Texas will likely feel a change in power at the Capitol. Republicans will take control of the White House and both chambers of Congress in January, but Texas’ Republican delegation will lose the high-profile leadership roles it has held on committees for decades.
“This certainly puts Texas in a position where it has less influence over the entire Republican conference and Congress in general,” Rep. Bill Flores (R-Bryan) told the Texas Tribune. “So we are hopeful that given the size and strength of our delegation, we will be able to regain the chairmanship soon.”
This included Texas Republicans such as Rep. Kay Granger of Fort Worth, who led the influential Appropriations Committee, and Rep. Michael Burgess of Pilot Point, the top Republican on the Rules and Commerce Committees. There is a wave of retirements among executives. Their resignations follow that of former U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady of The Woodlands, who retired in 2022 after serving as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.
According to the Houston Chronicle, these committees’ leadership roles have historically allowed the Texas Republican Party to shape national policy on spending, taxation, health care, and energy, while also securing resources and projects for its home state. It was completed.
The loss of seniority is significant. Of the 25 Republicans Texas will send to the House in 2025, 18 are serving three or fewer full terms.
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Austin), who is relinquishing leadership of the House Foreign Affairs Committee because of Republican-imposed term limits, said, “I would rather have leadership here than not have the chairmanship.” Good,” he said. McCaul also pointed out that just eight years ago, Texans chaired seven major committees, a stark contrast to the current situation.
Texas Republicans retain some committee chairmanships but lack leadership roles on the top committees. Rep. Jody Arrington (R-Lubbock) will chair the House Appropriations Committee, and Rep. Roger Williams (R-Willow Park) will chair the Small Business Committee. Meanwhile, Rep. Brian Babin (R-Woodville), who represents the district where NASA’s Johnson Space Center is located, was selected to chair the Science, Space and Technology Committee.
Babin spoke to the Houston Chronicle about the importance of his role: “Between the rapid growth of our nation’s science, space, and technology sectors and the growing threat from adversaries like communist China, there has never been a more important time for this committee.”
One of the leadership roles remains undetermined. House Speaker Mike Johnson will soon appoint chairman of the Rules Committee, with Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Waco) and Rep. Chip Roy (R-Austin) vying for the job with Texas Rep. There is.
