Rep. Chip Roy becomes the 18th U.S. House member to announce a bid for another office in 2026

By

Briana Ryan

Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) announced on Aug. 21, 2025, that he will run for attorney general of Texas in 2026 rather than another term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Incumbent Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) is running for the U.S. Senate rather than another term as attorney general.

In a statement announcing his candidacy, Roy wrote, “I could [serve in Congress] forever and be fulfilled professionally. But representatives should not be permanent. And my experience watching Texans unite in response to the devastating Hill Country floods made clear that I want to come home. […] As Attorney General, I will fight every single day for our God-given rights, for our families, and for the future of Texas.”

In 2018, Roy ran for his first term in the U.S. House in Texas’ 21st Congressional District after then-Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) announced that he would not seek re-election. Roy defeated Joseph Kopser (D) 50% to 48%. In his three subsequent re-election bids, Roy won by seven percentage points in 2020, 26 percentage points in 2022, and 26 percentage points in 2024.

As of Aug. 19, 2025, The Cook Political Report and Inside Elections have rated the 2026 general election for the seat Solid Republican. Sabato’s Crystal Ball rated it Safe Republican.

As of Aug. 21, 2025, 29 members of the U.S. Congress—seven U.S. Senate members and 22 U.S. House members—have announced they will not seek re-election to their current seats in 2026.

Of the 22 representatives not seeking re-election:

  • Four—three Democrats and one Republican—are retiring from public office.
  • Nine—five Democrats and four Republicans—are running for the U.S. Senate.
  • Eight—all Republicans—are running for governor.
  • One Republican is running for state attorney general.

Compared to the last four election cycles, there were 13 retirement announcements at this point in 2024, 18 in 2022, 17 in 2020, and 21 in 2018.

Between January 2011 and Aug. 21, 2025, Ballotpedia followed 326 announcements from U.S. House members who announced they would not seek re-election. January had the highest number of members announcing they would not run for re-election at 57. The fewest announcements took place in June and August at 15 each.