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Despite the snub among conservatives in his own San Antonio, community leaders across West Texas hailed Straus' leadership of the state House. Moderate Republican Mayor Dan Pope of [[Lubbock]] said that Straus represented rural Texas "admirably. His common-sense leadership in support of business and education - often in the face of criticism - will be his legacy.”<ref name=laj/> Straus championed the request of [[Texas Tech University]] to establish a school of veterinary medicine in [[Amarillo]] despite opposition coming from within the GOP. Texas Tech System Chancellor Robert Lloyd Duncan, a Moderate Republican former state senator, described Straus as "an advocate for higher education and its importance in making our state better. He is also a common-sense legislator who recognizes state needs and works to address them. His support was instrumental in the Texas Tech University System receiving funding to pursue a dental school and school of veterinary medicine. We will miss his pragmatic leadership.”<ref name=laj>{{cite web|url=http://www.lubbockonline.com/news/2017-10-25/speaker-straus-commended-keeping-west-texas-policy-decisions|title=Speaker Straus commended for keeping West Texas in policy decisions|author=Matt Dotray|publisher=''The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal''|date=October 25, 2017|accessdate=February 16, 2018}}</ref> State Representative John T. Smithee of Amarillo called Straus "a critical ally" for the needs of West Texas.<ref name=laj/>

Despite the snub among conservatives in his own San Antonio, community leaders across West Texas hailed Straus' leadership of the state House. Moderate Republican Mayor Dan Pope of [[Lubbock]] said that Straus represented rural Texas "admirably. His common-sense leadership in support of business and education - often in the face of criticism - will be his legacy.”<ref name=laj/> Straus championed the request of [[Texas Tech University]] to establish a school of veterinary medicine in [[Amarillo]] despite opposition coming from within the GOP. Texas Tech System Chancellor Robert Lloyd Duncan, a Moderate Republican former state senator, described Straus as "an advocate for higher education and its importance in making our state better. He is also a common-sense legislator who recognizes state needs and works to address them. His support was instrumental in the Texas Tech University System receiving funding to pursue a dental school and school of veterinary medicine. We will miss his pragmatic leadership.”<ref name=laj>{{cite web|url=http://www.lubbockonline.com/news/2017-10-25/speaker-straus-commended-keeping-west-texas-policy-decisions|title=Speaker Straus commended for keeping West Texas in policy decisions|author=Matt Dotray|publisher=''The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal''|date=October 25, 2017|accessdate=February 16, 2018}}</ref> State Representative John T. Smithee of Amarillo called Straus "a critical ally" for the needs of West Texas.<ref name=laj/>

Candidates who ran in the March 6 primary o succeed Straus were Matt Beebe, a pro-life business owner and two-time former Straus opponent; Marc Whyte, a business attorney; Carlton Soules, a former member of the San Antonio City Council and an unsuccessful candidate for Bexar County judge in 2012; Charlotte Williamson, who works for her family's petroleum and natural gas company, and attorney Adrian Spears. However, ''The San Antonio Express-News'' endorsed none of these candidates but instead urged Republicans to nominate a more Moderate Republican in the Straus mold, Stephen Philip "Steve" Allison (born January 4, 1947), a partner in the Haynes and Boone law firm in San Antonio, a 12-year member of the Alamo Heights Independent School District trustees and a former VIA transit board member.<ref>"Pick Allison to replace Straus in 121", ''The San Antonio Express-News'', February 16, 2018, p. 14A.</ref>

 

Candidates who ran in the March 6 primary to succeed Straus were Matt Beebe, a pro-life business owner and two-time former Straus opponent; Marc Whyte, a business attorney; Carlton Soules, a former member of the San Antonio City Council and an unsuccessful candidate for Bexar County judge in 2012; Charlotte Williamson, who works for her family's petroleum and natural gas company, and attorney Adrian Spears. However, ''The San Antonio Express-News'' endorsed none of these candidates but instead urged Republicans to nominate a more Moderate Republican in the Straus mold, Stephen Philip "Steve" Allison (born January 4, 1947), a partner in the Haynes and Boone law firm in San Antonio, a 12-year member of the Alamo Heights Independent School District trustees and a former VIA transit board member.<ref>"Pick Allison to replace Straus in 121", ''The San Antonio Express-News'', February 16, 2018, p. 14A.</ref>

 

In the primary, Matt Beebe led the field with 4,351 votes (29.5 percent) and will face the runner-up, Steve Allison, who polled 3,884 (26.3 percent), in the May 22 runoff election. Soules barely finished third with 13.2 percent of the vote. The four eliminated candidates divided the remaining 44.2 percent of the ballots cast.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://enrpages.sos.state.tx.us/public/mar06_325_state.htm?x=0&y=1394&id=142|title=Election Returns|date=March 6, 2018|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=March 7, 2018}}</ref> The next month Straus endorsed Allison as his preferred successor. Beebe noted that his latest opponent opposes the failed "bathroom bill" and has hostile "views on the [[Second Amendment]], [and an] unwillingness to enable parents to have meaningful options for their children's education, or his refusal to pledge support for the Republican caucus choice for House Speaker." Beebe added that he finds "voters increasingly realizing Steve Allison is out of touch with their values."<ref>Jasper Scherer, "Sraus endorses Allison for District 121", ''The San Antonio Express-News'', April 20, 2018, p. A4.</ref>

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