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Rep. Troy Nehls Announces Retirement from Congress, Twin Brother Launches Campaign for Seat
Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, announced Saturday he will not seek re-election in 2026, citing a desire to focus on his family after more than three decades of public service. Shortly following his announcement, his identical twin brother, Trever Nehls, declared his candidacy for the soon-to-be-vacant congressional seat.
The three-term congressman made the decision after discussing his future with his family during the Thanksgiving holiday. Nehls has represented Texas’s 22nd Congressional District since 2021.
“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,” Nehls wrote in a statement posted on social media.
Nehls, a staunch ally of President Donald Trump, revealed he personally informed the president of his decision before making it public. “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,” the congressman noted.
During his tenure in Congress, the 57-year-old lawmaker has been a vocal supporter of Trump’s immigration policies, particularly the president’s mass deportation agenda. Earlier this month, the House Judiciary Committee advanced Nehls’ legislation aimed at removing barriers to illegal migrant deportations. A companion bill was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.
Nehls has demonstrated his loyalty to Trump in other ways as well. He co-sponsored a bill to place Trump’s likeness on the $100 bill, called for renaming Dulles International Airport after the president, and has openly advocated for the Republican Party to support Trump’s positions without question.
Before his congressional career, Nehls served in the U.S. Army Reserves with combat deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan. His extensive background in law enforcement included service as a police officer, constable, and sheriff in Fort Bend County.
“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,” Nehls said in his retirement announcement. “Thank you for your trust, your friendship, and your prayers.”
Nehls joins a growing list of Republican lawmakers who have decided against seeking re-election, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., who announced earlier this month that she would step down in January following disagreements with Trump.
The political transition within the Nehls family became apparent within hours of Troy’s announcement when his identical twin brother, Trever Nehls, declared his intention to run for the open seat.
“I am honored to announce my candidacy for Congressional District 22 to continue fighting for the people of this district,” Trever Nehls wrote 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.”
The 22nd District, which covers portions of Fort Bend, Brazoria, and Harris counties in the greater Houston area, has been a reliably Republican seat. Troy Nehls won his last election in 2022 with 63% of the vote, giving his brother a strong foundation from which to launch his campaign.
Political analysts suggest the timing of this announcement, coming shortly after Trump’s presidential victory, could indicate Nehls is positioning himself for a potential role in the incoming administration, though he has not publicly indicated any such plans.
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10 Comments
This is certainly an unusual political situation. I wonder if the Nehls brothers will try to emphasize their shared background or highlight their differences more.
It’s always fascinating when family members run against each other. I’ll be curious to see how the Nehls brothers navigate this race and what it means for the district.
Interesting to see the Nehls brothers’ political dynamic play out. I wonder what the key issues will be in the race to replace Rep. Troy Nehls. Voters will likely want to understand the policy differences between the twins.
A rare case of twins running against each other for the same congressional seat. It will be fascinating to see how they differentiate themselves on the issues. Voters in the district will have a clear choice between the two.
The Nehls brothers’ race will be closely watched, given the unique family dynamic. I hope they can keep the focus on the issues that matter most to constituents.
With Rep. Nehls stepping down, this opens up an opportunity for new leadership in the district. I’m curious to see how the race plays out between the twin brothers.
This race could get quite personal, being between twins. I hope they can keep the campaign focused on the issues rather than getting caught up in family dynamics.
I’m curious to learn more about Trever Nehls’ policy platform and how it might differ from his brother’s. Voters will want to know what each candidate brings to the table.
After serving over 30 years in public service, it’s understandable that Rep. Nehls wants to focus on his family. This seat will be hotly contested, given the political climate in Texas. I look forward to seeing the campaign unfold.
It’s always interesting when family members run against each other for the same seat. I wonder if the Nehls brothers will take different approaches to appeal to voters.