At a Glance
- Texas will lose seniority after nine members retire.
- Rep. Marc Veasey, a senior Democrat, will not run again.
- Six Republican chairs, including Jodey Arrington and Michael McCaul, are stepping down.
- Why it matters: The state’s influence in Washington could shrink, affecting federal funding and legislation.
Texas’s congressional delegation is set to lose a significant amount of seniority as nine members announce they will not seek re-election. The departures include long-time Democrat Rep. Marc Veasey and several Republican committee chairs. With fewer seasoned lawmakers, the state’s clout in Washington may wane.
Texas Delegation Retirements
Nine members of Texas’s delegation have confirmed they will not run again, signaling a major shift in the state’s congressional power.
- Marc Veasey – Democrat, Fort Worth, senior member.
- Jodey Arrington – Republican, Lubbock, chair of House Budget Committee.
- Michael McCaul – Republican, Austin, former chair of Foreign Affairs and Homeland Security.
- Jasmine Crockett – Democrat, Dallas, running for U.S. Senate.
- Lloyd Doggett – Democrat, Austin, retiring.
- Troy Nehls – Republican, Richmond, retiring, endorsing brother.
- Wesley Hunt – Republican, Houston, running for U.S. Senate.
- Morgan Luttrell – Republican, Magnolia, stepping away.
- Chip Roy – Republican, Austin, running for Texas Attorney General.
Rep. Craig Goldman stated:
> It certainly is a big loss for Tarrant County because he fought for issues that benefited his district. So I’m going to be sad to see him go, actually. He’s a good friend.
Matt Angle said:
> Marc Veasey was a senior member in North Texas, the most effective member of that delegation because of his seniority.
Factors Driving the Departures
The wave of retirements stems from a mix of personal, political, and practical considerations.
Ben Kamisar told News Of Fort Worth:
> Term limits for committee chairs, ongoing partisan gridlock and an overall decline in legislative output have led many members to reconsider their futures.
The U.S. Congress has passed fewer than 40 bills into law this year, according to data compiled by News Of Fort Worth.
| Party | Member | Role/Action |
|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jodey Arrington | Chair of House Budget Committee |
| Republican | Michael McCaul | Former chair of Foreign Affairs & Homeland Security |
| Republican | Troy Nehls | Retiring, endorsing brother |
| Republican | Wesley Hunt | Running for U.S. Senate |
| Republican | Morgan Luttrell | Stepping away |
| Republican | Chip Roy | Running for Texas Attorney General |
| Democrat | Marc Veasey | Senior member, not running |
| Democrat | Jasmine Crockett | Running for U.S. Senate |
| Democrat | Lloyd Doggett | Retiring |
With more departures expected and tough re-election battles looming, Texas is poised to enter the next congressional session with less seniority and influence than it has held in recent decades.
Key Takeaways
- Texas will lose seniority after nine members retire.
- Republican committee chairs, including Arrington and McCaul, are stepping down.
- The state’s influence in Washington could shrink, affecting federal funding and legislation.
The reshaping of Texas’s congressional delegation underscores a broader trend of declining legislative output and growing gridlock in Washington.
