Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), one of Congress’s most seasoned foreign policy voices, announced Sunday he won’t seek reelection in 2026 — ending more than two decades in the House.
Speaking on ABC’s This Week, McCaul said: “I’m going to serve the remainder of my term. But I’m looking for a new challenge in the same space that would be national security, foreign policy, but just in a different realm.”
The longtime lawmaker, who chaired both the Homeland Security and Foreign Relations Committees, added: “I want to continue to serve the people of this country in national security and foreign policy and do what I’ve done the last two decades — make America stronger and the world safer.”
McCaul later echoed the sentiment on X: “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.”
At 63, McCaul exits with a reputation as a serious national security hand. First elected in 2004, he won reelection in 2024 with 63.6 percent of the vote. His departure marks another high-profile retirement from the Texas delegation, following Republicans Morgan Luttrell and Chip Roy (who’s running for attorney general), and Democrat Lloyd Doggett, who left the door open to reconsider depending on redistricting.
During his ABC appearance, McCaul also weighed in on rising global tensions, pointing to Russian drones crossing into Polish airspace. “We’ve never seen anything like this in recent times,” he warned. “And so, what I’m concerned about is that the escalation here and the temperature rising, we got to be very careful not to be on the precipice of a World War III.”
McCaul said Russian President Vladimir Putin will likely continue “to be provocative and saber-rattle,” but doubted he would escalate to nuclear weapons, noting China’s influence as a limiting factor.
His announcement adds to the growing list of seasoned lawmakers leaving Congress, underscoring how much turnover the next election cycle could bring. With strong voices stepping aside, the stakes for conservative leadership in Washington — particularly on foreign policy and national security — are only getting higher.
