Vance McAllister

Last updated

Kelly Duncan
​
(m. 1997)​
Vance McAllister
Vance McAllister, Official Portrait, 113th Congress.jpg
Official portrait, 2013
Member of the U.S.HouseofRepresentatives
from Louisiana's 5th district
In office
November 16, 2013 –January 3, 2015
Children5
Education University of Louisiana, Monroe
McAllister's voice
Recorded July 9, 2014

Vance Michael McAllister Sr. (born January 7, 1974) is an American businessman and Republican former member of the United States House of Representatives from Louisiana's 5th congressional district. He won a special runoff election held on November 16, 2013, for the seat vacated by fellow Republican Rodney Alexander.

Contents

On April 8, 2014, the day after information about an affair was posted, McAllister said that he planned to run for re-election. [1] On April 28, 2014, he announced that he would serve out his term and not run for re-election. [2] [3] However, he later changed his mind and ran for re-election, for a full term. [4] He did not survive the "top two" primary, receiving 11.1 percent of the vote, and so was not in the runoff election on December 6.

Early life and career

McAllister was born in Oak Grove, Louisiana, and graduated from Forest High School in 1992. He attended the University of Louisiana at Monroe, served in the United States Army from 1992 to 1994, and later served in the Louisiana National Guard. [5] [6] Before entering Congress, he worked in the private sector and owned and co-owned several small businesses in northeast Louisiana. [7]

U.S. House of Representatives

McAllister campaign sign Vance McAllister campaign poster, 2013 IMG 8364.JPG
McAllister campaign sign

Elections

2013 special

In the November 16, 2013 runoff, McAllister defeated State Senator Neil Riser, 59.7% (54,449) to 40.3% (36,837). [8] [9] National coverage noted his endorsements from “Duck Dynasty” figures Phil and Willie Robertson and framed the outcome as a surprise over the GOP establishment favorite. [10] [11]

2014

McAllister sought a full term in 2014 but did not advance out of the November 4 primary after Republican Ralph Abraham and Democrat Jamie Mayo moved on to the December 6 runoff. Certified results show McAllister received 11.11% (26,606). [12]

Tenure

In June 2014, the non-profit watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington requested that the Department of Justice and House Ethics Committee investigate a published statement from McAllister that an unnamed colleague had told him he would receive a $1,200 contribution from The Heritage Foundation for voting against a measure related to the Bureau of Land Management. [13] McAllister responded that he had not received a donation, which he ascribed to the group being "upset" with him after revelations of his extramarital affair with a staffer. He also said that he had not cast the vote with the expectation of receiving money, but had revealed what was said to him to show how "money controls Washington" and how work in Congress is a "steady cycle of voting for fundraising and money instead of voting for what is right." A spokesman for The Heritage Foundation stated: "we would never do anything like that... we do not [make political donations]. The Heritage Foundation is a think tank and does research and education, but does not get involved with political bills at all." [14] [15]

Committee assignments

Later political activity

In 2015 McAllister ran for the Louisiana State Senate in District 33, challenging incumbent Mike Walsworth. Walsworth won the October 24 blanket primary, 62.3% to 37.7%. [17]

Personal life

Extramarital encounter

On April 7, 2014, the Ouachita Citizen newspaper of West Monroe, posted online a copy of a surveillance video from an anonymous source which showed McAllister kissing a staff member in his Monroe district office. [18] The video was recorded in McAllister's Monroe congressional office on December 23, 2013. McAllister's aide Leah Gordon was alleged to have leaked the video to the Ouachita Citizen. Both aides resigned in 2014. [19] [20] Melissa Anne Hixon Peacock was subsequently identified as a married, longtime employee of McAllister. [21] [22]

McAllister made a statement concerning the video: "There's no doubt I've fallen short and I'm asking for forgiveness. I'm asking for forgiveness from God, my wife, my kids, my staff, and my constituents who elected me to serve". [23] Former opponent Republican State Senator Neil Riser said, "I think right now we should be mindful and sensitive to the families who are involved." [23] McAllister's chief of staff, Adam Terry, said that the staff member was fired by the congressman. [24] [25]

The Hill , a Washington, D.C. newspaper, reported on April 9, 2014, that Louisiana Republican Party chairman Roger F. Villere Jr. called for McAllister to resign. [26] One day later Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal issued a similar demand, [27] as did Hammond's Daily Star , a politically nonaligned newspaper editorially. [28]

McAllister found himself being defended by Representative Cedric Richmond, the sole Democrat in Louisiana's U.S. House delegation. Richmond described McAllister's situation as one of the "gotcha moments" in which the political parties have "taken joy in the pain of their supposed opponents". U.S. Representative Bill Cassidy (R–Baton Rouge) urged respect for the McAllister family's privacy and cited the Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12). [29]

2017 arrest warrant

On September 27, 2017, a Louisiana judge issued a warrant for McAllister's arrest after he failed to appear for a debt hearing. McAllister had failed previously to appear for other debt hearings and it is claimed he owes $296,000 to one bank and $250,000 to another. [30] [ needs update ] McAllister told local media the warrant stemmed from a misunderstanding with his attorney about a debt-collection hearing date. [31] [32]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lauren McGaughy (April 8, 2014). "Rep. Vance McAllister plans on running for re-election". Shreveport Times. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
  2. ↑ Greg Hilburn (April 28, 2014). "UPDATE: McAllister won't seek re-election, will finish term". The News-Star. Retrieved April 28, 2014.[ permanent dead link ]
  3. ↑ Mark Ballard (April 29, 2014). "Vance McAllister declares he will not seek re-election". The Advocate. Archived from the original on April 30, 2014. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
  4. ↑ Sullivan, Sean (June 30, 2014). "Embattled Rep. Vance McAllister is running for reelection". The Washington Post . Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  5. ↑ "MCALLISTER, Vance M. — Biographical Directory of the United States Congress". bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
  6. ↑ "MCALLISTER, Vance M. — History, Art & Archives, U.S. House". history.house.gov. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Vance McAllister, Sr. — Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Republican businessman McAllister wins U.S. House race in Louisiana". Reuters. November 16, 2013. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Louisiana's 5th Congressional District special election, 2013 — results". Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
  10. ↑ Sullivan, Sean (November 17, 2013). "McAllister wins Louisiana special election". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
  11. ↑ "'Duck Dynasty' endorsed candidate wins special election". WVUE-TV (AP report). November 17, 2013. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Louisiana's 5th Congressional District elections, 2014 — primary & general results". Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
  13. ↑ Alpert, Bruce (June 16, 2014). "Watchdog group wants probe into Rep. Vance McAllister's statement of $1,200 donation offered for 'no' vote". The Times-Picayune . Archived from the original on June 23, 2014. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  14. ↑ "McAllister admits to vote for contribution". The Ouachita Citizen. June 6, 2014. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  15. ↑ Alpert, Bruce (June 16, 2014). "Watchdog group wants probe into Rep. Vance McAllister's statement of $1,200 donation offered for 'no' vote". The Times-Picayune/The Advocate. Archived from the original on June 23, 2014. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Local News - The News Star - thenewsstar.com". The News Star. Archived from the original on December 7, 2013. Retrieved September 26, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Mike Walsworth — Louisiana State Senate District 33 (2015 results)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
  18. ↑ McGaughy, Lauren (April 8, 2014). "Reports: McAllister district manager leaked kissing video, staffer's husband says it 'has wrecked my life'". The Times Picayune. New Orleans. Archived from the original on August 7, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Staffer accused of video leak quits". Daily Star . Hammond, Louisiana. April 17, 2014. p. 5A. Retrieved April 17, 2014.[ dead link ]
  20. ↑ "UPDATED: McAllister caught in extramarital encounter, issues apology (video)". The Ouachita Citizen. April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  21. ↑ Mustian, Jim (April 9, 2014). "Voters let down by 'kissing congressman'". Advocate. Baton Rouge, Louisiana. pp. 1A, 5A. Retrieved April 9, 2014.[ dead link ]
  22. ↑ McGaughy, Lauren (April 8, 2014). "McAllister district manager leaked kissing video, staffer's husband says it 'has wrecked my life'". New Orleans Times-Picayune. New Orleans, LA. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
  23. 1 2 "Rep. McAllister asks forgiveness following video of him kissing woman". The Alexandria Town Talk. Archived from the original on April 8, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
  24. ↑ Frates, Chris; Devine, Curt (April 9, 2014). "First on CNN: Husband on kissing congressman: 'He has wrecked my life'". Political ticker. Archived from the original on April 9, 2014. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
  25. ↑ "Despite video scandal, McAllister says he does not intend to resign". Washington Post. April 8, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  26. ↑ "Report: GOP Chief thinks McAllister should resign seat, April 9, 2014". Monroe News-Star. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  27. ↑ Mustian, Jim; Shuler, Marsha (April 11, 2014). "Jindal, GOP issue calls to resign". Advocate. Baton Rouge, LA. pp. 1A, 4A. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
  28. ↑ "GOP leaders are clear about McAllister". Sunday Star. Hammond, Louisiana. April 13, 2014. p. 4A. Retrieved April 15, 2014.[ dead link ]
  29. ↑ Alpert, Bruce (April 11, 2014). "Richmond reaches out to McAllister: He admonishes both parties". Times-Picayune. New Orleans, LA. p. A3. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved April 11, 2014.
  30. ↑ Eric Garcia (September 28, 2017). "Warrant Issued for Kissing Congressman". Roll Call. Archived from the original on April 8, 2019. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
  31. ↑ "Arrest warrant issued for former U.S. Rep. McAllister". The Monroe News-Star. September 28, 2017. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
  32. ↑ Garcia, Eric (September 28, 2017). "Warrant Issued for 'Kissing Congressman'". Roll Call. Retrieved November 2, 2025.
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