Election 2018: Chairman Jeb Hensarling Won’t Seek Reelection

Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, the Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, announced Tuesday he would not seek reelection in 2018. The Texas Republican, known for being a strong voice in regulating the financial industry, has represented Congressional District 5 in the Dallas area since 2003.

“Today I am announcing that I will not seek reelection to the US Congress in 2018,” Rep. Hensarling wrote in a statement. “Although service in Congress remains the greatest privilege of my life, I never intended to make it a lifetime commitment, and I have already stayed far longer than I had originally planned.”

His district is strongly Republican and the rating on the 2018 PPD House Election Projection Model will not be impacted. Rep. Hensarling won reelection in 2016 with 80.6%, or 155,469 votes, against Libertarian Party candidate Ken Ashby who won earned 19.4%, or 37,406 votes.

The district, which President Donald Trump won with roughly 63% of the vote, includes the southeast portion of Dallas County, from Mesquite to Kaufman, Anderson, Henderson and Cherokee counties. Rep. Hensarling said he wanted to spend more time with his family.

“Since my term as Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee comes to an end next year, the time seems right for my departure,” he wrote in the statement. “Although I will not be running for reelection, there are 14 months left in my congressional term to continue the fight for individual liberty, free enterprise, and limited constitutional government – the causes for which I remain passionate.”

He made it pretty clear that he intends to remain active and has more work to do before retiring from the Republican-controlled House.

” Much work remains at the House Financial Services Committee in the areas of housing finance reform, regulatory relief, cyber security and capital formation to name just a few,” he said. “Furthermore, important work remains in the Congress as a whole – especially pro-growth tax reform. I look forward to continuing this work on behalf of the people of the 5th District of Texas and all Americans.”