Steve Womack Bio
Stephen Allen Womack (born February 18, 1957) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Arkansas’s 3rd congressional district since 2011. A member of the Republican Party, he previously spent twelve years as mayor of Rogers, Arkansas. Womack chaired the House Budget Committee from 2018 to 2019 and served as the committee’s ranking member from 2019 to 2021. Before entering politics, he built a career in radio management and financial consulting while serving in the Arkansas Army National Guard.
Representing a reliably Republican district in northwestern Arkansas that includes Fort Smith, Fayetteville, Springdale, and his hometown of Rogers, Womack has been reelected multiple times since succeeding John Boozman in Congress.
Early Life and Background
Womack was born in Russellville, Arkansas, the son of James Womack and Elisabeth (née Canerday) Womack. He grew up in the same community where he would later attend high school, graduating from Russellville High School in 1975. His upbringing in rural Arkansas shaped the values that would later define his political career.
After high school, Womack enrolled at Arkansas Tech University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in communications in 1979. That same year, his father founded KURM (AM), a local radio station, and Womack took on the role of station manager. Also in 1979, he enlisted in the Arkansas Army National Guard, beginning a military career that would span three decades.
Womack’s early professional life blended media and service. He combined his work at KURM with his military duties until 1990, when he left the radio station to serve as executive officer for the Arkansas Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. He held that position until 1996, when he transitioned to a career in financial services.
Path to US Politics
In 1996, Womack became a financial consultant for Merrill Lynch, a role he held while continuing his service in the Arkansas Army National Guard. He retired from the National Guard in 2009 as a colonel, earning recognition for his decades of service. His experience in both the private sector and the military helped establish his credentials as a community leader in northwestern Arkansas.
In 1998, Womack was elected mayor of Rogers, Arkansas, beginning a twelve-year tenure in local government. During his time as mayor, he focused on issues including illegal immigration, assigning two Immigration and Naturalization Service agents to the Rogers Police Department. This decision led to a class-action lawsuit filed by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, which accused the city’s police force of racial profiling.
Womack’s twelve years as mayor provided a foundation for his later congressional career. In late 2009, after incumbent Representative John Boozman announced his campaign for the United States Senate, Womack entered the race for the 3rd Congressional District.
Steve Womack Career
Early Career (1998-2010)
Womack’s political career began in 1998 when he was elected mayor of Rogers, Arkansas. Over the next twelve years, he established himself as a prominent figure in northwestern Arkansas, focusing on local issues ranging from law enforcement to economic development. His tenure as mayor gave him significant experience in managing a growing city and navigating complex policy challenges.
In late 2009, Womack entered the race for Arkansas’s 3rd Congressional District after John Boozman announced his Senate campaign. The district is one of the most Republican in the South, having been held by Republicans since 1967. Womack ranked first in a seven-candidate Republican primary with 31 percent of the vote and went on to defeat state Senator Cecile Bledsoe in the June runoff, 52 percent to 48 percent. In the general election, he defeated Democratic nominee David Whitaker, 72 percent to 28 percent.
Congressional Reelections (2012-2018)
Womack’s first reelection in 2012 came after his Democratic challenger, Ken Aden, withdrew from the race amid a military record controversy. Womack faced no major-party opposition and was reelected with 76 percent of the vote. In 2014, he ran unopposed in the general election, with Libertarian Grant Brand serving as his only challenger. Womack won that race with 79 percent of the vote.
The 2016 election saw Womack defeat Libertarian Steve Isaacson, 77 percent to 23 percent, again without a Democratic challenger. In 2018, he faced a Republican primary challenge from Robb Ryerse, a self-described progressive Republican, defeating him 84 percent to 16 percent. That year, Womack also faced Democratic opposition for the first time as an incumbent, defeating Josh Mahoney and Libertarian Michael Kalagias, 65 percent to 33 percent to 2 percent, his smallest margin of victory to that point.
House Budget Committee and Recent Elections (2019-Present)
From 2018 to 2019, Womack chaired the House Budget Committee, a significant leadership position. He then served as the committee’s ranking member from 2019 to 2021. These roles placed him at the center of federal budget debates during a period of divided government.
In 2020, Womack defeated Democratic nominee Celeste Williams and Libertarian Michael Kalagias, 64 percent to 32 percent to 4 percent. He won his 2022 reelection against Lauren Mallett-Hays and Kalagias, 63.7 percent to 32.9 percent to 3.4 percent. In his most recent primary, Womack defeated state senator Clint Penzo with 54 percent of the vote.
Notable Events and Milestones
Womack has participated in several notable congressional actions throughout his career. In December 2017, he voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Following the 2020 presidential election, he did not sign an amicus brief supporting a lawsuit contesting the results and voted to certify both Arizona’s and Pennsylvania’s electoral votes. In May 2021, he was one of 35 Republicans to vote with Democrats in establishing the January 6 commission. In 2022, he was among 39 Republicans to support antitrust legislation targeting corporate anti-competitive behavior.
Steve Womack Career Wins
Womack has won every congressional election he has contested since first being elected to represent Arkansas’s 3rd Congressional District in 2010. His consistent victories reflect the strongly Republican nature of the district, which has been held by the GOP since 1967.
Congressional Election Highlights
Womack’s first congressional victory came in 2010 when he defeated Democrat David Whitaker, 72 percent to 28 percent. He followed that with a 76 percent win in 2012, a 79 percent victory in 2014, and a 77 percent win in 2016. In 2018, he secured 65 percent of the vote, marking his narrowest margin as an incumbent.
Womack continued his winning streak with a 64 percent victory in 2020 and a 63.7 percent win in 2022. His most recent primary victory came against state senator Clint Penzo, with Womack securing 54 percent of the vote.
Other Wins and Achievements
Beyond his congressional victories, Womack served as mayor of Rogers, Arkansas, for twelve years after being elected in 1998. His military career included recognition for his service, including the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal.
Steve Womack Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Womack was born to James Womack and Elisabeth (née Canerday) Womack. His father founded KURM (AM) radio station in 1979, the same year Womack graduated from college. The family has deep roots in Russellville, Arkansas, where Womack attended high school before pursuing higher education and a military career.
Personal Life
Womack married Terri (Williams) Womack on August 4, 1984, and the couple remained married for 41 years until her death on January 18, 2026. Together they had three sons and three grandsons. Womack lives in Rogers, Arkansas, and attends Cross Church Pinnacle Hills, a Southern Baptist church. His son, James Phillip Womack, was sentenced in 2024 to eight years in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine, and in January 2026, his remaining sentence was commuted by President Donald Trump.