Schoppe for Congress

Image by Billie Hara via Flickr

Austin, Texas, March 3, 2010 — Local entrepreneur Stephen Schoppe lost to 23-year incumbent Lamar Smith in the Republican Primary. Schoppe garnering 14,158 votes out of 76,055 cast giving him about 19% of the vote. Schoppe had his best showings in Travis (25%) and Blanco (23%) Counties. 

Schoppe said Tuesday night, “I knew this was an uphill battle since house incumbents get re-elected over 96% of the time. But despite my loss, I am heartened because 1 in 5 of my fellow Texan Republicans feel that major changes are needed to restore Washington’s sanity.” Schoppe wished his numbers were higher but said he will continue to influence policy through local republican organizations and the party. “New and better ideas start with one person so we should never stop meaningful debate,” Schoppe said. 

“I wish Smith the best in the general. He should easily be re-elected. But, Smith should be aware that people are watching to make sure he keeps his promises. That means sticking to the constitution and not increasing the level of debt on the American people,” Schoppe answered as to what he would like to say to Smith.

Schoppe campaigned with a fraction of Smith’s war chest, utilized grass roots tactics like attending town halls, road signs, and phone calls to get this name and message out.  Smith countered Schoppe’s campaign by sending mailers and running TV advertisements on FOX News across the district.

Schoppe, 34 years old, was born and raised in the Austin area. He now resides just west of Leander where he and his wife Tiffany Ann are raising their twin daughters. They attend Leander United Methodist Church where he serves as endowment chair and sits on the parish relations committee.