| − | '''Allen Bernard West''' (born February 7, 1961 in [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia]]) is the current but outgoing state chairman of the Texas [[Republican Party]]<ref>Manjarres, Javier. [https://texaspolitics.com/2020/07/20/allen-west-wins-texas-gop-chairmanship/ Allen West wins Texas GOP Chairmanship], ''Texas Politics'', July 20, 2020. </ref><ref>Waltens, Brandon. [https://texasscorecard.com/state/allen-west-declares-victory-in-race-to-lead-texas-gop/ Allen West Declares Victory in Race to Lead Texas GOP], ''Texas Scorecard'', July 20, 2020.</ref> and former [[United States Representative]] for [[Florida]]'s 22nd congressional district. He previously has served in the [[United States Army]] as a Lieutenant Colonel. West received his bachelor's degree from the [[University of Tennessee]] and his master's degree from [[Kansas State University]], both in political science. He also holds a Master's of Military Arts and Sciences from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff Officer College in political theory and military operations. In addition, West taught a year of high school in Broward County, Florida. He had the support of the [[Senate Conservatives Fund]] and the [[Tea Party Movement]]. Critics of the Tea Party occasionally slander it by claiming it's inherently racist, yet most likely haven't heard of West, and other conservative African-American members. | + | '''Allen Bernard West''' (born February 7, 1961 in [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia]]) is a candidate for the governor of [[Texas]] and the outgoing state chairman of the Texas [[Republican Party]].<ref>Manjarres, Javier. [https://texaspolitics.com/2020/07/20/allen-west-wins-texas-gop-chairmanship/ Allen West wins Texas GOP Chairmanship], ''Texas Politics'', July 20, 2020. </ref><ref>Waltens, Brandon. [https://texasscorecard.com/state/allen-west-declares-victory-in-race-to-lead-texas-gop/ Allen West Declares Victory in Race to Lead Texas GOP], ''Texas Scorecard'', July 20, 2020.</ref> He is also a former [[United States Representative]] for [[Florida]]'s 22nd congressional district. He previously has served in the [[United States Army]] as a Lieutenant Colonel. West received his bachelor's degree from the [[University of Tennessee]] and his master's degree from [[Kansas State University]], both in political science. He also holds a Master's of Military Arts and Sciences from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff Officer College in political theory and military operations. In addition, West taught a year of high school in Broward County, Florida. He had the support of the [[Senate Conservatives Fund]] and the [[Tea Party Movement]]. |