Trump Endorses Nehls Brother, Secures MAGA Hold on Texas 22nd

Paul Riverbank, 12/5/2025Trump endorses Trever Nehls in Texas 22, intensifying MAGA-family politics amid shifting GOP competition.

Yet before the turkey leftovers were cleared, a new campaign sprang up—one with a nearly identical face. Trever Nehls, Troy’s twin brother and a man of considerable public service himself, wasted little time launching his own bid. The two Nehls brothers look similar, but their resumes, while overlapping, diverge at critical points. Trever boasts a stint as Fort Bend County Constable and carries the rank of retired Army Colonel, conjuring up a record thick with law-and-order credentials and defense bona fides.

Stealing a page from Texas campaign lore, where timing and endorsements are sometimes worth more than old-school handshakes, Trever unveiled the kind of letter of recommendation candidates can only dream of: a ringing endorsement from former President Donald Trump. “A MAGA warrior,” Trump bellowed on his Truth Social account, praising Trever’s service and allegiance to the movement that still shapes the Republican Party from the panhandle to the Gulf. For supporters in the 22nd Congressional District, nestled southwest of Houston, the message needed little translation—Trump remains the district’s bell cow.

Troy Nehls, meanwhile, gave his brother an endorsement with a sibling’s certainty: “He won’t need on-the-job training.” No surprise there. The two have shared many stages before, and Troy’s support serves as a family handoff—though local histories remind us such transfers are rarely guaranteed.

Consider, for example, Trever’s earlier attempt to replace Troy as county sheriff. Despite his name recognition, he lost that race to Democrat Eric Fagan, a result that’s a regular footnote in county conversations about the shifting tides of local politics. Success isn’t always a matter of lineage or party lines, even in red districts.

Still, Trever’s path is fortified by Trump’s praise, especially when stacked against a growing field. Jacey Jetton, a former state legislator, stepped into the fray early, adding an element of competition that ensures the race won’t be a sleepwalk. There were whispers about Pierce Bush, scion of the famous political dynasty, but he chose not to run, sidelining any Bush-versus-Trump proxy drama before it truly began.

Trever’s campaign is not a surprise for those who’ve watched Texas politics evolve in the Trump era. His pitch echoes the one his brother made: strong borders, an aggressive defense of conservative values, a veneration of law enforcement, and, perhaps most pointedly, unflinching loyalty to Trump. There are the usual promises—entrenching executive orders in law, fighting the “reckless and radical” Democratic agenda—but delivered in a voice that trades on both family legacy and present-day political realities.

Watching the 22nd District prepare for yet another high-profile contest, it’s easy to be struck by how some things change while others hold steady. The faces on campaign mailers may be familiar, the slogans similar, yet the undercurrents are ever-present. Texas primaries are nothing if not unpredictable—alliances shift, voters deliver surprises, and what looks like a coronation one week can turn into a contest the next.

For now, the Nehls connection remains the headline, burnished by presidential approval and buoyed by years of service in uniforms both local and federal. Yet the field isn’t empty, and the voters of the district—whose preferences have kept Democrats at bay for decades—will have the final say. As ballots are prepared and ads begin to air, one thing is clear: in Texas’ 22nd Congressional District, politics is still a family affair, but the outcome isn’t written until the last vote is counted.

The Nehls family name, stitched tightly into the fabric of Fort Bend County, is set for another spin through Texas politics—though perhaps with a new monogram on the office door. Word arrived swiftly after Thanksgiving: Troy Nehls, the district’s current congressman and a face long familiar to lawmen and local politicos alike, would not be on the ballot in 2026. Retiring, he said. Time to put his wife and daughters first after three decades in positions that rarely lent themselves to family dinners.Yet before the turkey leftovers were cleared, a new campaign sprang up—one with a nearly identical face. Trever Nehls, Troy’s twin brother and a man of considerable public service himself, wasted little time launching his own bid. The two Nehls brothers look similar, but their resumes, while overlapping, diverge at critical points. Trever boasts a stint as Fort Bend County Constable and carries the rank of retired Army Colonel, conjuring up a record thick with law-and-order credentials and defense bona fides.Stealing a page from Texas campaign lore, where timing and endorsements are sometimes worth more than old-school handshakes, Trever unveiled the kind of letter of recommendation candidates can only dream of: a ringing endorsement from former President Donald Trump. “A MAGA warrior,” Trump bellowed on his Truth Social account, praising Trever’s service and allegiance to the movement that still shapes the Republican Party from the panhandle to the Gulf. For supporters in the 22nd Congressional District, nestled southwest of Houston, the message needed little translation—Trump remains the district’s bell cow.Troy Nehls, meanwhile, gave his brother an endorsement with a sibling’s certainty: “He won’t need on-the-job training.” No surprise there. The two have shared many stages before, and Troy’s support serves as a family handoff—though local histories remind us such transfers are rarely guaranteed.Consider, for example, Trever’s earlier attempt to replace Troy as county sheriff. Despite his name recognition, he lost that race to Democrat Eric Fagan, a result that’s a regular footnote in county conversations about the shifting tides of local politics. Success isn’t always a matter of lineage or party lines, even in red districts.Still, Trever’s path is fortified by Trump’s praise, especially when stacked against a growing field. Jacey Jetton, a former state legislator, stepped into the fray early, adding an element of competition that ensures the race won’t be a sleepwalk. There were whispers about Pierce Bush, scion of the famous political dynasty, but he chose not to run, sidelining any Bush-versus-Trump proxy drama before it truly began.Trever’s campaign is not a surprise for those who’ve watched Texas politics evolve in the Trump era. His pitch echoes the one his brother made: strong borders, an aggressive defense of conservative values, a veneration of law enforcement, and, perhaps most pointedly, unflinching loyalty to Trump. There are the usual promises—entrenching executive orders in law, fighting the “reckless and radical” Democratic agenda—but delivered in a voice that trades on both family legacy and present-day political realities.Watching the 22nd District prepare for yet another high-profile contest, it’s easy to be struck by how some things change while others hold steady. The faces on campaign mailers may be familiar, the slogans similar, yet the undercurrents are ever-present. Texas primaries are nothing if not unpredictable—alliances shift, voters deliver surprises, and what looks like a coronation one week can turn into a contest the next.For now, the Nehls connection remains the headline, burnished by presidential approval and buoyed by years of service in uniforms both local and federal. Yet the field isn’t empty, and the voters of the district—whose preferences have kept Democrats at bay for decades—will have the final say. As ballots are prepared and ads begin to air, one thing is clear: in Texas’ 22nd Congressional District, politics is still a family affair, but the outcome isn’t written until the last vote is counted.