Rep. Troy Nehls of Texas announced Saturday that he will retire from Congress at the end of his current term, adding his name to the list of Republican lawmakers opting not to seek reelection.
Nehls, a former sheriff, Army veteran, and longtime law enforcement officer, said the decision came after conversations with his family during the Thanksgiving holiday.
“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… to focus on my family and return home after this Congress,” Nehls wrote on social media. He emphasized that his choice was personal and family-driven.
Before making the announcement public, Nehls said he personally called President Donald Trump—reinforcing the close relationship he has maintained with the president throughout his tenure.
“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,” he wrote.
The moment Nehls announced he was stepping down, his identical twin brother, Trever Nehls, stepped forward and declared his candidacy for the soon-to-be-open seat. In his own statement, Trever praised his brother’s long service: “Troy has always led with integrity, courage, and a relentless commitment to public safety and he put our community first.”
Nehls’s departure comes during an unusual period for House Republicans, several of whom have recently announced they will not return.
Just days ago, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia—once one of Trump’s staunchest defenders—announced she would leave office in January. Greene’s exit, however, comes under far more contentious circumstances. She has been feuding openly with Trump and the GOP over issues ranging from healthcare to affordability to the Epstein Files, and she said she is refusing to subject her district to a “hurtful and hateful primary” against a president she once championed.
“I have too much self respect and dignity, love my family way too much… only to fight and win my election while Republicans will likely lose the midterms,” Greene wrote.
Meanwhile, Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska announced earlier this summer that he would also step aside, adding that he nearly resigned earlier after disagreements with Trump over Ukraine-Russia negotiations.
Nehls, however, leaves Congress on far more positive terms with Trump—and with his reputation as a consistent conservative intact. First elected in 2020, he has been a reliable supporter of the president’s agenda, particularly on law enforcement, border security, and government accountability.
His retirement opens a competitive seat in a reliably red district—but one that now appears likely to remain in the Nehls family, should his brother secure the GOP nomination.
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