Texas Republican Rep. Jodey Arrington announces that he will not seek reelection

By 
 November 11, 2025

Since coming to Washington in 2017, Texas Republican Rep. Jodey Arrington has risen to become chairman of the House Budget Committee.

Yet the GOP lawmaker announced earlier this week that he will quit the role and not run for reelection next year. 

Congressman doesn't view politics as "a career"

"I have a firm conviction, much like our founders did, that public service is a lifetime commitment, but public office is and should be a temporary stint in stewardship, not a career," Arrington told Fox News.

"It was a very unique, generational impact opportunity, to be almost ten years into this and to have the budget chairmanship, and to lead the charge to successfully pass that and to help this president fulfill his mandate from the people. It just seems like a good and right place to leave it," he continued.

While Arrington celebrated the "multiple legislative items" he has worked on, the congressman said he is "most proud of" helping to change "the narrative and the culture in Congress and in my party."

What's more, Arrington spoke of "raising the profile among urban and suburban members as to the unique challenges of rural America and the unique contributions of rural America."

Arrington hopeful about "reversing the curse" of public debt

That includes highlighting "food security and energy independence and how much the nation depends on these plow boys and cowboys in rural areas."

Arrington also expressed optimism over whether Republicans could find success in reducing government spending, thereby "reversing the curse" of public debt.

"The president's committed to it, he talks about it all the time. He's actually doing something about it with very difficult decisions, not politically popular decisions," he said.

"This is all about political will," Arrington insisted. "Trump's doing it. Mike Johnson is committed to it… And we have a growing number of fiscal hawks who are absolutely dogged on this issue."

Lawmaker will fight for another budget reconciliation bill

Arrington further pledged that he will dedicate his remaining time on Capitol Hill towards pursuing another budget reconciliation bill.

"I don't know where the Senate Republicans are. I don't know where the president is and can't speak for the White House," he acknowledged before declaring that "the House is at the ready."

"It's been our most consequential tool to support the president and the strength of the country, and I don't see any reason we wouldn't utilize it to its fullest extent," Arrington asserted.

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