus
Texas's current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators
Representatives
(ordered by district)

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