Nehls announces retirement; his twin will seek the seat

Jessica Wehrman, CQ-Roll Call on Nov 29, 2025

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WASHINGTON — Rep. Troy Nehls, a Texas Republican and former sheriff, said Saturday that he would not seek a fourth term in Congress, a move that sets the stage for another Nehls in Congress.

Shortly after Troy Nehls announced on X his decision not to run, his identical twin brother Trever said he would seek his brother’s seat in Congress.

“I’m honored to announce my candidacy for Congressional District 22 to continue fighting for the people of this district,” said Trever Nehls in a post on Facebook. “District 22 needs a Representative who will follow in Troy’s footsteps and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with President Trump to defend our conservative values, secure the border, protect our families, and oppose the reckless and radical agenda that Democrats continue to press upon the American people. I’m ready to take up that fight.”

This isn’t the first time Trever has tried to follow in Troy’s footsteps: In 2020, Trever ran for Fort Bend County sheriff after Troy left his post to serve in Congress. He lost that race to Eric Fagan, who was reelected and remains the sheriff. Trever also ran unsuccessfully for Fort Bend County Judge in 2022.

During his six years in Congress, Troy Nehls became well-known as a staunch ally of President Donald Trump’s. Troy Nehls, who serves on the Judiciary and Transportation and Infrastructure committees, said he called the president before making the decision to alert him of his plans.

“After more than 30 years in law enforcement serving and protecting my community as a police officer, constable, Fort Bend County Sheriff, an Army veteran, and six years representing this district in Congress, 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 after this Congress,” Troy Nehls wrote in a social media post.

Troy Nehls, 57, who wore an entire Trump-themed outfit to the 2024 State of the Union address, had long expressed some dissatisfaction with Congress. Months before Trump was elected to a second term, Nehls said putting him back in the Oval Office was his chief objective in Washington.

“Congress is dysfunctional. …We’re not doing a whole lot of good,” he said in April 2024. “My total focus is getting Donald Trump in the White House in 2024.”

Before his election to Congress, he was sheriff of Fort Bend County, which is southwest of metropolitan Houston, from 2013 to 2021.

Nehls joins fellow Texas Republicans Morgan Luttrell, Jodey C. Arrington and Michael McCaul, who are also leaving Congress after next year’s elections. Two other Texas Republicans, meanwhile, are departing to run for other offices: Chip Roy opted to run instead for state attorney general, while Wesley Hunt is running for Senate.

Nehls’ decision comes as the Supreme Court considers new proposed Texas congressional district maps designed to create more Republican seats, though his seat had been previously considered safe for GOP candidates. He won in 2024 with 62% of the vote.