McCaul not seeking re- election in 2026

Texas Republican Congressman Michael McCaul announced Sunday that he will not seek re-election in 2026.

McCaul’s district, which represents Austin and Colorado County, last won reelection in 2024, defeating his Democratic opponent by nearly 30 points.

McCaul, who was first elected to Congress in 2004 and is serving his 11th term, told “This Week” co-anchor Martha Raddatz that he was “looking for a new challenge.”

McCaul posted a video clip on X stating: “It has been the honor of a lifetime to represent the people of central Texas and to chair the prestigious Homeland Security and Foreign Affairs Committees. My father’s service in World War II inspired me to pursue a life of public service, with a focus on defending our great nation against global threats, and I have been proud to carry out that mission in Congress for more than two decades. I am ready for a new challenge in 2027 and look forward to continuing to serve my country in the national security and foreign policy realm.” McCaul has not publically said what new challenges he is looking to take on but when Texas Republicans redrew congressional maps last month, the move slightly weakened McCaul’s district. With the previous map, 61.6 percent of the district’s population voted for President Donald Trump compared to the new district of 60.5 percent.

McCaul currently serves on the House Homeland Security Committee, also reacted to the use of Russian drones into NATO ally Poland, this week, dismissing Trump’s assertion that the violation of Polish airspace may have been a mistake.

“With all deference to the president, I don’t think that was a mistake. I think Putin is testing the resolve of NATO,” McCaul said.

McCaul, 63, was first elected in 2004. He drew 63.6 percent of the vote in his last reelection race in 2024.

McCaul was elected to the House for the first time in 2004. He went on to be re-elected to his seat 10 times, with his narrowest victory occurring in 2018, when he garnered 51.1 percent of the vote to Democratic candidate Mike Siegel’s 46.8 percent.

McCaul, a former chairman of the Homeland Security and Foreign Affairs committees, joins two other House Republicans who announced their retirement from public office this year: McCaul’s fellow Texan Rep. Morgan Luttrell and Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska.