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A top Republican who has been a thorn in the side of the MAGA agenda has announced his intention to leave Congress. Texas Congressman Chip Roy announced that he plans to depart Capitol Hill after four terms and seek the role of Texas state attorney general back home in the Lone Star state. His decision comes after he earned the wrath of Donald Trump for getting in the way of his MAGA agenda.
In a media release announcing his latest move, Roy noted that ‘watching Texans unite in response to the devastating Hill Country floods made clear that I want to come home.’ The deadly floods that raged through Texas earlier this summer claimed at least 135 lives, including the lives of over two dozen young girls and their counselors at the Christian summer camp, Camp Mystic.
Roy also added in his media release that he wants to take his ‘experience in Congress, as a federal prosecutor, and as First Assistant Attorney General to fight for Texas from Texas.’ The congressman previously worked under current Texas AG Ken Paxton, who is running in a messy primary for U.S. Senate against incumbent John Cornyn.
Roy notably turned on his former boss when Paxton was accused of ‘bribery, abuse of office, and other charges’ back in 2020, then urging him to resign from office. During his time in Congress, Roy has at times not been afraid to buck members of his own political party, causing headaches for House Speaker Mike Johnson and even President Donald Trump.
Roy, along with other members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, were holdouts on President Trump’s $3.3 trillion tax and spending cut bill. They caused a scene threatening to tank Trump’s ‘one big, beautiful, bill’ due to projected increases in the national debt tied to the package. Despite weeks of threats, he eventually folded and voted for the bill.
Roy also caused a headache for Speaker Mike Johnson’s re-election bid in January. He didn’t want Johnson to be elected speaker again because he claimed he wasn’t conservative enough to lead the Republicans. Again, he eventually got in line and backed Johnson’s re-election.
It’s become somewhat of a pattern for Roy to threaten to go against GOP leadership on key priorities, but then eventually fold and support. And it hasn’t gone unnoticed by Trump, who has called him out publicly. Back in December of 2024, Trump accused Roy of ‘getting in the way’ of his agenda, and called for Roy to face a primary challenger for his congressional seat.
Despite Roy’s tough track record with GOP leadership, other lawmakers on Capitol Hill took time Thursday to congratulate Roy on his achievements during his time in Washington. Tennessee Representative Tim Burchett was one of Roy’s colleagues to weigh in on the Texans’ decision, posting on X that he hates to lose his friend in Congress, despite the desire to sometimes ‘pinch his ears’, adding that he ‘will miss him.’
Utah Senator Mike Lee posted on X that there is ‘no more fearless and respected conservative in Congress than @chiproytx’ adding that he ‘wholeheartedly’ endorses Roy in ‘his campaign for Texas Attorney General’ and that ‘Chip has delivered for Trump in Congress.’ In 2023, Chip Roy endorsed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for president before he had even announced a formal bid for the office. At the time, Roy noted that the ‘next President of the United States must be a vibrant and energetic leader with the faith, vision, and courage to chart a new course.’
Roy is one of several high-profile members of the House Freedom Caucus to announce decisions to seek other offices, mainly in their home states. Rep. Ralph Norman announced a run for South Carolina governor last month, Rep. Andy Biggs will be seeking the same office in Arizona, and Rep. Byron Donalds is running to be governor of Florida.
