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'''Allen Bernard West''' (born February 7, 1961, in [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia]]) is a [[conservative]] former candidate for governor of [[Texas]]. He finished second to incumbent [[Greg Abbott]] in the [[Republican Party|Republican]]

'''Allen Bernard West''' (born February 7, 1961, in [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia]]) is a [[conservative]] former candidate for governor of [[Texas]]. He finished a distant second to incumbent [[Greg Abbott]] in the [[Republican Party|Republican]]

[[primary]] held on March 1, 2022. The lengthy [[early voting]] period in Texas ran from February 14–25, 2002.<ref>https://www.myhighplains.com/news/your-local-election-hq/eligible-texas-voters-need-to-register-by-jan-31-to-cast-ballot-in-march-1-primary-election/</ref> He is the former state chairman of the Texas GOP.<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>Brandon Waltens [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]].

[[primary]] held on March 1, 2022. The lengthy [[early voting]] period in Texas ran from February 14–25, 2002.<ref>https://www.myhighplains.com/news/your-local-election-hq/eligible-texas-voters-need-to-register-by-jan-31-to-cast-ballot-in-march-1-primary-election/</ref> He is the former state chairman of the Texas GOP.<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>Brandon Waltens [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]].

Allen West's campaign motto is “Defending the Texas Republic.”<ref>https://west4texas.com/</ref> A [[Tea Party]] favorite, West announced on July 4, 2021, his candidacy for [[Texas]] governor in the [[2022 midterm elections]] to challenge incumbent [[establishment]] Republican Governor Greg Abbott.<ref>Olafimihan Oshin (July 4, 2021). [https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/561536-allen-west-announces-gop-primary-challenge-to-abbott-in-texas Allen West announces GOP primary challenge to Abbott in Texas]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved July 5, 2021.</ref>  Central to West's campaign was his [[conservative]] opposition to the [[Green New Deal]].  It was only after West released a video on May 23, 2021, for Abbott to complete the border wall that Abbott then moved on the issue.<ref>https://noqreport.com/2021/06/11/allen-west-called-on-texas-to-secure-its-border-build-the-wall-greg-abbott-finally-agrees/</ref>  In Texas there is a runoff election if no one receives more than 50 percent plus one vote, and the Republican runoffs often favor the more conservative candidate. The well-financed conservative former state Senator [[Don Huffines]] also ran on the issues of "finish the wall, secure our elections, and ban vaccine mandates."<ref>https://donhuffines.com/</ref>  

Allen West's campaign motto was “Defending the Texas Republic.”<ref>https://west4texas.com/</ref> A [[Tea Party]] favorite, West announced on July 4, 2021, his candidacy for Texas governor in the [[2022 midterm elections]] to challenge incumbent [[establishment]] Republican Governor Greg Abbott.<ref>Olafimihan Oshin (July 4, 2021). [https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/561536-allen-west-announces-gop-primary-challenge-to-abbott-in-texas Allen West announces GOP primary challenge to Abbott in Texas]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved July 5, 2021.</ref>  Central to West's campaign was his [[conservative]] opposition to the [[Green New Deal]].  It was only after West released a video on May 23, 2021, for Abbott to complete the border wall that Abbott then moved on the issue.<ref>https://noqreport.com/2021/06/11/allen-west-called-on-texas-to-secure-its-border-build-the-wall-greg-abbott-finally-agrees/</ref>  In Texas there is a runoff election if no one receives more than 50 percent plus one vote, and the Republican runoffs often favor the more conservative candidate. The well-financed conservative former state Senator [[Don Huffines]] also ran on the issues of "finish the wall, secure our elections, and ban vaccine mandates."<ref>https://donhuffines.com/</ref>  

==Personal life==

==Personal life==

West received his bachelor's degree from the [[University of Tennessee]] at [[Knoxville]] and his master's degree from [[Kansas State University]] in Manhattan, [[Kansas]], 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]].

West received his bachelor's degree from the [[University of Tennessee]] at [[Knoxville]] and his master's degree from [[Kansas State University]] in Manhattan, [[Kansas]], 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]].

His military career includes serving in several combat zones: [[Operation Desert Storm]], [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]] (in which he was battalion commander for the Army's 4th Infantry Division), and [[Afghanistan]], where he trained Afghan officers.

In his military career, he served in several combat zones: [[Operation Desert Storm]], [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]] (in which he was battalion commander for the Army's 4th Infantry Division), and [[Afghanistan]], where he trained Afghan officers.

West is the President and CEO of The Hope Center, a non-profit in [[Plano]], Texas, which operates a commercial office building complex providing reduced rent and office services to Christian non-profit organizations (including notable ones such as I Am Second and Joni and Friends).<ref>https://www.thehopecenter.org/management/allen-west</ref>

West is the President and CEO of The Hope Center, a non-profit in [[Plano]], Texas, which operates a commercial office building complex providing reduced rent and office services to Christian non-profit organizations (including notable ones such as I Am Second and Joni and Friends).<ref>https://www.thehopecenter.org/management/allen-west</ref>

==Political career==

==Political career==

[[Liberal]] exploitation of [[early voting]] and questionable ballots caused the [[liberal media]] to insist just as the numbers had likely wrongfully stated that West lost his 2012 reelection bid to Democrat [[Patrick Murphy]] by a mere 0.7 percent.<ref>[https://ballotpedia.org/Florida%27s_18th_Congressional_District_elections,_2012 Florida's 18th Congressional District elections, 2012]</ref> West contested the election; however, he conceded on November 20, 2012, citing "high evidentiary hurdles."<ref>http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/20/after-recount-west-concedes-in-tight-congressional-race/?hpt=hp_t2</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2012/11/20/florida-rep-allen-west-concedes/|title=Florida Rep. Allen West concedes|first=Sean|last=Sullivan|date=November 20, 2012|accessdate=November 20, 2012|work=Washington Post}}</ref>

[[Liberal]] exploitation of early voting and questionable ballots caused the [[liberal media]] to insist just as the numbers had likely wrongfully stated that West lost his 2012 reelection bid to Democrat [[Patrick Murphy]] by a mere 0.7 percent.<ref>[https://ballotpedia.org/Florida%27s_18th_Congressional_District_elections,_2012 Florida's 18th Congressional District elections, 2012]</ref> West contested the election; however, he conceded on November 20, 2012, citing "high evidentiary hurdles."<ref>http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/20/after-recount-west-concedes-in-tight-congressional-race/?hpt=hp_t2</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2012/11/20/florida-rep-allen-west-concedes/|title=Florida Rep. Allen West concedes|first=Sean|last=Sullivan|date=November 20, 2012|accessdate=November 20, 2012|work=Washington Post}}</ref>

West left Florida after his congressional defeat and relocated to Texas. To win the state Republican chairmanship, he unseated the four-year incumbent, [[James Dickey]] of [[Austin]], at the first of the party's two summer conventions in an early morning vote by state senatorial districts on July 20, 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2020/07/20/allen-west-james-dickey-texas-gop-chairman/|title=Allen West unseats James Dickey to become Texas GOP chairman: West defeated Dickey, who was running for a second full term, early Monday morning at a tumultuous virtual state convention|author=Patrick Svitek|date=July 20, 2020|publisher=''The Texas Tribune''}}</ref>  However West announced that effective July 11, 2021 he will step down as state GOP chairman; it is believed he plans to run for political office in Texas, either for the 32nd Congressional District (currently held by Democrat Colin Allred; the district is a swing district which leans and is trending Democrat) or to run against Governor [[Greg Abbott]] (a move which, if successful, could virtually guarantee a Democrat flip of the governorship).

West left Florida after his congressional defeat and relocated to Texas. To win the state Republican chairmanship, he unseated the four-year incumbent, [[James Dickey]] of [[Austin]], at the first of the party's two summer conventions in an early morning vote by state senatorial districts on July 20, 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2020/07/20/allen-west-james-dickey-texas-gop-chairman/|title=Allen West unseats James Dickey to become Texas GOP chairman: West defeated Dickey, who was running for a second full term, early Monday morning at a tumultuous virtual state convention|author=Patrick Svitek|date=July 20, 2020|publisher=''The Texas Tribune''}}</ref>  However West announced that effective July 11, 2021 he will step down as state GOP chairman; it is believed he plans to run for political office in Texas, either for the 32nd Congressional District (currently held by Democrat Colin Allred; the district is a swing district which leans and is trending Democrat) or to run against Governor [[Greg Abbott]] (a move which, if successful, could virtually guarantee a Democrat flip of the governorship).