Chip Roy

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Chip Roy
Official portrait, 2022
Chip Roy
BornCharles Eugene Roy
7 8, 1972
BirthplaceBethesda, Maryland, U.S.
OccupationAttorney, politician
TitleMember of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 21st district
Known forU.S. Representative for Texas's 21st congressional district; House Freedom Caucus policy chair
EducationUniversity of Virginia (BS, MS)
University of Texas at Austin (JD)
Children2

Charles Eugene "Chip" Roy (born August 7, 1972) is an American attorney and politician who has served as the U.S. representative for Texas's 21st congressional district since January 3, 2019. A member of the Republican Party, Roy built a career in conservative legal and political circles before entering elected office, serving as chief of staff to U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, as first assistant attorney general of Texas under Ken Paxton, and in various roles within the administration of Texas Governor Rick Perry. In Congress, Roy has served as policy chair of the House Freedom Caucus and has positioned himself within the most conservative faction of the House Republican Conference. Known for his willingness to challenge both Democratic and Republican leadership on matters of government spending and federal authority, Roy has at times broken with his own party, including publicly criticizing former President Donald Trump on specific policy and procedural matters. In August 2025, Roy announced his candidacy for Texas Attorney General in the 2026 elections, a decision that opened a competitive race for his congressional seat, which drew fifteen candidates.[1] His campaign for attorney general has drawn national attention, with his past disagreements with Trump becoming a significant issue in the Republican primary.[2]

Early Life

Chip Roy was born Charles Eugene Roy on August 7, 1972, in Bethesda, Maryland.[3] Details regarding his upbringing and family background prior to his higher education have not been extensively documented in available public sources. Roy would later settle in Texas, where he built his professional career in law and politics and raised his family, eventually making his home in the Austin area within the boundaries of Texas's 21st congressional district.

Education

Roy attended the University of Virginia, where he earned both a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Science degree.[3] He subsequently enrolled at the University of Texas School of Law in Austin, where he earned his Juris Doctor (JD) degree.[3] His legal education at the University of Texas positioned him for a career that would intertwine legal practice with public policy and conservative political advocacy in the state of Texas.

Career

Early Political Career and Texas State Government

Roy's early career was shaped by his involvement in Texas Republican politics, particularly through his work with Governor Rick Perry's administration. In 2008, Perry appointed Roy as the state's director of federal relations, a position based in Washington, D.C., that tasked him with managing Texas's interactions with the federal government.[4] In this role, Roy served as a liaison between the Perry administration and federal officials, advocating for Texas's policy positions in the nation's capital.[5]

Roy was also involved in Perry's presidential campaign efforts. He served on the growing campaign staff as Perry sought the Republican presidential nomination.[6] His work on Perry's campaign and in the governor's administration helped Roy develop a network of conservative contacts and a reputation within Republican circles in Texas and nationally.

In 2011, Roy departed the Office of State-Federal Relations, with his successor being named to the position.[7]

Chief of Staff to Ted Cruz

Following Ted Cruz's election to the U.S. Senate in 2012, Roy was selected to serve as Cruz's chief of staff, a role that placed him at the center of some of the most consequential conservative legislative battles of the period.[8] The Dallas Morning News noted at the time of his appointment that Roy had been a "chief ghostwriter" on Perry's book Fed Up!, an anti-Washington manifesto that articulated Perry's views on federalism and limited government.[9]

As Cruz's chief of staff, Roy played a significant behind-the-scenes role during the 2013 effort to defund the Affordable Care Act (commonly known as Obamacare), which culminated in a government shutdown. Roy helped coordinate Republican strategy on the issue, a period that saw intense internal GOP debates over the tactics and wisdom of tying government funding to the repeal of the health care law.[10][11] Cruz's office, with Roy as a key strategist, was central to the conservative wing's push to use every available legislative lever to challenge the Obama administration's signature domestic policy achievement.

Roy also worked alongside Cruz on immigration policy, helping to shape the senator's hard-line positions on the issue, which included opposition to executive actions on immigration taken by President Obama.[12]

First Assistant Attorney General of Texas

In November 2014, following Ken Paxton's election as Texas Attorney General, Roy was identified as the top candidate for the position of first assistant attorney general, which is the second-ranking position in the Texas Attorney General's office.[13] Paxton subsequently confirmed Roy's appointment as first assistant attorney general.[14][15]

In this capacity, Roy served as a senior legal and administrative official overseeing the day-to-day operations of one of the largest state attorneys general offices in the United States. His tenure under Paxton provided him with direct experience in state-level legal enforcement and litigation, including cases involving federal-state disputes. This role deepened Roy's credentials as a conservative legal figure in Texas.

U.S. House of Representatives

2018 Election

In December 2017, Roy announced his candidacy for Texas's 21st congressional district following the retirement of longtime incumbent Lamar Smith.[16] The district, which stretches from Austin to San Antonio and includes portions of the Texas Hill Country, had been represented by Smith since 1987. Roy ran as a conservative candidate with strong connections to the Ted Cruz wing of the Republican Party, emphasizing his desire to bring change to Washington.[17]

During the campaign, Roy outlined his plans to reduce the size and scope of the federal government and articulated positions on border security, government spending, and constitutional limits on federal power.[18] He campaigned in what the Austin American-Statesman described as running "in the shadow of Cruz," drawing on his close professional relationship with the senator while establishing his own identity as a candidate.[3]

Roy won the Republican primary and went on to win the general election, taking office on January 3, 2019, as the representative for Texas's 21st congressional district, succeeding Lamar Smith.[19]

Tenure in Congress

In Congress, Roy quickly established himself as a member of the House Freedom Caucus, the conservative bloc within the House Republican Conference, and rose to serve as the caucus's policy chair. He earned a reputation for procedural confrontations and a willingness to oppose both Republican and Democratic leadership when he believed legislation failed to meet conservative principles.[20] The Texas Tribune described Roy as a "congressional obstructionist," a characterization reflecting his frequent use of procedural tactics to slow or block legislation he opposed.[21]

Roy's relationship with the broader GOP establishment and with former President Donald Trump has been a defining feature of his congressional career. The Wall Street Journal reported in 2021 that Roy was testing Republican voters' appetite for Trump dissenters, highlighting moments where he broke from the party line.[22] Roy has at various points broken with Trump and called out both the former president and Attorney General Ken Paxton on specific issues, asserting that his loyalty is to constitutional principles rather than to any individual political figure.[23]

A key legislative priority for Roy has been the relationship between Ted Cruz and the broader conservative movement's agenda, including border security and immigration enforcement. His long career working on immigration policy—dating back to his time as Cruz's chief of staff—carried over into his legislative work in Congress. Roy was a principal author of the SAVE America Act, legislation focused on election integrity that was co-sponsored with Senator Mike Lee of Utah. In February 2026, the act passed the House of Representatives.[24]

Roy also engaged in election integrity advocacy efforts. The Republican Study Committee highlighted Roy's work alongside activist Scott Presler in raising concerns about election integrity practices.[25]

Throughout his tenure, Roy's relationship with the Cruz network remained prominent. The Texas Tribune noted that Roy's career trajectory was deeply intertwined with Cruz's, describing their long professional partnership and shared ideological commitments.[26]

2026 Texas Attorney General Campaign

In August 2025, Roy announced his candidacy for Texas Attorney General in the 2026 elections, a decision that effectively ended his tenure in Congress and opened the 21st congressional district to new candidates. The announcement set in motion a crowded Republican primary that drew significant attention both in Texas and nationally.[27]

Roy's campaign for attorney general has centered on his legal experience and conservative credentials, including his time as first assistant attorney general under Paxton and his legislative record in Congress. However, the race has also been defined by Roy's relationship with Trump, which has become a flashpoint in the primary. Politico reported that Roy's breaks with Trump have become a central issue, describing the contest as a "MAGA purity test" playing out in the Texas attorney general race.[28]

Roy's primary opponent, state Senator Mayes Middleton, has positioned himself as the more Trump-aligned candidate. The Houston Chronicle described the contest between Roy and Middleton as one in which both candidates had "everything to lose," given that each was giving up his current office to run.[29]

Polling ahead of the March 2026 primary showed Roy maintaining a lead in the Republican primary field. A poll reported by Houston Public Media indicated Roy held a 10-percentage point lead over Middleton among Republican primary voters.[30]

As the primary approached, CBS News reported that the GOP candidates—including Roy—highlighted their conservative credentials and laid out priorities such as fighting federal overreach and emphasizing courtroom experience.[31] Roy's campaign has emphasized his record of opposing federal overreach and his experience in constitutional litigation, positioning himself as the candidate best equipped to serve as the state's top legal officer.

Personal Life

Roy resides in the Austin, Texas, area. He has two children.[3] Roy previously lived in McKinney, Texas, during his tenure in state government.[32] Beyond his political career, Roy holds a law degree from the University of Texas at Austin and has maintained his identity as an attorney throughout his career in government and politics.

Recognition

Roy's legislative work has received attention from various conservative organizations and media outlets. His authorship of the SAVE America Act, which passed the House of Representatives in February 2026, has been cited as one of his signature legislative accomplishments.[33] His role as policy chair of the House Freedom Caucus placed him among the most influential conservative voices in the House Republican Conference, and his willingness to employ procedural tactics to advance or block legislation earned him both praise from conservative allies and criticism from those who viewed his approach as obstructionist.

The Wall Street Journal profiled Roy in 2021 as a test case for whether Republican voters would support elected officials willing to dissent from Trump-aligned positions, a question that has continued to define his political identity through his 2026 attorney general campaign.[34]

Legacy

As of early 2026, Roy's legacy remains in active formation, with the outcome of his attorney general campaign likely to shape assessments of his career. His congressional tenure has been marked by a consistent commitment to fiscal conservatism, limited government, and the use of legislative procedure as a tool of policy advocacy. His career arc—from Rick Perry's administration to Ted Cruz's Senate office to the Texas Attorney General's office to Congress—reflects a trajectory through some of the most significant conservative political institutions in Texas.

Roy's departure from Congress to pursue the attorney general's office opened a competitive race for Texas's 21st congressional district, with fifteen candidates entering to succeed him.[35] Regardless of the outcome of his 2026 campaign, Roy's career has reflected the tensions within the Republican Party between institutional conservatism and the populist movement associated with Trump, making him a figure of interest in analyses of the contemporary American right.

References

  1. ↑ "Open Congressional District 21 Sees 15 Candidates to Succeed Congressman Chip Roy".The Texan.2026-02-24.https://thetexan.news/elections/2026/open-congressional-district-21-sees-15-candidates-to-succeed-congressman-chip-roy/article_bae3b40c-f4fd-4efd-8d05-03058a3973f5.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  2. ↑ "Trump looms over Texas attorney general race".Politico.2026-02-18.https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/18/maga-purity-test-plays-out-in-texas-attorney-general-race-00786750.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "Chip Roy, conservative, runs in shadow of Cruz".Austin American-Statesman.2018-05-07.https://www.statesman.com/news/20180507/chip-roy-conservative-runs-in-shadow-of-cruz.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  4. ↑ "Governor Appoints Charles 'Chip' Roy of McKinney as State Federal Relations Director".Star Local Media.https://starlocalmedia.com/mckinneycouriergazette/news/governor-appoints-charles-chip-roy-of-mckinney-as-state-federal-relations-director/article_fd0aca76-464a-557b-81a3-bcb8a1f716a5.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  5. ↑ "Perry's pick for D.C. office plays familiar song".San Antonio Express-News.https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/news_columnists/peggy_fikac/article/Perry-s-pick-for-D-C-office-plays-familiar-song-1331081.php.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  6. ↑ "Press Release - Gov. Rick Perry Announces Growing Campaign Staff".The American Presidency Project.https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/press-release-gov-rick-perry-announces-growing-campaign-staff.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  7. ↑ "Patteson named Office of State-Federal".Austin Business Journal.2011-10-17.https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2011/10/17/patteson-named-office-of-state-federal.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  8. ↑ "Ted Cruz picks chief of staff Chip Roy, chief ghostwriter on Rick Perry's anti-Washington tome 'Fed Up!'".The Dallas Morning News.2012-11-28.https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2012/11/28/ted-cruz-picks-chief-of-staff-chip-roy-chief-ghostwriter-on-rick-perry-s-anti-washington-tome-fed-up/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  9. ↑ "Ted Cruz picks chief of staff Chip Roy, chief ghostwriter on Rick Perry's anti-Washington tome 'Fed Up!'".The Dallas Morning News.2012-11-28.https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2012/11/28/ted-cruz-picks-chief-of-staff-chip-roy-chief-ghostwriter-on-rick-perry-s-anti-washington-tome-fed-up/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  10. ↑ "Ted Cruz, Republicans, Obamacare".Politico.2013-07.https://www.politico.com/story/2013/07/ted-cruz-republicans-obamacare-094950.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  11. ↑ "GOP feuds over Obamacare tactics".Politico.2013-07.https://www.politico.com/story/2013/07/gop-feuds-obamacare-tactics-094774.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  12. ↑ "Cruz, Scott Keller, Chip Roy, immigration, Obama".Politico.2016-02.https://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/cruz-scott-keller-chip-roy-immigration-obama-218932.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  13. ↑ "Sources: Roy tops AG-elect Paxton's hiring list".The Texas Tribune.2014-11-10.https://www.texastribune.org/2014/11/10/sources-roy-tops-ag-elect-paxtons-hiring-list/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  14. ↑ "AG-elect Paxton names Roy first assistant".The Texas Tribune.2014-11-18.https://www.texastribune.org/2014/11/18/ag-elect-paxton-names-roy-first-assistant/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  15. ↑ "Paxton names first member of attorney general team".Southeast Texas Record.https://setexasrecord.com/stories/510624840-paxton-names-first-member-of-attorney-general-team.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  16. ↑ "Chip Roy, former Cruz chief of staff, running for Lamar Smith's seat".The Texas Tribune.2017-12-06.https://www.texastribune.org/2017/12/06/chip-roy-former-cruz-chief-staff-running-lamar-smiths-seat/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  17. ↑ "Chip Roy is betting on desire for change in Washington to get elected to Congress".The Daily Texan.2018-10-08.https://thedailytexan.com/2018/10/08/chip-roy-is-betting-on-desire-for-change-in-washington-to-get-elected-to-congress/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  18. ↑ "Chip Roy's plan to get Washington out of the way".San Antonio Express-News.2018.https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/politics/article/Chip-Roy-s-plan-to-get-Washington-out-of-the-12911492.php.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  19. ↑ "Chip Roy".TrackBill.https://trackbill.com/legislator/us-congress-chip-roy/623-18083/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  20. ↑ "Congressional obstructionist Chip Roy vies for Texas AG job".The Texas Tribune.2026-02-17.https://www.texastribune.org/2026/02/17/chip-roy-attorney-general-texas-primary-2026-paxton-trump/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  21. ↑ "Congressional obstructionist Chip Roy vies for Texas AG job".The Texas Tribune.2026-02-17.https://www.texastribune.org/2026/02/17/chip-roy-attorney-general-texas-primary-2026-paxton-trump/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  22. ↑ "Chip Roy Tests GOP Voters' Appetite for Trump Dissenters".The Wall Street Journal.2021.https://www.wsj.com/articles/chip-roy-tests-gop-voters-appetite-for-trump-dissenters-11623490201.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  23. ↑ "Congressional obstructionist Chip Roy vies for Texas AG job".The Texas Tribune.2026-02-17.https://www.texastribune.org/2026/02/17/chip-roy-attorney-general-texas-primary-2026-paxton-trump/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  24. ↑ "Rep. Roy's SAVE America Act Passes House of Representatives".Office of Representative Chip Roy.2026-02.http://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-roys-save-america-act-passes-house-representatives.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  25. ↑ "Rep. Chip Roy and Scott Presler Sound the Alarm on Election Integrity and Bring the Receipts".Republican Study Committee.2026-02.https://rsc-pfluger.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-chip-roy-and-scott-presler-sound-alarm-election-integrity-and-bring.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  26. ↑ "Chip Roy, Ted Cruz, conservative, U.S. House".The Texas Tribune.2019-07-25.https://www.texastribune.org/2019/07/25/chip-roy-ted-cruz-conservative-us-house/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  27. ↑ "Open Congressional District 21 Sees 15 Candidates to Succeed Congressman Chip Roy".The Texan.2026-02-24.https://thetexan.news/elections/2026/open-congressional-district-21-sees-15-candidates-to-succeed-congressman-chip-roy/article_bae3b40c-f4fd-4efd-8d05-03058a3973f5.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  28. ↑ "Trump looms over Texas attorney general race".Politico.2026-02-18.https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/18/maga-purity-test-plays-out-in-texas-attorney-general-race-00786750.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  29. ↑ "Chip Roy and 'MAGA Mayes' put it all on the line in crowded Texas AG primary".Houston Chronicle.2026-02.https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/chip-roy-mayes-middleton-maga-21124676.php.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  30. ↑ "Chip Roy, Mayes Middleton leading Texas attorney general GOP primary in new poll".Houston Public Media.2026-02-11.https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/election-2026/2026/02/11/543114/texas-march-primary-poll-sid-miller-chip-roy-don-huffines/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  31. ↑ "Texas GOP Attorney General candidates highlight conservative credentials ahead of primary".CBS News.2026-02-24.https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/texas-primary-gop-attorney-general-candidates-conservative-credentials/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  32. ↑ "Governor Appoints Charles 'Chip' Roy of McKinney as State Federal Relations Director".Star Local Media.https://starlocalmedia.com/mckinneycouriergazette/news/governor-appoints-charles-chip-roy-of-mckinney-as-state-federal-relations-director/article_fd0aca76-464a-557b-81a3-bcb8a1f716a5.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  33. ↑ "Rep. Roy's SAVE America Act Passes House of Representatives".Office of Representative Chip Roy.2026-02.http://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-roys-save-america-act-passes-house-representatives.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  34. ↑ "Chip Roy Tests GOP Voters' Appetite for Trump Dissenters".The Wall Street Journal.2021.https://www.wsj.com/articles/chip-roy-tests-gop-voters-appetite-for-trump-dissenters-11623490201.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  35. ↑ "Open Congressional District 21 Sees 15 Candidates to Succeed Congressman Chip Roy".The Texan.2026-02-24.https://thetexan.news/elections/2026/open-congressional-district-21-sees-15-candidates-to-succeed-congressman-chip-roy/article_bae3b40c-f4fd-4efd-8d05-03058a3973f5.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.

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