Voters in Texas’ 22nd Congressional District may keep seeing a familiar last name on the ballot, even as their current representative prepares to step down.
Rep. Troy Nehls, a Republican and former Fort Bend County sheriff who has served the deep-red district southwest of Houston since 2021, is not running for reelection. Instead, his identical twin brother, Trevor Nehls, is seeking to take his place — with a high-profile boost from former President Donald Trump.
In a Truth Social post on Thursday, Trump announced his backing for Trever Nehls, calling it his “honor” to endorse the “MAGA Warrior” running in Texas’ 22nd District and praising both brothers as strong champions of the MAGA agenda.
Troy, who was first elected in 2020 and is now in his third term, recently said he will retire from Congress when that term ends in January 2027. In a Facebook post, he urged voters to support his brother, saying he trusts him, believes in him, and thinks he’s “ready now” to serve without needing any “on-the-job training.”
Trevor, in launching his campaign, has promised continuity. He has pledged to carry forward Troy’s staunchly pro-Trump approach if elected.
He said District 22 needs a representative who will “follow in Troy’s footsteps” and stand with Trump to defend conservative values, secure the border, protect families, and push back against what he described as Democrats’ “reckless and radical agenda,” adding that he is ready to “take up that fight.”
During his time in Congress, Troy Nehls has become known as one of Trump’s most loyal allies. Earlier this year, he cosponsored legislation to replace Benjamin Franklin’s portrait on the $100 bill with Trump’s. He has also made headlines with his overt displays of support — from wearing Trump-themed attire to President Joe Biden’s final State of the Union address last year, to campaigning in front of a massive inflatable likeness of Trump in the closing days of the 2024 race. Troy has said he personally called Trump to share his retirement plans before making them public.
This isn’t the first time Trevor has tried to step into a role previously held by his brother. After Troy left the sheriff’s office to run for Congress, Trevor ran to replace him as Fort Bend County sheriff. He lost that race to Democrat Eric Fagan.
Even with that earlier defeat, Trevor’s family name recognition and Trump’s endorsement are expected to give him a strong advantage in a district Troy won by more than 25 points in 2024. Still, the Republican primary is shaping up to be competitive. Former state legislator Jacey Jetton entered the race on Monday.
There had also been speculation that Pierce Bush, grandson of former President George H.W. Bush, might jump in, but he has since confirmed that he will not run.
