Steve Womack

Stephen Allen Womack

He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in communications from Arkansas Tech University in 1979. That same year, his father founded KURM (AM). Womack served as station manager. Also in 1979, he enlisted in the Arkansas Army National Guard.

Entry into politics

In 1998, Womack was elected mayor of Rogers, Arkansas, holding the post for 12 years. During his mayoralty, Womack sought to crack down on illegal immigration by assigning two Immigration and Naturalization Service agents to the Rogers Police Department. As a result, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund filed a class-action suit against the city's police force, accusing it of racial profiling.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2010

In late 2009, Womack jumped into the race for the 3rd District after incumbent Representative John Boozman announced that he would run for the United States Senate. The 3rd is one of the most Republican districts in the South and the nation (Republicans have held it since 1967), and it was generally believed that whoever won the Republican primary would be the district's next representative. Womack ranked first in the seven-candidate primary with 31% of the vote. In the June runoff, he defeated state Senator and fellow Rogers resident Cecile Bledsoe, 52%–48%.

In the general election, Womack defeated Democratic nominee David Whitaker, 72%–28%.

2012

Womack was originally set to face veteran Ken Aden in his reelection bid, but Aden withdrew from the race on July 8, after admitting to exaggerating his military record. As it was too late to select a replacement candidate for Aden (under Arkansas law, the Democratic Party could only name a replacement at that date if the original candidate died, moved out of the district or opted to seek another office), Womack faced no major-party opposition in November. He was reelected with 76% of the vote, defeating Rebekah Kennedy (Green Party of the United States, 16%) and David Pangrac (Libertarian Party (United States), 8%).

2014

Thomas Brewer, a math teacher and minister, originally announced he was challenging Womack for the Republican nomination, and Troy Gittings, a high school English teacher and stand-up comedian, had announced he was running for the Democratic nomination. He was reelected with 79% of the vote to Brand's 21%.

2016

Womack again faced no Democratic candidate in the general election. He defeated Libertarian Steve Isaacson 77%–23%.

2018

Womack faced a Republican primary challenge from Robb Ryerse, a self-described "progressive Republican." He defeated Ryerse, 84%–16%.

In the general election, Womack faced Democratic opposition for the first time as an incumbent. Womack defeated Josh Mahoney, president of the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund and former chairman of the Fayetteville Airport Commission, and Libertarian Michael Kalagias, on election day, 65%–33%-2%, his smallest margin of victory to date.

2020

Womack did not face a challenge in the Republican primary, and he defeated the Democratic nominee, nurse practitioner Celeste Williams, and Kalagias, 64%–32%-4%.

2022

Womack won reelection against Democratic nominee, Lauren Mallett-Hays, and Kalagias, with 63.7% to 32.9% and 3.4%.

2024

Womack won renomination with 54% of the vote, defeating state senator Clint Penzo in the Republican primary.

Tenure

Womack with former President Jimmy Carter during the state funeral of former President George H. W. Bush in December 2018 In 2010, Womack signed a pledge sponsored by Americans for Prosperity promising to vote against any global warming legislation that would raise taxes.

Womack was a member of the House Appropriations Committee when in 2014 lawmakers inserted a prohibition into an appropriations bill that would prevent USDA staff from working on finishing regulations related to the meat industry.

In a 2015 episode of his show Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, John Oliver criticized Womack for blocking the enforcement of laws proposed by the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration that were designed to protect chicken farmers from being threatened or punished by the companies they work for if they spoke out regarding their farming experiences.

In 2015, Womack condemned the Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, which held that same-sex marriage bans violated the constitution.

In December 2017, Womack voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

A staunch Kevin McCarthy ally, Womack presided over the process to remove McCarthy as Speaker, which he opposed.

Committee assignments For the 118th Congress: Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (Chair)

Caucus memberships United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus Republican Governance Group House Republican Conference Congressional Ukraine Caucus

Political positions

Abortion Womack supported the ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which ended the federal constitutional right to abortion and returned regulatory authority to the states.

Jim Jordan speakership nomination Womack was one of 18 Republicans who voted against Jim Jordan's nomination for Speaker of the House all three times.

2020 election Womack did not join the majority of Republican members of Congress who signed an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed at the United States Supreme Court contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election. Womack voted to certify both Arizona's and Pennsylvania's results in the 2021 United States Electoral College vote count.

On May 19, 2021, Womack was one of 35 Republicans to join all 217 Democrats present in voting to approve legislation to establish the January 6 commission meant to investigate the storming of the U.S. Capitol.

Personal life Womack attends Cross Church Pinnacle Hills, a Southern Baptist church in Rogers, Arkansas. They had three sons and three grandsons. Womack lives in Rogers.

His son, James Phillip Womack was sentenced in 2024 to eight years in prison for distributing methamphetamine. In January 2026, his remaining federal prison sentence was commuted by President Donald Trump.

Electoral history Year Office District Democratic Republican Libertarian Other 2010 U.S. House of Representatives Arkansas's 3rd district David Whitaker 27.56% Steve Womack 72.44% 2012 U.S. House of Representatives Arkansas's 3rd district Steve Womack 75.9% David Pangrac 8.09% Rebekah Kennedy (G) 16.01% 2014 U.S. House of Representatives Arkansas's 3rd district Steve Womack 79.41% Grant Brand 20.59% 2016 U.S. House of Representatives Arkansas's 3rd district Steve Womack 77.31% Steve Isaacson 22.69% 2018 U.S. House of Representatives Arkansas's 3rd district Joshua Mahony 32.65% Steve Womack64.78% Michael Kalagias 2.57% 2020 U.S. House of Representatives Arkansas's 3rd district Celeste Williams 31.81% Steve Womack64.31% Michael Kalagias 3.88% 2022 U.S. House of Representatives Arkansas's 3rd district Lauren Mallett-Hays 32.89% Steve Womack63.69% Michael Kalagias 3.42% 2024U.S. House of RepresentativesArkansas's 3rd districtCaitlin Draper31.8% Steve Womack63.8%Bobby Wilson4.4%