Summary
Current Position: US Representative of GA-12 since 2015
Affiliation: Republican
Former Position: Founder of construction company from 1980 – 2015
District: Portions of the eastern and southeastern parts of the state. It includes the cities of Augusta, Dublin, Douglas, and Statesboro.
Upcoming Election:
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House Democrats just paved the way for taxpayer-funded abortions by rejecting the long-standing Hyde Amendment. This is insane
Rep. Allen (GA-12) Highlights Broadband Needs of Rural America
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News
About
Source: Government Page
Rick W. Allen was elected to represent Georgia’s 12th District in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2014. Prior to his election to Congress, Rick spent his career starting and building his own business from the ground up. At the age of 25, he founded the construction company R.W. Allen & Associates, which has enhanced economic development in Georgia and created thousands of jobs in the Augusta and Athens communities for more than 35 years.
As a conservative, small businessman, Rick knows firsthand what it takes to live within a budget, make payroll and successfully grow a business. His extensive business background guides his commitment to promoting policies that allow the private sector to thrive and fighting against regulatory burdens the federal government is placing on the backs of business owners.
Rick is a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, one of the oldest standing committees of the House of Representatives with broad jurisdiction over such issues as health care, energy policy, cybersecurity, and telecommunications. Rick is also a member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, which focuses on strengthening our nation’s schools and expanding opportunities for Americans in the modern workplace.
The son of a farmer, Rick is proud to have served on the House Committee on Agriculture for eight years, working as an advocate for farmers in Washington and shaping legislation to bolster Georgia’s number one industry.
Rick graduated from Auburn University’s School of Architecture and Fine Arts with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Building Construction. He and his wife, Robin, have been married for 50 years and reside in Augusta. Together, they raised four children and are the proud grandparents of fourteen grandchildren.
In addition to being a devoted husband, father and grandfather, Rick is an active member of Trinity on the Hill United Methodist Church. He is also involved in a number of different business and civic organizations in his community and has earned a reputation as a principled business leader. In 2008, he received the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce Small Business Person of the Year Award and took part in the first class of Leadership Augusta in 1980. In 2011, Rick was also inducted into the CSRA Business Hall of Fame.
Personal
Full Name: Richard ‘Rick’ W. Allen
Gender: Male
Family: Wife: Robin; 4 Children: Jennifer, Andy, Molly, Robin
Birth Date: 11/07/1951
Birth Place: Augusta, GA
Home City: Augusta, GA
Religion: Methodist
Source: Vote Smart
Education
BS, Building Construction, School of Architecture and Fine Arts, Auburn University, 1973
Political Experience
Representative, United States House of Representatives, District 12, 2014-present
Candidate, United States House of Representatives, District 12, 2022
Professional Experience
Founder/President/Chief Executive Officer, R.W. Allen & Associates, present
Offices
WASHINGTON, DC OFFICE
2400 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2823
Fax: (202) 225-3377
AUGUSTA DISTRICT OFFICE
2743 Perimeter Parkway
Building 200, Suite 105
Augusta, GA 30909
Phone: (706) 228-1980
Fax: (706) 228-1954
DUBLIN DISTRICT OFFICE
100 S. Church Street
Dublin, GA 31021
Phone: (478) 272-4030
Fax: (478) 277-0113
STATESBORO DISTRICT OFFICE
50 E. Main Street
Statesboro, GA 30458
Phone: (912) 243-9452
Fax: (912) 243-9453
VIDALIA DISTRICT OFFICE
107 Old Airport Road, Suite A
Vidalia, GA 30474
Phone: (912) 403-3311
Fax: (912) 403-3317
Contact
Email: Government
Web Links
Politics
Source: none
Finances
Source: Open Secrets
Committees
|
New Legislation
Issues
Source: Government page
More Information
Services
Source: Government page
District
Source: Wikipedia
Georgia’s 12th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is represented by Republican Rick Allen. The district’s boundaries have been redrawn following the 2010 census, which granted an additional congressional seat to Georgia. The first election using the new district boundaries (listed below) were the 2012 congressional elections.
The district covers portions of the eastern and southeastern parts of the state. It includes the cities of Augusta, Dublin, Douglas, and Statesboro.
Wikipedia
Contents
Richard Wayne Allen (born November 7, 1951[1]) is an American politician and businessman who has served as the Republican Party’s U.S. representative for Georgia’s 12th congressional district since 2015. Georgia’s 12th district favors Republicans by seven points according to the 2025 Cook Partisan Voting Index.[2] From 2014 to present, Allen has been re-elected to successive biennial terms.
Career
Allen attended Auburn University and graduated in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science in building construction.[1][3] While at Auburn he joined Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.[citation needed] He worked for three years as a project manager for a builder before founding R.W. Allen and Associates in 1976, which is an Augusta-based construction company. It is ran by Allen with operations also in Athens.[4]
U.S. House of Representatives
Georgia’s 12 district
Georgia’s 12th congressional district favors Republicans by seven points according to the 2025 Cook Partisan Voting Index.[2] It is located in East Central Georgia and includes the cities of Augusta, Statesboro, and Vidalia[2] among many others.[5]
Campaigns

In 2012, Allen ran in the Republican primary for the 12th district against three other candidates. He advanced to the runoff, but lost to state representative Lee Anderson, 49.7% to 50.3%.[6] Anderson went on to lose the general election to the incumbent and Democrat John Barrow.
In 2014, Allen ran again, spending “nearly a million dollars of his own money” and winning a “five-way primary with 54% of the vote,” thus making it to the general election.[4] In the general, he defeated the incumbent Blue Dog Democrat[4] Barrow with 54.7% of the vote, a result considered an upset by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution even though the 12th district had been made significantly more Republican by redistricting.[7][8] Barrow was “Georgia’s only remaining white Democrat in the House.”[4] Allen’s race was well funded by Republicans, with almost a million coming from the conservative American Future Fund, which was partially sponsored by the Koch brothers.[9] The Almanac summarized the financing of the election by writing that “Barrow outspent Allen $3.5 million to $2.5 million, but the nearly $4 million in national GOP assistance more than made up the difference.”[4]
In 2016, Allen was reelected with 61.6% of the vote. He ran against the Democratic candidate Tricia Carpenter McCracken.
In 2018, Allen was reelected with 59.5% of the vote. He ran against the Democratic candidate—a lawyer and pastor—Francys Johnson.[10]
In 2020, Allen was reelected with 58.4% of the vote. He ran against the Democratic candidate Elizabeth Johnson.[11]
In 2022, Allen was endorsed by Trump in the primary, which he won as the incumbent.[12] Allen was reelected with 59.6% of the vote. He ran against the Democratic candidate Elizabeth Johnson.
In 2024, Allen was reelected with 60.3% of the vote. He ran against the Democratic candidate Elizabeth Johnson.
Committee assignments
For the 118th Congress:[13]
Caucuses
Tenure
In 2022, Allen voted against a bill that passed the House by 350–69. The bill directed the National Science Foundation to award merit based grants for the study of “the disruption of regular cognitive processes associated with both short-term and long-term COVID-19 infections.”[15]
Allen opposed the 2023 efforts to oust Kevin McCarthy as speaker of the House, which were led by Matt Gaetz.[16][17] Allen argued “that chaos among Republicans was a gift to Democrats.”[16]
Allen’s former legislative director, Katie Mercer, was reported to be working as a lobbyist for Walmart in 2023.[18]
Economy
In 2022, Allen introduced legislation to expand the 2014 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act so that entrepreneurs would have access to the same resources as job seekers.[19] Allen has proposed legislation to stymie environmental, social, and governance investing.[20] In the second Trump administration, Allen supported a spending freeze from the Inflation Reduction Act despite $1.6 billion of private investment in his district associated with the law’s passage. In so doing, “Allen claimed without evidence that the Biden administration had doled out money improperly.”[21] In 2025, Allen spoke approvingly of ending the carried interest loophole.[22]
In response to the 2022 United States infant formula shortage, Allen was initially one of 2 Republicans to vote against the Formula Act, which passed the House in a 421–2 vote and would “temporarily suspend tariffs on baby formula imports.”[23] However, hours later, Allen said he mistakenly made the “no” vote and filed paperwork to change his vote.[24]
2020 Presidential election results
Given the refusal to accept the 2020 election loss of Donald Trump by allies and supporters, Allen voted to reject the results in both Arizona and Pennsylvania immediately after the January 6th Capitol attack.[25] He was one of 139 Republican House members who “heeded President Trump’s calls”[26] to object against certifying Biden as president.[25][27]
Allen was also one of 126 Republican members of the House of Representatives to sign 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. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case on the basis that Texas lacked standing under Article III of the Constitution to challenge the results of an election held by another state.[28][29][30][31]
LGBT rights
In 2015, Allen cosponsored a resolution to amend the Constitution to ban same-sex marriage.[32] Allen also cosponsored an amendment disagreeing with the Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, which held that same-sex marriage bans violated the constitution.[33]
During a closed-door Republican meeting about an amendment that prohibited discrimination against LGBT workers, Allen read a Bible verse that says of homosexuals, “they which commit such things are worthy of death.”[34] He told the assembled Republicans that they were “going to Hell” if they voted for the amendment.[35]
After the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting, Allen offered prayers to the families of the victims but did not apologize or retract his past comments.[36][34]
In 2022, Allen voted against H.R.8404—the Respect for Marriage Act—which would codify same-sex and interracial marriages.[37]
In October 2023, Allen said he could not support Speaker of the House candidate Tom Emmer on the grounds that Emmer had previously supported a bill that would offer the same federal protections to same-sex couples as heterosexual couples.[38]
Foreign policy
In response to the 2017–2018 North Korea crisis, Allen reassured a group of Republican constituents that “Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson and Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, knew ‘exactly what to do.’ “[39]
In 2019, Allen was one of 60 representatives to vote against condemning President Trump’s withdrawal from Syria.[40][non-primary source needed]
In 2020, Allen voted against the National Defense Authorization Act of 2021, which would prevent the president from withdrawing soldiers from Afghanistan without congressional approval.[41][non-primary source needed]
In light of Russia’s invasion, Allen initially supported Ukraine. In September 2023, Allen “voted against a security assistance bill … becoming one of dozens of lawmakers” who had withdrawn some of their support for the “embattled nation.”[42]
Israel and Palestine
Allen considers Jerusalem the “center of the universe.”[43] In a 410 to 12 vote, he voted to provide Israel with support following 2023 Hamas attack.[44][45] In response to the pro-Palestinian campus protests at Columbia and elsewhere, Allen addressed university leaders including then Columbia president Nemat Shafik during a hearing.[43][46] According to Michelle Goldberg of The New York Times, his questioning was an example of Republicans wanting to silence Israel’s critics.[47] Goldberg wrote that
In one of the hearing’s most farcical moments, Rick Allen … asked Shafik whether she knew Genesis 12:3. She didn’t recall the biblical passage offhand, so he explained it to her. “It was the covenant that God made with Abraham, and that covenant was real clear: ‘If you bless Israel I will bless you, if you curse Israel I will curse you,’” he said, explaining how this compact was confirmed in the New Testament. “Do you consider that a serious issue?” Allen asked heatedly. “Do you want Columbia University to be cursed by God?” Shafik responded, “Definitely not.” Allen continued, “Young people are being indoctrinated by these professors to believe this stuff, and they have no idea that they’re going to be cursed by God, the God of the Bible and the God over our flag.”[47]
Apparent STOCK act violations
In September 2021, an analysis by Business Insider found that Allen appeared to have violated the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act of 2012, or STOCK Act, by failing to list on his 2020 financial disclosure form stock holdings in seven companies, worth up to $140,000, that appeared on his 2019 annual financial disclosure form, as well as being about 15 months late in reporting a stock purchase made by his wife in June 2020.[48]
In June 2024, an analysis by Raw Story found that Allen appeared to have violated the STOCK Act by being as much as six-and-a-half years late in reporting 136 stock and other financial transactions, worth up to $8.5 million, on his 2023 financial disclosure form.[49] In response, a spokesperson for Allen blamed the reporting issues on a compliance firm hired by Allen, and stated that Allen had hired a new compliance firm “to ensure all trades have been properly reported.”[49]
Marijuana
Rick Allen has an “F” rating from the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws for his opposition to cannabis-related causes, including medical marijuana.[50]
Personal life
Allen lives in Augusta, Georgia with his wife Robin. Allen has four children and 14 grandchildren. He is a Methodist and “active member” of Trinity on the Hill United Methodist Church.[3] Allen spent almost a million dollars of his own money on the 2014 Georgia Republican primary, which he won.[4] His only son, Andy, has worked as a foreign service officer with the State Department.[51]
See also
- Activist deportations in the second Trump presidency
- Anti-Zionism
- Christian Zionism
- List of Auburn University people
References
- ^ a b c d e Cohen, Richard; Cook, Charlie; Jacobson, Louis; Peck, Louis; Barnes, James A.; Barone, Michael (August 9, 2019). The Almanac of American Politics 2020. Columbia Books & Information Services. p. 536. ISBN 978-1-938939-88-4.
- ^ a b c “2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)”. The Cook Political Report. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
- ^ a b “Representative Rick W. Allen Biography”. allen.house.gov. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f Cohen, Richard; Cook, Charlie; Jacobson, Louis; Peck, Louis; Barnes, James A.; Barone, Michael (August 9, 2019). The Almanac of American Politics 2020. Columbia Books & Information Services. p. 537. ISBN 978-1-938939-88-4.
- ^ “119th Congress of the United States: Georgia – Congressional District 12; Representative Rick W. Allen” (PDF). census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 6, 2025.
- ^ McCord, Susan (September 5, 2012). “Vote recount certifies Lee Anderson as winner of GOP runoff for U.S. District 12 seat”. The Augusta Chronicle. Archived from the original on September 13, 2012. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
- ^ Galloway, Jim (November 4, 2014). “Nunn, Carter, and Barrow defeated; Georgia’s Democratic revolution is stillborn”. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
- ^ Davis, Janel (November 5, 2014). “Rick Allen upsets John Barrow for Georgia congressional seat”. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on March 23, 2020. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
- ^ McCammon, Sarah (October 24, 2014). “Courting Republicans, Georgia Democrat Tries To Keep His Seat”. NPR. Retrieved May 6, 2025.
- ^ Suggs, Ernie (July 25, 2017). “Georgia NAACP president steps down with an eye toward politics”. Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on June 15, 2018. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
- ^ “Georgia Election Results: 12th Congressional District”. The New York Times. November 3, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
- ^ Vakil, Caroline (May 4, 2022). “The Trump-endorsed candidates who have won their primaries”. The Hill. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
- ^ “Rick W. Allen”. Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- ^ “Membership”. Republican Study Committee. December 6, 2017. Archived from the original on January 17, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
- ^ Schnell, Mychael (July 26, 2022). “House passes bill for research on cognitive effects of coronavirus, 69 Republicans vote ‘no’“. The Hill. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
- ^ a b Grisales, Claudia; Snell, Kelsey (October 2, 2023). “Rep. Matt Gaetz launches effort to oust House Speaker Kevin McCarthy”. NPR. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
- ^ Edmondson, Catie (October 3, 2023). “McCarthy Is Ousted as Speaker, Leaving the House in Chaos”. The New York Times.
- ^ Evers-Hillstrom, Karl (March 8, 2023). “Lobbying World: Top Fox Corp lobbyist departs”. The Hill. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
- ^ Dress, Brad (August 2, 2022). “House Republican introduces new bill to boost small businesses and startups”. The Hill. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
- ^ Elbein, Saul (November 3, 2022). “Energy, transportation firms gave millions to election deniers after Jan. 6: analysis”. The Hill. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
- ^ Friedman, Lisa; Plumer, Brad; Stevens, Harry (February 10, 2025). “Trump Is Freezing Money for Clean Energy. Red States Have the Most to Lose”. The New York Times.
- ^ Burns, Tobias (February 12, 2025). “Republicans weigh ending Wall Street’s favorite tax break”. The Hill. Retrieved May 6, 2025.
- ^ Schnell, Mychael (July 15, 2022). “House passes bill to temporarily suspend tariffs on baby formula imports”. The Hill. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
- ^ Mychael, Schnell (July 15, 2022). “Gohmert lone House lawmaker to oppose baby formula bill”. The Hill. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
- ^ a b Chang, Alvin (January 7, 2021). “The long list of Republicans who voted to reject election results”. The Guardian. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
- ^ Bowden, John (January 7, 2021). “READ: The Republicans who voted to challenge election results”. The Hill. Retrieved May 15, 2025.
- ^ Yourish, Karen; Buchanan, Larry; Lu, Denise (January 7, 2021). “The 147 Republicans Who Voted to Overturn Election Results”. The New York Times. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
- ^ Blood, Michael R.; Riccardi, Nicholas (December 5, 2020). “Biden officially secures enough electors to become president”. AP News. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
- ^ Liptak, Adam (December 11, 2020). “Supreme Court Rejects Texas Suit Seeking to Subvert Election”. The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
- ^ “Order in Pending Case” (PDF). Supreme Court of the United States. December 11, 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
- ^ Diaz, Daniella. “Brief from 126 Republicans supporting Texas lawsuit in Supreme Court”. CNN. Archived from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
- ^ Huelskamp, Tim (February 12, 2015). “Cosponsors – H.J.Res.32 – 114th Congress (2015-2016): Marriage Protection Amendment”. www.congress.gov. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
- ^ Steve, King (July 29, 2015). “Cosponsors – H.Res.359 – 114th Congress (2015-2016): Providing that the House of Representatives disagrees with the majority opinion in Obergefell et al. v. Hodges, and for other purposes”. www.congress.gov. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
- ^ a b Shutt, Jennifer (May 26, 2016). “Homosexuals ‘Worthy of Death’ Bible Verse Read Before Key Vote”. Roll Call. Archived from the original on January 17, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
- ^ Badash, David (May 26, 2016). “GOP Congressman Quotes Bible, Tells Republicans They Are ‘Going to Hell’ if They Vote for LGBT Bill”. The New Civil Rights Movement. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
- ^ Shutt, Jennifer (June 15, 2016). “Congressman Who Read Anti-Gay Bible Verse Prays for Orlando Victims’ Loved Ones”. Roll Call. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
- ^ “Roll Call 373 Roll Call 373, Bill Number: H. R. 8404, 117th Congress, 2nd Session”. July 19, 2022.
- ^ Edmondson, Catie (October 24, 2023). “Who is Tom Emmer?”. The New York Times. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
- ^ Fausset, Richard (August 11, 2017). “‘We’ve Had Enough’: Conservatives Relish the ‘Fury’ in Trump’s Talk”. The New York Times.
- ^ “H.J.Res. 77: Opposing the decision to end certain United States … — House Vote #560 — Oct 16, 2019”.
- ^ “H.R. 6395: William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act … — House Vote #152 — Jul 21, 2020”.
- ^ Dress, Brad (December 7, 2023). “House Ukraine skeptics lay out hard-line demands amid Senate border talks”. The Hill. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
- ^ a b “‘Do You Want Columbia University To Be Cursed By God?’: Rick Allen Grills Pres About Antisemitism”. Youtube. Forbes Breaking News. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
- ^ Demirjian, Karoun (October 25, 2023). “House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker”. The New York Times.
- ^ Washington, U. S. Capitol Room H154; p:225-7000, DC 20515-6601 (October 25, 2023). “Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session”. Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Kaminer, Ariel (May 23, 2024). “Why Congress Loves Toying With University Presidents”. The New York Times. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
- ^ a b Goldberg, Michelle (April 18, 2024). “Republicans Wanted a Crackdown on Israel’s Critics. Columbia Obliged”. The New York Times.
- ^ Leonard, Kimberly; Levinthal, Dave; Rojas, Warren; Hall, Madison (September 29, 2021). “Four more Republican members of Congress appear to have violated a federal law designed to combat insider trading and conflicts of interest”. Business Insider. Archived from the original on April 28, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
- ^ a b Jacobson, Alexandria (June 5, 2025). “43 members of Congress violated stock law”. Raw Story. Archived from the original on June 6, 2024. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
- ^ “Politician Info: Rick Allen (R – GA)”. The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. 2025. Retrieved May 6, 2025.
- ^ also accessible from Wikipedia. Ultimately from house.gov on December 12, 2018.
Further reading
- Allen, Rick (September 6, 2022). “Democrats’ union fixation harms workers”. The Hill. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
External links
- Congressman Rick Allen official U.S. House website
- Rick Allen for Congress
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
- Profile at Vote Smart