Pete Sessions
U.S. House · TX-17 · Republicans · since 2025
alsoCandidate for U.S. House · TX-17
Biography
Overview
Pete Sessions is a Republican U.S. Representative from Texas's 17th congressional district, first elected to this seat in 2020. He previously served in Congress from 1997 to 2019, representing Dallas-based districts, before losing his reelection bid to Democrat Colin Allred in 2018. Sessions returned to Congress after winning the 17th district seat in 2020, which is based in his hometown of Waco. He has held several leadership positions, including chair of the House Rules Committee (2013–2019) and former chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee.
Career
Sessions was a key figure in the 2010 election cycle as chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee when Republicans gained 63 House seats. He chaired the House Rules Committee from 2013 to 2019. In his recent term, he has advanced legislation on fraud prevention and government accountability. Sessions is known for supporting military equipment transfer programs, tax and regulatory issues affecting his district, and conservative healthcare positions. He voted to overturn the 2020 election results and against the second impeachment of President Trump.
Prior political experience
Sessions was first elected to Congress in 1996 in the 5th District with 47% of the vote. He was reelected in 1998 (56%), 2000 (54%), and 2002 (68%). In 2004, he defeated 13-term incumbent Martin Frost 54–44% in a high-profile race. He won reelection in 2010 and 2012. Sessions lost his reelection bid in 2018 to Democrat Colin Allred. In 2020, he announced his candidacy for Texas's 17th congressional district and won a crowded 12-way Republican primary before defeating healthcare executive Renee Swann in a runoff, securing the nomination in this heavily Republican district.
Biographical material adapted from the Wikipedia article (retrieved April 29, 2026), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Ideology
Liberal–Conservative (DW-NOMINATE dim 1)
Secondary axis (DW-NOMINATE dim 2)(?)
Campaigns targeting Pete Sessions
No active campaigns target Pete Sessions right now.
Start a campaign targeting Pete SessionsOfficeholding history
| Term | Seat | Term dates | Termination | Predecessor | Successor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd | U.S. House TX-17 | 2025–present | In progress | Pete Sessions | — |
| 2nd | U.S. House TX-17 | 2023–2025 | Term ended | Pete Sessions | Pete Sessions |
| 1st | U.S. House TX-17 | 2021–2023 | Term ended | — | Pete Sessions |
| 8th | U.S. House TX-32 | 2017–2019 | Term ended | Pete Sessions | Julie Johnson |
| 7th | U.S. House TX-32 | 2015–2017 | Term ended | Pete Sessions | Pete Sessions |
| 6th | U.S. House TX-32 | 2013–2015 | Term ended | Pete Sessions | Pete Sessions |
| 5th | U.S. House TX-32 | 2011–2013 | Term ended | Pete Sessions | Pete Sessions |
| 4th | U.S. House TX-32 | 2009–2011 | Term ended | Pete Sessions | Pete Sessions |
| 3rd | U.S. House TX-32 | 2007–2009 | Term ended | Pete Sessions | Pete Sessions |
| 2nd | U.S. House TX-32 | 2005–2007 | Term ended | Pete Sessions | Pete Sessions |
| 1st | U.S. House TX-32 | 2003–2005 | Term ended | — | Pete Sessions |
| 3rd | U.S. House TX-5 | 2001–2003 | Term ended | Pete Sessions | Lance Gooden |
| 2nd | U.S. House TX-5 | 1999–2001 | Term ended | Pete Sessions | Pete Sessions |
| 1st | U.S. House TX-5 | 1997–1999 | Term ended | — | Pete Sessions |
Committee assignments
- Government OperationsHouseChairman· 2025–present
- House· 2025–present
- Health Care and Financial ServicesHouse· 2025–present
- Capital MarketsHouse· 2025–present
- National Security, Illicit Finance, and International Financial InstitutionsHouse· 2025–present
- House· 2025–present
Current term legislation
Bills sponsored this term10
- H.R. 8290
Exchange Rate Accountability Act of 2026
Apr 15, 2026REPORTED - H.R. 8312
To establish fraud prevention and program integrity functions and data sharing authorities within the Department of Treasury and a permanent governmentwide Inspector General for Fraud, Accountability, and Recovery, and for other purposes.
Apr 15, 2026REPORTED - H.R. 7953
FAIR ACT
Mar 17, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7270
Stop Identity Fraud and Identity Theft Act of 2026
Jan 27, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7050
Homeopathic Drug Product Safety, Quality, and Transparency Act
Jan 14, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 6412
Independence Investment Fund Act
Dec 3, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 5125
District of Columbia Judicial Nominations Reform Act of 2025
Sep 4, 2025INTRODUCED - H.R. 4863
Fairness for Khobar Act of 2025
Aug 1, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 3420
Words Matter Act of 2025
May 15, 2025REPORTED - H.R. 3417
Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act of 2025
May 14, 2025IN_COMMITTEE
Bills cosponsored this term10
- H.R. 8340
Taxpayer Funds Oversight and Accountability Act
Apr 16, 2026REPORTED - H.R. 8205
Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Reauthorization Act of 2026
Apr 6, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7936
Bioindustrial Scale-Up for Supply Chains and Energy Resiliency Act of 2026
Mar 16, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7678
Gun Owner Registration Information Protection Act
Feb 25, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7622
Iran Human Rights, Internet Freedom, and Accountability Act of 2026
Feb 20, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7442
National Bridge Funding Reform Act
Feb 9, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7312
No More SCAMS Act
Feb 2, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7296
SAVE America Act
Jan 30, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7300
Make Elections Great Again Act
Jan 30, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7265
Vote by Mail Tracking Act
Jan 27, 2026REPORTED
Elections
| Year | Seat | Result | Vote share | Field |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | U.S. House TX-17 | Lost | 30.91% |
|