Michael Cloud

Michael Cloud
Official portrait, 2018
Michael Cloud
Born	Michael Jonathan Cloud 13 5, 1975
Birthplace	Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician
Known for	U.S. Representative for Texas's 27th congressional district
Education	Oral Roberts University (BS)
Children	3
Website	[cloud.house.gov Official site]

Michael Jonathan Cloud (born May 13, 1975) is an American politician who has served as the U.S. Representative for Texas's 27th congressional district since July 10, 2018. A member of the Republican Party, Cloud first entered Congress through a special election held on June 30, 2018, to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Blake Farenthold. Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and educated at Oral Roberts University, Cloud rose through Texas Republican politics before winning his congressional seat. He has since been reelected multiple times and has established himself as a conservative voice in the U.S. House, aligning with groups such as the House Freedom Caucus. Cloud also serves on the House Department of Government Efficiency Committee, reflecting his emphasis on fiscal responsibility and limited government. His district encompasses a large portion of the Texas Gulf Coast, including the city of Corpus Christi and surrounding communities.

Early Life

Michael Jonathan Cloud was born on May 13, 1975, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He was raised in a family environment that fostered conservative values and an interest in public service. Cloud eventually relocated to Texas, where he became involved in local Republican Party politics. Before entering electoral politics, Cloud was active in grassroots political organizing in the Coastal Bend region of Texas, where he built relationships with local Republican leaders and organizations.

Cloud's early career included work in communications and media production, drawing on skills he developed during his education. He became increasingly involved in the organizational infrastructure of the Republican Party in Texas's 27th congressional district, serving as chairman of the Victoria County Republican Party. This role gave him significant experience in party operations, campaign strategy, and voter outreach at the local level, positioning him for a future run for higher office.

Education

Cloud attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. Oral Roberts University is a private Christian university, and Cloud's time there reinforced the faith-based worldview that has informed his political career. Details regarding his specific field of study and extracurricular involvement during his time at the university are limited in available public records.

Career

Entry into Politics and Party Leadership

Prior to running for Congress, Cloud served as chairman of the Victoria County Republican Party in Texas. In this capacity, he was responsible for coordinating local Republican campaigns, organizing voter registration drives, and building the party's grassroots infrastructure in the region. His tenure as county party chairman gave him name recognition and political credibility among Republican voters in the broader 27th congressional district.

Cloud's political activities extended beyond his county chairmanship. He was involved in various conservative causes and organizations in the Coastal Bend region, developing a reputation as a committed fiscal and social conservative. These activities laid the groundwork for his eventual congressional campaign.

2018 Special Election

The path to Cloud's congressional career opened in December 2017, when incumbent U.S. Representative Blake Farenthold faced mounting pressure over allegations that he had used taxpayer funds to settle a sexual harassment claim. Reports indicated that Farenthold had used $84,000 from a congressional office fund to settle a 2014 sexual harassment lawsuit filed by a former staffer. The ensuing scandal led to Farenthold's resignation from Congress in April 2018, creating a vacancy in Texas's 27th congressional district.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott called a special election to fill the remainder of Farenthold's term. The special election was held on June 30, 2018, and featured a crowded field of candidates. Cloud emerged as a leading contender, bolstered by endorsements from prominent conservative figures and organizations.

The Texas Tribune reported on the special election, noting that Cloud was among the front-runners in the race to replace Farenthold. Cloud won the special election on June 30, 2018, securing enough votes to claim the seat without a runoff. The Washington Post covered the results, reporting that polls had closed in the special election to replace the Texas Republican congressman.

Cloud was sworn into office on July 10, 2018, becoming the newest member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas. He assumed office during the 115th United States Congress, with only a few months remaining in the session. Upon being sworn in, Cloud stated his commitment to representing the interests of the 27th district and advancing conservative principles in Washington.

2018 General Election and Subsequent Reelections

In addition to winning the special election to serve out the remainder of Farenthold's term, Cloud simultaneously ran for a full term in the November 2018 general election. He had earlier won the Republican primary for the seat, establishing himself as the party's nominee for the full term beginning in January 2019. Cloud won the general election in November 2018, securing his first full term in Congress.

Cloud was reelected in the 2020 general election, winning Texas's 27th congressional district by a comfortable margin. He continued to win reelection in subsequent cycles, reflecting the strongly Republican nature of the 27th district, which encompasses much of the Texas Gulf Coast.

Congressional Tenure

Since entering Congress, Cloud has positioned himself as a conservative Republican, supporting policies centered on limited government, reduced federal spending, deregulation, and border security. His district, which includes the city of Corpus Christi and stretches along the Gulf Coast, has significant interests in energy production, agriculture, military installations, and international trade.

Cloud has been associated with the House Freedom Caucus, the conservative faction within the House Republican Conference. Roll Call reported that the Freedom Caucus was preparing for growth in its membership, with Cloud among the newer members aligned with the group's emphasis on fiscal conservatism and limited government. His alignment with the Freedom Caucus has placed him among the more conservative members of the Republican Conference, and he has frequently advocated for spending cuts, opposition to omnibus spending bills, and stricter enforcement of immigration laws.

Cloud's legislative priorities have reflected the needs and concerns of his district. The Texas Gulf Coast is home to significant oil and gas infrastructure, and Cloud has been a consistent supporter of domestic energy production. He has opposed regulations that he views as burdensome to the energy industry and has advocated for policies to support the economic viability of fossil fuel production.

The 27th congressional district is also home to Naval Air Station Corpus Christi and other military facilities, and Cloud has supported defense spending and initiatives that benefit the military presence in the region. Agriculture is another key industry in the district, and Cloud has worked on issues related to agricultural policy and trade.

Cloud has also been appointed to the House Department of Government Efficiency Committee, a newer committee focused on identifying and reducing government waste and inefficiency. His membership on this committee aligns with his broader political philosophy of reducing the size and scope of the federal government.

Federal Election Commission Filings

Cloud's campaign finances are documented through the Federal Election Commission. His candidate filings show his participation in multiple election cycles since 2018. These records document the financial aspects of his campaigns, including contributions received and expenditures made during each election cycle.

Personal Life

Michael Cloud resides in the 27th congressional district of Texas. He has three children. Cloud's personal life reflects the conservative Christian values that have been a consistent theme in his political career. His education at Oral Roberts University, a Christian institution, indicates the role of faith in his personal and professional life.

Cloud relocated to Texas from his birthplace of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at some point before his entry into politics. He settled in the Coastal Bend region, where he became involved in community life and local Republican politics before eventually running for Congress. Additional details regarding his family life, including the identity of his spouse, are not extensively documented in available public sources.

Recognition

Cloud's electoral victories represent his primary form of public recognition. His win in the June 2018 special election was notable as it came in the wake of a high-profile scandal involving his predecessor, Blake Farenthold, and drew national media attention from outlets including The Washington Post, Politico, and The Texas Tribune.

Cloud has received endorsements from various conservative organizations and political figures throughout his campaigns, as documented on his campaign website. These endorsements have come from groups aligned with his positions on fiscal conservatism, limited government, and traditional values.

His membership in the House Freedom Caucus has given him a platform within the broader conservative movement, and his appointment to the House Department of Government Efficiency Committee reflects a recognition of his commitment to government reform and fiscal responsibility.

Cloud is listed in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, the official record of all individuals who have served in the U.S. Congress. His congressional service record and legislative activities are also documented through the official records of the United States Congress.

Legacy

As a sitting member of Congress, Cloud's legacy continues to develop. His entry into Congress through a special election following the scandal-driven resignation of Blake Farenthold represented a fresh start for the 27th district's representation. Cloud's consistent reelections indicate strong support among the district's voters for his conservative approach to governance.

Cloud's alignment with the House Freedom Caucus places him within a faction of the Republican Party that has exerted significant influence on legislative negotiations, particularly regarding government spending bills and the selection of House leadership. The Freedom Caucus has at various times played a pivotal role in shaping the direction of the Republican Conference, and Cloud's membership in the group has made him part of these broader intraparty dynamics.

His service on the House Department of Government Efficiency Committee represents a newer dimension of his congressional career, positioning him within efforts to scrutinize and reduce federal government spending and bureaucratic inefficiency. This committee assignment aligns with the broader conservative movement's emphasis on government reform.

The 27th congressional district, with its mix of energy, military, agricultural, and coastal interests, presents a range of policy challenges, and Cloud's tenure has been shaped by the need to address these diverse concerns while maintaining his conservative policy positions. His continued service in Congress will determine the ultimate scope and impact of his legislative career.