This article originally appeared on The Texas Tribune. The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth, was in Congress for over a decade before she narrowly won a bid to become the top Republican on the powerful House Appropriations Committee last year. That's about how long it takes to achieve a position like that, especially on the committee that decides government spending. Her placement there was a big win for Texas Republicans in the House, giving one of their own a considerable amount of clout.Advertisement: But the number of Texans in Congress with Granger's experience has been shrinking dramatically in recent years. This year, six of Granger's GOP colleagues from Texas, including five who would have had at least a decade of experience if they'd remained in their seats past the next election, announced retirement plans — a run for the exits that Democrats termed the "Texodus." House members often come and go, leaving room for new leaders to represent the interests of millions of Texans. In recent years, however, the turnover has been high. That, combined with Democrats taking control of the House, has diminished the overall influence Texans carry in Congress. “Regardless of who in the party is in control, the fact that these members are leaving, obviously that weakens the influence of the delegation,” said Richard Cohen, chief author of The Almanac of American Politics, adding that the delegation "has been known to carry its weight."Advertisement: The Democrats flipping the House in 2018 was perhaps the biggest blow to Texas' clout in Congress. Before Republicans lost the majority, Texans had six committee chairmanships. Now they have one: U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Dallas, who chairs the House Science, Space and Technology Committee. And the wave of new Democrats washed out some powerful Texas Republicans. Then-U.S. Rep. John Culberson, a Republican member of the House Appropriations Committee from 2012 to 2018, lost his seat to Democrat Lizzie Fletcher. Former U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions, a Republican from Dallas, was chairman of the House Rules Committee when Democrat Colin Allred defeated him. (Sessions is seeking to return to Congress in 2020, running for a different seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Bill Flores, R-Bryan.) Another Republican, U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith of San Antonio, chaired the the Science, Space and Technology Committee before he retired and Republican U.S. Rep. Chip Roy took his seat. It will be years until Fletcher, Allred or Roy is in a position to chair a committee — if they stay in Congress long enough.Advertisement: Soon, the state will lose even more powerful members. Among those retiring after 2020, three Texans are the top Republican members of House committees: U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Amarillo, is the ranking member of
As experienced Texas congressmen retire, will the state's sway in Congress decline?
This article originally appeared on The Texas Tribune. The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, R-Fort Worth, was in Congress for over a decade before she narrowly won a bid to become the top Republican on the powerful House Appropriations Committee last year. That's about how long it takes to achieve a position like that, especially on the committee that decides government spending. Her placement there was a big win for Texas Republicans in the House, giving one of their own a considerable amount of clout.Advertisement: But the number of Texans in Congress with Granger's experience has been shrinking dramatically in recent years. This year, six of Granger's GOP colleagues from Texas, including five who would have had at least a decade of experience if they'd remained in their seats past the next election, announced retirement plans — a run for the exits that Democrats termed the "Texodus." House members often come and go, leaving room for new leaders to represent the interests of millions of Texans. In recent years, however, the turnover has been high. That, combined with Democrats taking control of the House, has diminished the overall influence Texans carry in Congress. “Regardless of who in the party is in control, the fact that these members are leaving, obviously that weakens the influence of the delegation,” said Richard Cohen, chief author of The Almanac of American Politics, adding that the delegation "has been known to carry its weight."Advertisement: The Democrats flipping the House in 2018 was perhaps the biggest blow to Texas' clout in Congress. Before Republicans lost the majority, Texans had six committee chairmanships. Now they have one: U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Dallas, who chairs the House Science, Space and Technology Committee. And the wave of new Democrats washed out some powerful Texas Republicans. Then-U.S. Rep. John Culberson, a Republican member of the House Appropriations Committee from 2012 to 2018, lost his seat to Democrat Lizzie Fletcher. Former U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions, a Republican from Dallas, was chairman of the House Rules Committee when Democrat Colin Allred defeated him. (Sessions is seeking to return to Congress in 2020, running for a different seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Bill Flores, R-Bryan.) Another Republican, U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith of San Antonio, chaired the the Science, Space and Technology Committee before he retired and Republican U.S. Rep. Chip Roy took his seat. It will be years until Fletcher, Allred or Roy is in a position to chair a committee — if they stay in Congress long enough.Advertisement: Soon, the state will lose even more powerful members. Among those retiring after 2020, three Texans are the top Republican members of House committees: U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Amarillo, is the ranking member of
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