Rick Allen is a reliable Republican vote and that partisanship has been rewarded. During the 117th Congress, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) appointed Allen to the House GOP’s Healthy Future Task Force, one of seven issue-specific panels created to shape policy solutions. He earned a bachelor’s degree in building construction from Auburn University’s School of Architecture and Fine Arts and opened his own construction business, R.W. Allen & Associates. Allen first ran for Congress in 2012 but lost in a Republican runoff primary. He ran again in 2014 and was the top vote-getter in a five-way Republican primary.