Changes

In the 1998 Democratic primary for House District 21 to choose a nominee to succeed the retiring Mark W. Stiles (born 1948), Ritter ran without opposition.<ref>Texas Secretary of State,  Democratic Primary Election Returns, 1998.</ref> Then in the [[general election]], he defeated the Republican candidate, Kent Adams, 18,252 (53.1 percent) to 16,096 (46.9 percent).<ref>Texas Secretary of State, General Election Returns, November 1998.</ref> In November 2000, Ritter was reelected to his second term, having defeated Republican Mary Jane Avery, 27,033 (56.3 percent) to 20,484 (42.6 percent). A [[Libertarian Party|Libertarian]] candidate held the remaining 1.1 percent of the ballots cast.<ref>Texas Secretary of State, General Election Returns, November 2000.</ref>

In the 1998 Democratic primary for House District 21 to choose a nominee to succeed the retiring Mark W. Stiles (born 1948), Ritter ran without opposition.<ref>Texas Secretary of State,  Democratic Primary Election Returns, 1998.</ref> Then in the [[general election]], he defeated the Republican candidate, Kent Adams, 18,252 (53.1 percent) to 16,096 (46.9 percent).<ref>Texas Secretary of State, General Election Returns, November 1998.</ref> In November 2000, Ritter was reelected to his second term, having defeated Republican Mary Jane Avery, 27,033 (56.3 percent) to 20,484 (42.6 percent). A [[Libertarian Party|Libertarian]] candidate held the remaining 1.1 percent of the ballots cast.<ref>Texas Secretary of State, General Election Returns, November 2000.</ref>

In 2010, Ritter won his last general election as a Democrat without opposition. In switching parties after the 2010 legislative elections, Ritter and fellow Representative Aaron Peña of  Hidalgo County gave the Republican Party a temporary 101-49 [[supermajority]] in the Texas House.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kwtx.com/news/headlines/And_Longtime_Democrat_Aaron_Pena_Makes_It_101_111881504.html?ref=504|title=Longtime Democrat Aaron Peña Makes It 101|publisher=[[KWTX-TV]]|accessdate=February 20, 2014}}</ref> A year later, a third Democrat, [[J. M. Lozano]] of [[Kingsville, Texas|Kingsville]], also bolted to the Republican Party. In his case, Lozano attributed his switch to the influence of [[George P. Bush]], the state land commissioner who founded the [[political action committee]], Hispanic Republicans of Texas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.texastribune.org/2012/03/05/rep-lozano-confirms-he-plans-switch-parties/|author=Julian Aguilar|title=Rep. J.M. Lozano Confirms Plans to Switch to GOP|date=March 5, 2012|publisher=''The Texas Tribune''|accessdate=February 20, 2014}}</ref>

In 2010, Ritter won his last general election as a Democrat without opposition. In switching parties after the 2010 legislative elections, Ritter and fellow Representative Aaron Peña of  Hidalgo County gave the Republican Party a temporary 101-49 [[supermajority]] in the Texas House.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kwtx.com/news/headlines/And_Longtime_Democrat_Aaron_Pena_Makes_It_101_111881504.html?ref=504|title=Longtime Democrat Aaron Peña Makes It 101|publisher=KWTX-TV|accessdate=February 20, 2014}}</ref> A year later, a third Democrat, J. M. Lozano of Kingsville, also bolted to the Republican Party. In his case, Lozano attributed his switch to the influence of [[George P. Bush]], the state land commissioner who founded the [[political action committee]], Hispanic Republicans of Texas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.texastribune.org/2012/03/05/rep-lozano-confirms-he-plans-switch-parties/|author=Julian Aguilar|title=Rep. J.M. Lozano Confirms Plans to Switch to GOP|date=March 5, 2012|publisher=''The Texas Tribune''|accessdate=February 20, 2014}}</ref>

As a new Republican in 2012, he defeated his intra-party opponent, Daniel Stephen Miller (born c. 1951), also of Nederland,  9,299 (72.7 percent) to 3,488 (27.3 percent).<ref>Texas Secretary of State,  Republican Primary Election Returns, May 29, 2012.</ref> He then ran in November 2012 without Democratic opposition.

As a new Republican in 2012, he defeated his intra-party opponent, Daniel Stephen Miller (born c. 1951), also of Nederland,  9,299 (72.7 percent) to 3,488 (27.3 percent).<ref>Texas Secretary of State,  Republican Primary Election Returns, May 29, 2012.</ref> He then ran in November 2012 without Democratic opposition.

Texas [[Right to Life]] gave him a "D" grade in 2001 and only 67 percent in 2013. That same year, the [[interest group]] Texans for Fiscal Responsibility rated Ritter 37 percent; he received a zero rating from the group in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/25363/allan-ritter#.UwZE0ZWPIfg|title=Allan Ritter's Ratings and Endorsement|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=September 18, 2020}}</ref>

Texas [[Right to Life]] gave him a "D" grade in 2001 and only 67 percent in 2013. That same year, the [[interest group]] Texans for Fiscal Responsibility rated Ritter 37 percent; he received a zero rating from the group in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/25363/allan-ritter#.UwZE0ZWPIfg|title=Allan Ritter's Ratings and Endorsement|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=September 18, 2020}}</ref>

In October 2013, Ritter announced that he would not seek a ninth term in the legislature.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBDKonOpXXg|title=Jason Parthum and Judy Nichols seeks to replace Allan Ritter in Texas' House District 21|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=February 20, 2014}}</ref> Two Republican candidates ran to succeed Ritter, [[conservative]] activist Judy Nichols (born c. 1961), backed by the [[Tea Party movement]], and [[real estate]] developer Dade Phelan of [[Beaumont, Texas|Beaumont]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ballotpedia.org/Judy_Nichols|title=Judy Nichols|publisher=ballotpedia.org|accessdate=February 20, 2014}}</ref> Phelan defeated Nichols, 7,940 votes (59.9 percent) to 5,314 votes (40.1 percent).<ref>Texas Secretary of State, Republican Primary Election Returns, May 29, 2012.</ref> Phelan subsequently defeated the Democrat educator Garvin Bruney 74.38 to 25.61 percent in the November 4 general election.

In October 2013, Ritter announced that he would not seek a ninth term in the legislature.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBDKonOpXXg|title=Jason Parthum and Judy Nichols seeks to replace Allan Ritter in Texas' House District 21|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=February 20, 2014}}</ref> Two Republican candidates ran to succeed Ritter, [[conservative]] activist Judy Nichols (born c. 1961), backed by the [[Tea Party movement]], and [[real estate]] developer Dade Phelan of Beaumont.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ballotpedia.org/Judy_Nichols|title=Judy Nichols|publisher=ballotpedia.org|accessdate=February 20, 2014}}</ref> Phelan defeated Nichols, 7,940 votes (59.9 percent) to 5,314 votes (40.1 percent).<ref>Texas Secretary of State, Republican Primary Election Returns, May 29, 2012.</ref> Phelan subsequently defeated the Democrat educator Garvin Bruney 74.38 to 25.61 percent in the November 4 general election.

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