Troy Nehls

Troy Nehls
Official portrait, 2020
Troy Nehls
Born	Troy Edwin Nehls 7 4, 1968
Birthplace	Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, former law enforcement officer, U.S. Army veteran
Known for	U.S. Representative for Texas's 22nd congressional district; Sheriff of Fort Bend County, Texas
Education	Liberty University (BA) University of Houston–Downtown (MA)
Children	3
Awards	Bronze Star Medal (2)
Website	[Official Congressional website Official site]

Troy Edwin Nehls (born April 7, 1968) is an American politician, former law enforcement officer, and United States Army veteran who has served as the U.S. representative for Texas's 22nd congressional district since January 2021. A member of the Republican Party, Nehls previously served as the sheriff of Fort Bend County, Texas, from 2013 to 2021. Born in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, Nehls spent over two decades in the U.S. Army, achieving the rank of major and earning two Bronze Star Medals for his service. His congressional district encompasses much of the southwestern portion of the Greater Houston metropolitan area, including portions of Sugar Land, Needville, and Rosenberg, as well as part of the Greater Katy area — a district once represented by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and former congressman Ron Paul. A strong supporter of President Donald Trump, Nehls has been a prominent voice within the Republican caucus on issues related to law enforcement, military affairs, and border security. On November 29, 2025, Nehls announced that he would not seek reelection in the 2026 elections, citing a desire to focus on his family.

Early Life

Troy Edwin Nehls was born on April 7, 1968, in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. He has a twin brother, Trever Nehls, with whom he has shared a close personal and professional bond throughout their lives. The Nehls twins both pursued careers in public service, with their paths frequently intersecting in law enforcement and politics.

Nehls enlisted in the United States Army in 1988 and served for over two decades, eventually rising to the rank of major. He served in the Army's Civil Affairs branch and was deployed to combat zones, where he earned two Bronze Star Medals for meritorious service. His military career, which spanned from 1988 to 2009, formed a central part of his identity and would later become a defining element of his political campaigns and legislative priorities.

After completing his military service, Nehls settled in Fort Bend County, Texas, where he and his brother both became involved in local law enforcement and community affairs. The transition from military to civilian life led Nehls toward a career in law enforcement, which would serve as the foundation for his eventual entry into elected politics.

Education

Nehls earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Liberty University, a private Christian university located in Lynchburg, Virginia. He subsequently earned a Master of Arts degree from the University of Houston–Downtown. His educational background, combined with his extensive military and law enforcement experience, informed his approach to public service and governance throughout his career.

Career

Fort Bend County Sheriff (2013–2021)

Nehls was elected sheriff of Fort Bend County, Texas, in 2012 and took office on January 1, 2013, succeeding Milton Wright. Fort Bend County, located in the southwestern suburbs of Houston, is one of the most ethnically diverse counties in the United States and experienced significant population growth during Nehls's tenure as sheriff.

During his time as sheriff, Nehls focused on issues of public safety, community policing, and law enforcement reform within the department. He and his twin brother Trever, who served as constable for Fort Bend County Precinct 4, became well-known figures in the local law enforcement community. Their parallel careers in public safety attracted media attention and were frequently highlighted in local reporting.

Nehls served two full terms as Fort Bend County Sheriff. His tenure coincided with a period of demographic and political change in the county, which shifted from a reliably Republican area to an increasingly competitive one. Despite these shifts, Nehls maintained a strong base of support within the county during his time in office.

Decision to Run for Congress

In December 2017, Nehls considered running for the United States House of Representatives in Texas's 22nd congressional district during the 2018 election cycle, but ultimately decided against it, choosing instead to continue serving as sheriff.

The political landscape changed in July 2019, when incumbent U.S. Representative Pete Olson announced that he would not seek reelection to the 22nd district seat. Olson's retirement created an open-seat race in a district that had become increasingly competitive in recent cycles. Nehls subsequently announced his candidacy for Congress in late 2019, entering what became a crowded Republican primary field.

2020 Congressional Campaign

The Republican primary for Texas's 22nd congressional district in 2020 featured a competitive field of candidates. Nehls entered the race leveraging his profile as the sitting Fort Bend County Sheriff, his military background, and his law enforcement credentials. His twin brother Trever also ran in a Republican primary that year, seeking to succeed Troy as Fort Bend County Sheriff.

In the March 2020 Republican primary, Nehls took a commanding lead over his opponents, including Kathaleen Wall, a self-funding candidate who had spent heavily on the race. Nehls advanced to a runoff election, which he won in July 2020, securing the Republican nomination for the general election.

In the November 2020 general election, Nehls faced Democratic candidate Sri Preston Kulkarni, who had also run for the seat in 2018 and narrowly lost to Pete Olson. The race was considered one of the more competitive contests in Texas. Despite demographic changes in the district and a competitive challenge from Kulkarni, Nehls won the general election, securing the seat for the Republican Party.

U.S. House of Representatives (2021–present)

Nehls was sworn into office on January 3, 2021, succeeding Pete Olson as the representative for Texas's 22nd congressional district. He quickly established himself as a vocal member of the Republican caucus, drawing on his military and law enforcement background in his legislative work.

Legislative Priorities

Throughout his time in Congress, Nehls has focused on issues related to veterans' affairs, law enforcement, border security, and national defense. His military service and career as sheriff have informed much of his legislative agenda.

In November 2025, Nehls's bill, H.R. 695, the Medal of Honor Act, passed the Senate. The legislation increased the pension for Medal of Honor recipients, reflecting Nehls's focus on supporting military veterans and service members.

In early 2026, Nehls introduced the PROTECT Act (Preventing Research Ownership Transfer to External Competitive Threats), which addressed concerns about the transfer of research ownership to foreign competitors.

Nehls also served as a member of the Select Subcommittee on January 6th. On the fifth anniversary of the January 6, 2021, Capitol breach, Nehls released a statement reflecting on the events and the subcommittee's work.

Support for Donald Trump

Nehls has been one of the most outspoken supporters of President Donald Trump within the Republican caucus. He has publicly called for renaming Washington Dulles International Airport after Trump and has urged the Republican Party to align itself with Trump's positions and directives. His support for Trump has been a defining characteristic of his tenure in Congress.

2024 Reelection

In the November 2024 general election, Nehls ran for reelection to the 22nd district seat against Democratic challenger Marquette Greene-Scott. Nehls won reelection as the incumbent, continuing his representation of the district.

Announcement of Retirement

On November 29, 2025, Nehls announced via social media that he would not seek reelection in the 2026 elections, stating that he wished to focus on his family. His decision made him the sixth Texas Republican to announce an exit from Congress ahead of the 2026 cycle, and part of a broader trend of Republican retirements in the state's congressional delegation.

Shortly after Nehls's announcement, his twin brother Trever Nehls declared his intention to run for the 22nd district seat, seeking to succeed Troy in Congress.

Personal Life

Troy Nehls resides in the Richmond area of Fort Bend County, Texas. He has three children. His twin brother, Trever Nehls, has also been active in Fort Bend County politics and law enforcement, having served as constable for Fort Bend County Precinct 4. The brothers' parallel careers in public service have been a notable aspect of Fort Bend County's political landscape.

Nehls's military service remained a central part of his public identity throughout his career in law enforcement and politics. He served in the U.S. Army from 1988 to 2009, reaching the rank of major in the Civil Affairs branch and earning two Bronze Star Medals.

In announcing his retirement from Congress in November 2025, Nehls cited his desire to spend more time with his family as the primary reason for his decision not to seek another term.

Recognition

Throughout his career, Nehls has received recognition for both his military service and his work in law enforcement and public service. His two Bronze Star Medals, awarded for meritorious service during his Army career, are among his most significant honors.

His successful passage of the Medal of Honor Act (H.R. 695) through both chambers of Congress in 2025 represented a notable legislative achievement, increasing the pension for Medal of Honor recipients and reflecting his commitment to veterans' issues.

During his tenure as Fort Bend County Sheriff, Nehls was recognized within the local community for his leadership of the sheriff's office during a period of significant growth and change in the county. His transition from local law enforcement to federal office was noted as part of a broader legacy of public service shared with his brother.

Legacy

Troy Nehls's career has spanned military service, local law enforcement, and federal elected office. His tenure as sheriff of one of Texas's most diverse and rapidly growing counties, followed by his service in Congress representing a historically significant district, has made him a notable figure in Houston-area politics.

The 22nd congressional district that Nehls has represented carries its own historical significance, having previously been held by Ron Paul and Tom DeLay, two of the most prominent Republican figures in modern Texas politics. Nehls's representation of the district continued its Republican tradition during a period when shifting demographics created increasing electoral competition in the area.

His retirement announcement in November 2025, and his brother Trever's subsequent declaration of candidacy for the same seat, highlighted the Nehls family's deep ties to Fort Bend County and the Houston-area political landscape. The open-seat race created by his departure was expected to attract significant attention as part of the broader 2026 election cycle in Texas.

Nehls's legislative work on behalf of veterans, including the Medal of Honor Act, and his focus on law enforcement and border security issues reflected the priorities he brought to Congress from his military and sheriff's office background. His alignment with Donald Trump placed him within the mainstream of the Republican Party's direction during his time in office.