Saying he was seeking “a new challenge,” Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) said Sunday he won’t run for reelection in 2026.
Speaking on ABC’s “This Week,” McCaul told host Martha Raddatz: “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. “
McCaul, the former chair of the Homeland Security and Foreign Relations Committee, 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.”
Raddatz responded: “Well, that’s a good plan. They’ll miss you on the Hill. You got a ways to go. Thanks for joining us this morning.”
McCaul subsequently posted the clip on X and added: “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, age 63, was first elected in 2004. He drew 63.6 percent of the vote in his last reelection race in 2024.
Most of McCaul’s ABC appearance was spent discussing foreign policy and current international crises. He said, for instance, that he was worried that the deployment of Russian drones over Poland’s airspace last week represented an “escalation” of tensions in Europe.
“We’ve never seen anything like this in recent times,” he said. “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 also said he expects Russian President Vladimir Putin to continue to cause trouble, at least to a point.
“I think he’ll continue to be provocative and saber-rattle. I don’t think he would use nuclear weapons. I think China put a red line,” McCaul told Raddatz.
McCaul is the third Texas lawmaker to announce he is retiring, joining Republican Morgan Luttrell and Democrat Lloyd Doggett (though Doggett said he will reconsider if the new Texas map is scrapped by the courts). Another Texas Republican, Chip Roy, is leaving the House to run for attorney general.
Other House members who are not running again include New York Democrat Jerry Nadler, Nebraska Republican Don Bacon, Pennsylvania Democrat Dwight Evans, and Illinois Democrats Danny Davis and Jan Schakowsky.
