Rep. Troy Nehls, the Texas Republican known for his outspoken defense of border security and his unwavering alignment with the America First movement, has announced his decision to retire from Congress at the end of his term. The announcement came late Friday, following what he described as heartfelt conversations with his wife and daughters over Thanksgiving. For a conservative district in the Houston suburbs, it marks the end of a chapter — but, in a twist very few saw coming, the beginning of another.
“I have made the decision, after conversations with my beautiful bride and my girls over the Thanksgiving holiday, to focus on my family and return home from Congress,” Nehls wrote in a social media post on Nov. 29.
It was a message that struck a familiar tone: patriotic, grateful, and grounded in the simple values Nehls has emphasized throughout his public life. But amid the gracious farewell, his announcement carried a political ripple effect that has already reshaped the coming 2026 race.
A Steady Conservative Voice Steps Away
Nehls has represented Texas’s 22nd congressional district since 2021. The district includes fast-growing suburban communities southwest of Houston — areas that have become important battlegrounds in recent cycles but have remained firmly right-of-center thanks to candidates like Nehls who understood the local temperament: pro-military, pro-law enforcement, and strongly supportive of President Donald Trump.
Before entering Congress, Nehls spent decades in uniform — first in the U.S. Army Reserve, where he rose to the rank of major, then in law enforcement, eventually serving as sheriff of Fort Bend County from 2013 to 2021. That combination of military service and street-level law enforcement gave him a credibility that resonated deeply with voters frustrated by Washington’s detachment from real-world public safety concerns.
His retirement removes a familiar conservative voice from Congress at a time when the GOP is preparing for a consequential 2026 cycle.
And yet, Nehls’ exit may prove less of an ending and more of a surprising handoff.
A Growing Wave of Retirements — And a Telling Trend
Nehls joins an expanding list of lawmakers — Republicans and Democrats alike — who have quietly decided that 2026 will mark their exit from the House. In his own party, his decision arrives just a week after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene announced she would resign her seat entirely, effective Jan. 5, 2026.
Where Greene’s sudden resignation followed a public falling-out with Trump, Nehls’ departure could not be more different. He made that clear in his post, emphasizing that before telling voters, staff, or colleagues, he personally called President Trump.
“Before making this decision, I called President Trump personally to let him know of my plans. President Trump has always been a strong ally for our district and a true friend, and I wanted him to hear it from me first,” Nehls said.
To traditional Beltway observers, the courtesy call might seem symbolic. But to conservative voters — especially in Texas — it is meaningful. It signals stability at a time when the party is navigating internal tension, contested primaries, and a shifting House landscape.
With the GOP preparing to aggressively retake seats and grow its majority, Nehls’ departure is the kind of quiet transition party leaders can work with — especially since he already has someone in mind to fill his seat.
A Twin Steps Forward — With Trump’s Support Likely
Soon after Nehls’ announcement, his twin brother, Trever Nehls, declared that he would seek the seat. The decision did not catch Troy Nehls off guard; in fact, he immediately endorsed his brother.
“Our district deserves a representative who already knows the people, the values, and the challenges we face,” Nehls said. “I’m proud to say that person is my twin brother, Trever Nehls, who shares the same commitment to defending our constitution, securing our borders, and putting America First.”
The endorsement is powerful on its own. But Nehls went a step further, expressing confidence that Trever will be receiving an important endorsement — one that often determines the fate of a primary in Texas.
He expects President Donald Trump to support his brother.
If that happens, Trever Nehls would instantly become the overwhelming favorite for the Republican nomination. And given the district’s conservative lean, such an endorsement would all but guarantee his path to Congress.
The prospect of a seamless transition — from one Nehls brother to another — underscores the deep loyalty between the family and the America First movement. It also signals that the incoming candidacy will effectively continue the policy priorities that Troy Nehls championed: stronger borders, support for law enforcement, protection for small businesses, and pushing back against what he repeatedly described as Washington’s “bureaucratic drift.”
An Exit Rooted in Service and Gratitude
In closing his announcement, Nehls summed up his career with an unmistakable sense of gratitude.
“Serving this country in the military, serving our community in law enforcement, and serving this district in Congress has been the honor of my life. Thank you for your trust, your friendship, and your prayers.”
At a time when many lawmakers leave Congress under a cloud of scandal, frustration, or burnout, Nehls’ departure stands out. It reads more like a man going home on his own terms — not pushed out, not defeated, but choosing to close this chapter in order to focus on the family he often spoke about in speeches and interviews.
His supporters in Texas will feel his absence on Capitol Hill. But his influence will likely continue through Trever Nehls, who is expected to campaign on many of the same themes that brought Troy to Washington: strong border enforcement, fiscal responsibility, and a commitment to conservative values.
A Congress in Transition — From Both Sides of the Aisle
Nehls’ announcement arrives at a moment of broader churn in Congress.
Just weeks earlier, Rep. Nancy Pelosi — after an astonishing 38 years in office — announced she would not seek a 21st term. It marks the end of an era for House Democrats, who relied heavily on Pelosi’s leadership for decades. Her retirement signals a generational shift that will ripple through Democratic ranks just as Republicans undergo their own transitions.
And with Greene’s departure — dramatically different in tone from Nehls’ — the contrast between the two resignations highlights the GOP’s current divide between those who remain in Trump’s inner circle and those who have drifted.
Greene, once a close Trump ally, publicly broke with him over foreign policy disagreements and her aggressive push for transparency in the Epstein investigation. Trump dismissed the conflict as a disagreement over strategy, suggesting she should have pursued different political offices instead.
Nehls, by comparison, maintains a steady relationship with Trump. His retirement statement reads like a handoff within the same ideological framework rather than a departure from it.
For Republican voters — especially seniors — that kind of continuity brings reassurance. It signals that their district is not losing a conservative champion but potentially gaining another.
The 22nd District Prepares for a New Chapter
As the political machinery begins to turn, the question becomes how Trever Nehls will shape his campaign. His background in military service and law enforcement mirrors his brother’s, giving him a foundation that aligns naturally with the district’s priorities.
If Trump endorses him — and Troy Nehls’ confidence suggests that is imminent — the primary may be short-lived. In Texas politics, a Trump endorsement doesn’t just move polls; it often defines the race entirely.
But more broadly, Nehls’ retirement signals something deeper about the current political moment: voters are increasingly looking for authenticity, service-rooted leadership, and stability. Troy Nehls delivered that during his time in Congress. His brother’s campaign will now test whether those values still resonate as strongly in a rapidly changing political environment.
As the 2026 campaign season approaches, Texas’s 22nd district is set to become a notable race — not because of division or scandal, but because of a rare, orderly transition between two deeply rooted conservative figures.
For Troy Nehls, the chapter closes with gratitude. For Trever Nehls, it may just be the beginning.
Sarah Mitchell is a bestselling novelist recognized for her insightful and emotionally resonant stories that explore the complexities of human relationships. Originally from Denver, Colorado, Sarah grew up in a family of teachers who nurtured her curiosity and love for storytelling. She studied psychology at Stanford University, where she became fascinated by the intricacies of human behavior—an interest that would later shape her writing career. Sarah’s novels are praised for their nuanced characters, intricate plots, and ability to capture the subtle tensions that define love, friendship, and family ties. Her breakthrough novel, The Spaces Between Us, became an instant bestseller, lauded for its honest portrayal of strained family relationships and the fragile bonds that hold people together. Since then, she has published several works that continue to captivate audiences around the world. Outside of her writing career, Sarah is passionate about mental health advocacy and often partners with organizations to promote awareness and support for those struggling with emotional well-being. Her personal life is quieter—she enjoys hiking in the Colorado mountains, practicing yoga, and spending time with close friends. With each new book, Sarah Mitchell cements her reputation as a writer who illuminates the beauty and struggles of human connection.
