Rep. Troy Nehls is calling it quits in 2026. In a Nov. 29 announcement, the Texas Republican said he wants to “focus on family and return home” after this Congress wraps — and he made sure to tell President Donald Trump before going public.
Nehls announced on X that the choice came after long discussions with his wife and daughters over Thanksgiving. He reflected on more than three decades in public service — from his years in local law enforcement and his time as Fort Bend County sheriff to his military experience and his tenure in Congress — and said he now intends to step back from elected office and return home to devote more time to his personal life.
The Hand-Off
There was no period of uncertainty or political upheaval following Nehls’ retirement announcement. Within hours, his twin brother, Trever Nehls, stepped forward and declared his own bid for the seat — a move made with Troy Nehls’ enthusiastic approval.
Trever, who previously served as a constable in Fort Bend County, is presenting himself as the natural successor to his brother’s agenda. He’s campaigning on the same America First themes: an uncompromising approach to border enforcement, a robust law-and-order posture, and unwavering support for Trump.
Although Trever has come up short in countywide races before — failing in his attempt to replace Troy as sheriff in 2020 and again in a 2022 run for county judge — this campaign begins under far different circumstances. He inherits the built-in advantage that comes with his brother’s long-held seat, and Republicans appear positioned to avoid the kind of divisive primary that could weaken their nominee.
A District Republicans Expect to Hold
Texas’s 22nd District covers the booming suburbs southwest of Houston — Fort Bend, Brazoria, and parts of Harris, Matagorda, and Wharton counties. The GOP has held the seat since 2006, and Trever’s entry keeps it firmly in Republican control heading into 2026.
A Bigger GOP Shake-Up
Nehls is just one piece of a much larger story. Ballotpedia counts 39 House members who aren’t running again — including 23 Republicans. Only five GOP lawmakers, including Nehls, are walking away from public office entirely. The rest are climbing the ladder.
Leaving Congress for good:
Troy Nehls (TX-22), Jodey Arrington (TX-19), Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA-14), Michael McCaul (TX-10), Morgan Luttrell (TX-8), and Don Bacon (NE-02) — with Bacon’s seat being one of the nation’s most competitive.
Only Greene is stepping down before the midterms. She will leave office on Jan. 5, 2026, saying she did not want her district to endure a “hurtful and hateful primary.”
Running for Senate:
Wesley Hunt (TX-38), Ashley Hinson (IA-02), Barry Moore (AL-01), Mike Collins (GA-10), Buddy Carter (GA-01), and Andy Barr (KY-06).
Most of these districts lean Republican, but a few (like IA-02) are more competitive at the federal level.
Running for governor:
Elise Stefanik (NY-21), David Schweikert (AZ-01), Tom Tiffany (WI-07), Nancy Mace (SC-01), Ralph Norman (SC-05), Dusty Johnson (SD-At-Large), Randy Feenstra (IA-04), John James (MI-10), John Rose (TN-06), Byron Donalds (FL-19), and Andy Biggs (AZ-05).
Most of these are solid GOP seats, so in many cases the bigger fight will be in the primary rather than in November.
Running for attorney general:
Chip Roy (TX-21).
What It All Means
This isn’t just moderates leaving. Plenty of Trump-aligned heavyweights — Nehls, Stefanik, Donalds, Biggs, Roy — are on the move too. Some districts (NE-02, IA-02, and AZ-01) could become real general election fights, but most are safely Republican, making the primaries the real battlegrounds.
But not in TX-22.
There, Republicans avoided the chaos. Troy Nehls steps aside, Trever Nehls steps in, and the GOP keeps a Trump-aligned candidate running in a seat they’re overwhelmingly favored to hold.
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