Alan Steelman, a Republican who represented Texas in the U.S. House from 1973 to 1977, has publicly opposed his former party's leadership in recent years, endorsing Democratic presidential candidates and supporting President Trump's impeachment.
In August 2020, Steelman endorsed Joe Biden for president and served on the steering committee for Republicans and Independents for Biden. After the January 2021 Capitol riot, he signed a letter calling for Trump's impeachment. In 2024, he backed Kamala Harris for president.
During his two terms in Congress, Steelman served on the Government Operations and Interior and Insular Affairs committees. He championed environmental protection, fighting the Trinity River Canal project and advocating for the Big Thicket National Preserve. His legislative focus included energy policy, transportation, veterans affairs, and Social Security.
In 1976, Steelman ran for U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee but lost to Democrat Lloyd Bentsen, who captured 57 percent of the vote to Steelman's 42 percent.
After leaving Congress, Steelman moved into the private sector. He worked with Alexander Proudfoot, a London Stock Exchange-listed firm, rising to Vice Chairman and serving as Group President for Asia-Pacific operations. He lived in Singapore for eight years expanding the company's regional presence.
Steelman maintained ties to public service and nonprofit work. In 1978, he was elected to Common Cause's National Governing Board. Gov. George W. Bush later appointed him to the Texas Growth Fund Board, a state venture capital fund managing $600 million.
His board service included Vice Chairman roles at the John Tower Center for Political Studies at Southern Methodist University and the Trinity Foundation, as well as chairman of the Dallas Council on World Affairs.
