Kevin Brady

Kevin Brady
Born	Kevin Patrick Brady 11 4, 1955
Birthplace	Vermillion, South Dakota, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, lobbyist, political consultant
Known for	Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee (2015–2019); U.S. Representative for Texas's 8th congressional district (1997–2023)
Education	University of South Dakota (BA)
Children	2
Awards	Kevin Brady Library and Community Center named in his honor (2025)

Kevin Patrick Brady (born April 11, 1955) is an American politician and member of the Republican Party who served as the U.S. Representative for Texas's 8th congressional district from 1997 to 2023, a tenure spanning thirteen terms in the U.S. Congress. Before his election to federal office, Brady served in the Texas House of Representatives from 1991 to 1997. He rose to national prominence as chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee from November 2015 to January 2019, a position that placed him at the center of major tax policy debates during the 115th Congress. Brady's congressional district encompassed northern Houston and surrounding communities, including The Woodlands in Montgomery County. He retired from Congress following the 2022 election cycle and was succeeded by Morgan Luttrell. Since leaving Congress, Brady has worked as a senior consultant at the lobbying and public policy practice of the law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, where he has continued to provide commentary on tax and economic policy. In September 2025, a library and community center in The Woodlands was named in his honor, reflecting his longstanding ties to the community he represented for over a quarter century.

Early Life

Kevin Patrick Brady was born on April 11, 1955, in Vermillion, South Dakota. He grew up in South Dakota before eventually relocating to Texas, where he would build his political career. Details about his family background and childhood remain limited in publicly available records, though his later political biography emphasized his connections to the communities of southeastern Texas and the greater Houston metropolitan area.

Brady settled in The Woodlands, a master-planned community in Montgomery County, north of Houston. Before entering politics, he was involved in local chamber of commerce activities and community organizations in the area. His deep roots in The Woodlands and surrounding communities would become a defining feature of his political identity throughout his career in both the Texas state legislature and the U.S. Congress.

Education

Brady attended the University of South Dakota in his home state, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. The University of South Dakota, located in Vermillion, is the state's oldest public university. After completing his undergraduate education, Brady relocated to Texas, where he would begin his career in public affairs and eventually enter politics.

Career

Texas House of Representatives (1991–1997)

Brady began his career in elected office as a member of the Texas House of Representatives, representing the 15th district. He was first seated on January 10, 1991, succeeding Mike McKinney in the seat. During his six years in the state legislature, Brady gained experience in legislative processes and Texas-specific policy issues that would inform his later work at the federal level. He served in the Texas House until January 3, 1997, when he departed to take his seat in the U.S. Congress. Brady was succeeded in the state house by Tommy Williams.

U.S. House of Representatives (1997–2023)

Election to Congress

In 1996, Brady ran for the U.S. House seat representing Texas's 8th congressional district, which had been held by Republican Jack Fields. Brady won the election and took office on January 3, 1997, beginning what would become a 26-year career in the U.S. Congress.

The 8th congressional district of Texas is a predominantly Republican district encompassing areas north of Houston, including The Woodlands, and stretching across several counties. The district's conservative lean provided Brady with a safe seat throughout his congressional tenure, though he still faced primary and general election challenges at various points.

Re-election campaigns

Brady consistently won re-election by comfortable margins throughout his time in Congress. In the March 2004 Republican primary, he secured his party's nomination. He went on to win the November 2004 general election decisively.

In 2015, as Brady rose in prominence on Capitol Hill, he faced a primary challenge from a former state lawmaker. Coverage at the time noted that his increasing national profile, particularly his ascent to the chairmanship of the Ways and Means Committee, made him a more visible target for challengers. The filing deadline for the 2016 elections brought attention to various Texas congressional races, but Brady and most incumbents remained safe. In the March 2016 Republican primary, Brady easily fended off his challenger. Brady went on to win the 2016 general election, staving off opposition alongside other Houston-area Republican incumbents.

Throughout his congressional career, Brady's campaign finances reflected his standing as a senior member of Congress. Records maintained by the Center for Responsive Politics documented his fundraising and expenditures over multiple election cycles.

Texas redistricting

Like many Texas members of Congress, Brady's district was affected by the state's redistricting processes. Texas underwent significant redistricting following the 2000 and 2010 censuses, as well as a controversial mid-decade redistricting in 2003 orchestrated by Republican state legislators. The complex timeline of Texas redistricting litigation and legislative action shaped the boundaries of the 8th district over the course of Brady's tenure.

Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee

Brady's most significant role in Congress was his service on and eventual chairmanship of the House Ways and Means Committee, one of the most powerful committees in the U.S. House of Representatives. The committee has jurisdiction over taxation, trade, Social Security, Medicare, and other revenue-related matters.

In November 2015, Brady was elected chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, succeeding Sam Johnson, who had served as acting chairman. His election to the chairmanship was a notable achievement that placed him at the center of Republican fiscal policy in the House. The Ways and Means Committee chairmanship has historically been one of the most coveted positions in Congress due to the committee's broad jurisdiction over tax and spending policy.

As chairman during the 115th Congress (2017–2019), Brady played a central role in drafting and advancing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, the most significant overhaul of the U.S. tax code in decades. The committee released legislative text and amendments related to the reconciliation process that formed the basis of the tax reform effort. The committee's work on health care policy was also significant during this period, as Republicans sought to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act through the budget reconciliation process.

Brady's tenure as chairman coincided with a period of unified Republican control of the federal government under President Donald Trump, giving the Ways and Means Committee significant influence over the legislative agenda. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, signed into law in December 2017, lowered the corporate tax rate, reduced individual income tax rates, and made numerous other changes to the tax code.

Economic policy positions

Throughout his career, Brady was an advocate for tax reduction, free trade, and what he described as pro-growth economic policies. He was associated with supply-side economic principles and supported a strong dollar policy. His views on monetary and fiscal policy aligned him with commentators who argued that maintaining the value of the dollar was essential to controlling energy prices and promoting economic stability.

Ranking Member (2019–2023)

When Democrats gained control of the House following the 2018 midterm elections, Brady transitioned from chairman to ranking member of the Ways and Means Committee, serving in that capacity from January 3, 2019. Richard Neal, a Democrat from Massachusetts, assumed the chairmanship. As ranking member, Brady served as the lead Republican on the committee, providing opposition and alternative proposals to the Democratic majority's legislative agenda on tax, trade, and entitlement policy.

Brady continued in the ranking member position until his retirement from Congress on January 3, 2023. Richard Neal continued as chairman during this period, and upon Brady's departure, Neal also continued in his role.

Retirement

Brady announced his decision not to seek re-election ahead of the 2022 election cycle, bringing to a close a congressional career that had lasted more than a quarter century. He was succeeded in representing the 8th district by Morgan Luttrell, who won the 2022 election. Brady's retirement marked the departure of one of the most senior Republican members of the Texas congressional delegation and one of the most experienced tax policy legislators in the House.

Post-Congressional Career

Following his retirement from Congress, Brady joined the law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld as a senior consultant in its lobbying and public policy practice. In this role, he has continued to engage with tax and economic policy issues, drawing on his extensive experience as chairman and ranking member of the Ways and Means Committee.

In July 2025, Brady appeared on multiple financial news networks, including CNBC's Squawk Box, Bloomberg Television, Yahoo Finance, and Fox Business Network, to discuss a tax bill that had recently been signed into law. His media appearances reflected his continued standing as a commentator on federal tax policy.

Personal Life

Brady has two children. He has been a longtime resident of The Woodlands, Texas, the community at the heart of the congressional district he represented for over two decades.

In October 2005, Brady was involved in an incident that received media attention when he was cited for driving while intoxicated. The incident was reported by national media outlets. The episode did not significantly affect his electoral standing, and he continued to win re-election comfortably in subsequent cycles.

Recognition

Kevin Brady Library and Community Center

In recognition of Brady's long service to the communities of Montgomery County and the greater Houston area, a library and community center in The Woodlands was named in his honor. The Kevin Brady Library and Community Center, located in the Grogan's Mill Village Center in The Woodlands, officially opened to the public on September 2, 2025. The facility is part of the Montgomery County Memorial Library System.

The grand opening included a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by local officials, including Montgomery County Commissioner Ritch Wheeler, who expressed pride in the new facility. The Houston Chronicle covered the opening, noting the new library's location and amenities. Prior to the opening, the Montgomery County Memorial Library System had offered a preview of the facility, showcasing its features and design.

In February 2026, the Kevin Brady Library held the grand opening of its Innovation Space, a facility featuring podcast recording rooms, 3D printers, and other technology resources available to the public.

Legacy

Kevin Brady's 26-year tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives placed him among the longest-serving members of the Texas congressional delegation in the modern era. His chairmanship of the House Ways and Means Committee during the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 represented the capstone of his legislative career, positioning him as one of the key architects of the most significant federal tax legislation in a generation.

Before entering Congress, his six years in the Texas House of Representatives gave him a total of more than three decades in elected office. His career trajectory—from state legislator to senior committee chairman—illustrated the path of a legislator who built influence through seniority and specialization in fiscal policy rather than through high-profile media presence or executive ambitions.

Following his retirement, Brady's transition to a role at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, one of the largest lobbying firms in Washington, D.C., reflected a common pattern among former senior members of Congress who leverage their policy expertise and relationships in the private sector.

The naming of the Kevin Brady Library and Community Center in The Woodlands in 2025 served as a tangible marker of his connection to the community he represented throughout his congressional career. The facility's Innovation Space, with its technology resources and community programming, represents an ongoing civic contribution associated with his name in Montgomery County.