House Republican plans to leave Congress after more than 2 decades in office

Rep. Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican who has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2005, will not seek re-election in 2026.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Michael McCaul, R-Texas, presides over a hearing scheduled with Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, at the Rayburn House Office Building on Sept. 24, 2024 in Washington, D.C. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

"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," the congressman said in social media posts.

"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," he noted.

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McCaul has served in the U.S. House of Representatives for more than two decades.

The lawmaker from the Lone Star State took office in 2005.

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Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 9, 2024 in Washington, D.C. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

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Rep. Don Bacon, a Republican from Nebraska, described McCaul as "a great Congressman, a great American and a great friend."

Alex Nitzberg is a writer for Fox News Digital.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-republican-plans-leave-congress-after-more-than-2-decades-office