Help us improve in just 2 minutes—share your thoughts in our reader survey.

Phil Stephenson

From Ballotpedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Phil Stephenson
Image of Phil Stephenson
Prior offices
Texas House of Representatives District 85
Successor: Stan Kitzman

Elections and appointments
Last election

May 24, 2022

Personal
Religion
Christian: Methodist
Contact

Phil Stephenson (Republican Party) was a member of the Texas House of Representatives, representing District 85. He assumed office in 2013. He left office on January 10, 2023.

Stephenson (Republican Party) ran for re-election to the Texas House of Representatives to represent District 85. He lost in the Republican primary runoff on May 24, 2022.

Committee assignments

Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.

2021-2022

Stephenson was assigned to the following committees:

2019-2020

Stephenson was assigned to the following committees:

2017 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:

Texas committee assignments, 2017
Investments & Financial Services, Vice chair
Ways & Means

2015 legislative session

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Stephenson served on the following committees:

2013-2014

In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Stephenson served on the following committees:

Elections

2022

See also: Texas House of Representatives elections, 2022

General election

General election for Texas House of Representatives District 85

Stan Kitzman defeated Larry Baggett and Michael Miller in the general election for Texas House of Representatives District 85 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Stan Kitzman
Stan Kitzman (R) Candidate Connection
 
73.8
 
49,359
Image of Larry Baggett
Larry Baggett (D)
 
24.2
 
16,201
Image of Michael Miller
Michael Miller (L)
 
2.0
 
1,308

Total votes: 66,868
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary runoff election

Republican primary runoff for Texas House of Representatives District 85

Stan Kitzman defeated incumbent Phil Stephenson in the Republican primary runoff for Texas House of Representatives District 85 on May 24, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Stan Kitzman
Stan Kitzman Candidate Connection
 
58.0
 
8,136
Image of Phil Stephenson
Phil Stephenson
 
42.0
 
5,899

Total votes: 14,035
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 85

Larry Baggett advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 85 on March 1, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Larry Baggett
Larry Baggett
 
100.0
 
3,987

Total votes: 3,987
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 85

Incumbent Phil Stephenson and Stan Kitzman advanced to a runoff. They defeated Fred Roberts and Art Hernandez in the Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 85 on March 1, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Phil Stephenson
Phil Stephenson
 
40.0
 
8,618
Image of Stan Kitzman
Stan Kitzman Candidate Connection
 
34.5
 
7,426
Fred Roberts
 
15.7
 
3,379
Image of Art Hernandez
Art Hernandez Candidate Connection
 
9.8
 
2,108

Total votes: 21,531
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for Texas House of Representatives District 85

Michael Miller advanced from the Libertarian convention for Texas House of Representatives District 85 on March 19, 2022.

Candidate
Image of Michael Miller
Michael Miller (L)

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign finance

2020

See also: Texas House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for Texas House of Representatives District 85

Incumbent Phil Stephenson defeated Joey Cardenas III and Michael Miller in the general election for Texas House of Representatives District 85 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Phil Stephenson
Phil Stephenson (R)
 
56.4
 
43,024
Image of Joey Cardenas III
Joey Cardenas III (D)
 
41.2
 
31,372
Image of Michael Miller
Michael Miller (L) Candidate Connection
 
2.4
 
1,838

Total votes: 76,234
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 85

Joey Cardenas III advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 85 on March 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Joey Cardenas III
Joey Cardenas III
 
100.0
 
8,910

Total votes: 8,910
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 85

Incumbent Phil Stephenson defeated Robert Boettcher and Abolaji Tijani Ayobami in the Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 85 on March 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Phil Stephenson
Phil Stephenson
 
78.8
 
14,746
Image of Robert Boettcher
Robert Boettcher
 
19.4
 
3,628
Image of Abolaji Tijani Ayobami
Abolaji Tijani Ayobami
 
1.8
 
332

Total votes: 18,706
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for Texas House of Representatives District 85

Michael Miller advanced from the Libertarian convention for Texas House of Representatives District 85 on March 21, 2020.

Candidate
Image of Michael Miller
Michael Miller (L) Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign finance

2018

See also: Texas House of Representatives elections, 2018

General election

General election for Texas House of Representatives District 85

Incumbent Phil Stephenson defeated Jennifer Cantu in the general election for Texas House of Representatives District 85 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Phil Stephenson
Phil Stephenson (R)
 
56.5
 
32,019
Image of Jennifer Cantu
Jennifer Cantu (D) Candidate Connection
 
43.5
 
24,668

Total votes: 56,687
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 85

Jennifer Cantu advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 85 on March 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jennifer Cantu
Jennifer Cantu Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
4,437

Total votes: 4,437
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 85

Incumbent Phil Stephenson advanced from the Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 85 on March 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Phil Stephenson
Phil Stephenson
 
100.0
 
10,151

Total votes: 10,151
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2016

See also: Texas House of Representatives elections, 2016

Elections for the Texas House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election was held on March 1, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was December 14, 2015.[1]

Incumbent Phil Stephenson defeated John Davis in the Texas House of Representatives District 85 general election.[2]

Texas House of Representatives, District 85 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png Phil Stephenson Incumbent 60.40% 35,594
     Democratic John Davis 39.60% 23,334
Total Votes 58,928
Source: Texas Secretary of State


John Davis ran unopposed in the Texas House of Representatives District 85 Democratic Primary.[3][4]

Texas House of Representatives, District 85 Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png John Davis  (unopposed)


Incumbent Phil Stephenson ran unopposed in the Texas House of Representatives District 85 Republican Primary.[3][4]

Texas House of Representatives, District 85 Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png Phil Stephenson Incumbent (unopposed)

2014

See also: Texas House of Representatives elections, 2014

Elections for all 150 seats in the Texas House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on March 4, 2014. Those candidates who did not receive 50 percent or more of the vote in their party primary on March 4 faced an additional May 27 primary runoff. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was December 9, 2013. Incumbent Phil Stephenson was unopposed in the Republican primary, and Cynthia Drabek was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Drabek was defeated by Stephenson in the general election.[5][6][7]

Texas House of Representatives, District 85 General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngPhil Stephenson Incumbent 66.6% 19,215
     Democratic Cynthia Drabek 33.4% 9,630
Total Votes 28,845

2012

See also: Texas House of Representatives elections, 2012

Stephenson won election in the 2012 election for Texas House of Representatives, District 85. Stephenson defeated Lee Duggan in the May 29 primary election and defeated Dora Olivo (D) in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[8]

Texas House of Representatives, District 85, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngPhil Stephenson 58.3% 28,626
     Democratic Dora Olivo 41.7% 20,435
Total Votes 49,061
Texas House of Representatives District 85 Republican Primary, 2012
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngPhil Stephenson 53.3% 5,944
Lee Duggan 46.7% 5,208
Total Votes 11,152

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Phil Stephenson did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Phil Stephenson did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

2014

Stephenson's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[9]

  • Excerpt: "I oppose raising taxes. I have signed the 'Taxpayer Protection Pledge.'"
  • Excerpt: "I believe violent criminals, drug dealers, rapists and child predators belong behind bars! Criminals should be held personally responsible for their actions!"
  • Excerpt: "I believe Texas should put an end to illegal aliens crossing our Texas Border!"
  • Excerpt: "I believe the use of the word God, prayers and the Ten Commandments should be allowed in public buildings, schools and public assemblies."
  • Excerpt: "I will file a Joint Resolution directing the Texas Congressional Delegation to file legislation to end the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and remove the DOJ's ability to interfere with voting and Voter ID in Texas!"

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.


Campaign finance summary


Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.


Phil Stephenson campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2022Texas House of Representatives District 85Lost primary runoff$184,728 $199,524
2020Texas House of Representatives District 85Won general$204,815 N/A**
2018Texas House of Representatives District 85Won general$158,452 N/A**
2014Texas House of Representatives, District 85Won $161,594 N/A**
2012Texas State House, District 85Won $252,814 N/A**
Grand total$962,403 $199,524
Sources: OpenSecretsFederal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Texas

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Texas scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.




2022

In 2022, the Texas State Legislature was not in session.


2021


2020


2019


2018


2017


2016


2015


2014


2013



Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.

Email editor@ballotpedia.org to notify us of updates to this biography.

Stephenson and his wife, Barbara, have two children.[12]

See also


External links

Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by
-
Texas House of Representatives District 85
2013-2023
Succeeded by
Stan Kitzman (R)


Current members of the Texas House of Representatives
Leadership
Speaker of the House:Dustin Burrows
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
Jay Dean (R)
District 8
District 9
District 10
District 11
District 12
District 13
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
District 18
District 19
District 20
District 21
District 22
District 23
District 24
District 25
District 26
District 27
District 28
District 29
District 30
District 31
District 32
District 33
District 34
District 35
District 36
District 37
District 38
District 39
District 40
District 41
District 42
District 43
District 44
District 45
District 46
District 47
District 48
District 49
District 50
District 51
District 52
District 53
District 54
District 55
District 56
Pat Curry (R)
District 57
District 58
District 59
District 60
District 61
District 62
District 63
District 64
District 65
District 66
District 67
District 68
District 69
District 70
District 71
District 72
District 73
District 74
District 75
District 76
District 77
District 78
District 79
District 80
District 81
District 82
District 83
District 84
District 85
District 86
District 87
District 88
Ken King (R)
District 89
District 90
District 91
District 92
District 93
District 94
District 95
District 96
District 97
District 98
District 99
District 100
District 101
District 102
District 103
District 104
District 105
District 106
District 107
District 108
District 109
District 110
Toni Rose (D)
District 111
District 112
District 113
District 114
District 115
District 116
District 117
District 118
District 119
District 120
District 121
District 122
District 123
District 124
District 125
Ray Lopez (D)
District 126
District 127
District 128
District 129
District 130
District 131
District 132
District 133
District 134
District 135
District 136
John Bucy (D)
District 137
Gene Wu (D)
District 138
District 139
District 140
District 141
District 142
District 143
District 144
District 145
District 146
District 147
District 148
District 149
Hubert Vo (D)
District 150
Republican Party (88)
Democratic Party (62)