Courage comes in many forms, and sometimes the bravest decision a public servant can make is knowing when to go home.
Rep. Troy Nehls of Texas made that choice over the Thanksgiving holiday, announcing Saturday that he will not seek re-election in 2026. After more than three decades of service to his community and country, the 57-year-old congressman says it is time to focus on what matters most: his family.
The decision carries weight when you consider the breadth of Nehls’ public service record. This is a man who wore the uniform of the U.S. Army Reserves, deploying to combat zones in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He spent years in law enforcement, rising through the ranks from police officer to constable, eventually serving as Fort Bend County Sheriff. Since 2021, he has represented his Texas district in the halls of Congress.
“After conversations with my beautiful bride and my girls over the Thanksgiving holiday,” Nehls explained in his announcement, he decided “to focus on my family and return home after this Congress.”
In a gesture that speaks to the political alliances that have defined his congressional tenure, Nehls personally called President Donald Trump before making his decision public. The two have maintained a close working relationship throughout Nehls’ time in Washington.
“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 stated.
That alliance has been evident in Nehls’ legislative priorities. He has been a vocal supporter of the administration’s immigration enforcement agenda, with the House Judiciary Committee advancing his legislation earlier this month aimed at removing barriers to deportations of illegal migrants. He has also co-sponsored bills to place Trump on the $100 bill and rename Dulles International Airport in the president’s honor.
The timing of Nehls’ announcement adds another name to a lengthening list of Republican departures from Congress. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia announced earlier this month that she would step down in January, following her public disagreement with Trump.
In an interesting twist to this political story, Nehls’ twin brother has already announced his candidacy to fill the seat. The family tradition of public service, it seems, will continue in a different form.
“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 reflected. “Thank you for your trust, your friendship, and your prayers.”
There is something fundamentally American about this arc: a citizen who answers the call to serve, gives decades of his life to that service, and then recognizes when it is time to return to the private life he temporarily set aside. Whether one agrees or disagrees with his politics, that pattern of service deserves acknowledgment.
The question now turns to what this means for the district and for the Republican majority in the House. With multiple departures already announced, party leadership will need to focus on maintaining both seats and momentum heading into the 2026 midterms.
For Troy Nehls, however, the political calculations are over. After thirty years of answering other people’s calls for help, he is answering one closer to home.
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