Bob Hall (politician)

Robert Lee Hall III, known as Bob Hall (born March 5, 1942), is an American politician who is a Republican member of the Texas State Senate. Aligned with the Tea Party movement, he succeeded fellow Republican Bob Deuell, whom he unseated by three hundred votes in the Republican runoff election held on May 27, 2014.

This article is about the American politician. For the Canadian politician, see 50th New Brunswick Legislature.
Bob Hall
Member of the Texas Senate
from the 2nd district
Assumed office
January 13, 2015
Preceded byBob Deuell
Personal details
Born
Robert Lee Hall III

(1942-03-05) March 5, 1942
Tampa, Florida, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseSarah Kay Smith Hall
Children3
Residence(s)Edgewood, Van Zandt County
Texas
Alma materThe Military College of South Carolina (BS)
OccupationBusinessman
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/serviceUnited States Air Force
Years of service1964–1969
Rank Captain
UnitSpace and Missiles Systems Division

Early life and education

Hall graduated in 1960 from George D. Chamberlain High School in Tampa, Florida. In 1964, Hall received a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from The Citadel.[1]

Political career

Hall ran against incumbent State Senator Bob Deuell in 2012 but failed to meet constitutional residency requirements.[2] He ran again in 2014.[2] He unseated Deuell in a Republican primary runoff election, 18,230 votes (50.4 percent) to 17,930 (49.6 percent).[3][4] Hall defeated Libertarian Party nominee, Don Bates, in the November 4 general election.

In the 2018 Republican primary, Hall was challenged by state representative Cindy Burkett, who ran as a politically moderate alternative to him. Hall defeated her in the March 6, 2018, primary election.[5][6] Hall won his second state Senate term in the general election held on November 6, 2018. With 152,659 votes (59.4 percent), he defeated Kendall Scudder, who finished with 104,528 (40.6 percent).[7]

In 2019, Hall became chairman of the Agriculture committee.[8]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hall promoted misinformation about COVID-19 and vaccines, including the debunked conspiracy theory that COVID-19 vaccines skipped animal testing.[9] He encouraged people to not take the vaccine.[10]

Personal life

Hall and his wife, the former Sarah Kay Smith, a native of Ladonia in FanninCounty in East Texas, live in Tailwind Airpark in Edgewood, a community for pilots and aviation enthusiasts which has its own runway and hangars. The couple is Southern Baptist and has three adult sons.[11]

Electoral history
Republican Primary, 2018: Senate District 2
Candidate Votes  % ±
✓ Bob Hall 35,561 53.2
Cindy Burkett 31,239 46.8
Majority
Turnout 66,800
Texas General Elections 2014: Senate District 2
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Bob Hall 99,868 83.6
Libertarian Don Bates 19,609 16.4
Majority
Turnout 119,477
Republican hold
Republican Primary Runoff, 2014: Senate District 2
Candidate Votes  % ±
✓ Bob Hall 18,230 50.4
Bob Deuell 17,930 49.6
Majority
Turnout 36,160
Republican Primary, 2014: Senate District 2
Candidate Votes  % ±
✓ Bob Hall 19,085 38.8
✓ Bob Deuell 23,847 48.5
Mark Thompson 6,240 12.7
Majority
Turnout 49,172

References
  1. "More About Bob Hall". votebobhall.com. Archived from the original on November 9, 2014. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  2. "State Senate candidate Bob Hall disqualified by GOP from running against Deuell – The Rockwall News | The Rockwall News". Myrockwallnews.com. Archived from the original on 2017-12-22. Retrieved 2017-12-22.
  3. "2014 Republican Party Primary Runoff: Election Night Returns". Texas Secretary of State. Archived from the original on May 29, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  4. Leszcynski, Ray. Bob Hall ousts District 2 incumbent Deuell, Dallas Morning News, May 27, 2014.
  5. Leszcynski, Ray (March 6, 2018). "Sen. Bob Hall Wins District 2 Republican Primary, Beats Back Challenge from Four-Term Rep. Cindy Burkett". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  6. Formby, Brandon; Greene, Sydney (March 6, 2018). "GOP State Sen. Craig Estes Ousted; Sen. Bob Hall Defeats Burkett". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  7. "Election Returns". Texas Secretary of State. November 6, 2018. Archived from the original on November 10, 2018. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
  8. Lt. Gov. Appoints Sen. Bob Hall as Senate Ag Committee Chair, KAMR-TV, Amarillo, Texas, January 23, 2019.
  9. "Texas GOP state senator urged use of unproven hydroxychloroquine treatment for COVID-19. Now he's spreading doubt about vaccines". 17 May 2021.
  10. "Texas Republican state Sen. Bob Hall says people should avoid the COVID-19 vaccine". Dallas News. 2021-11-11. Retrieved 2021-11-14.
  11. "Meet Bob Hall, the Tea Party True Believer Headed to the Senate". The Texas Observer. May 30, 2014. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
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