Mr. Nehls additionally drew conspicuous help from Washington, most notably from Mr. Trump. In an effusive submit on Twitter, the president declared
Mr. Nehls additionally drew conspicuous help from Washington, most notably from Mr. Trump. In an effusive submit on Twitter, the president declared that the departing sheriff “will probably be an unbelievable Congressman for the State of Texas,” praising Mr. Nehls’s robust help for legislation and order, the president’s border wall, the navy and the Second Modification. “Troy has my Full and Complete Endorsement,” Mr. Trump stated.
The Kulkarni camp sought to transform the president’s endorsement into ammunition to capitalize on a possible backlash in opposition to Mr. Trump within the more and more average and Democratic district, telling voters that Mr. Nehls was aligned with a “president who’s underwater on this district.”
Maybe aware {that a} pat on the again from Mr. Trump could possibly be a legal responsibility within the altering district, Mr. Nehls declined to acknowledge the endorsement and purged references to Mr. Trump from his web site after initially declaring help for the president, The Fort Bend Herald reported.
Mr. Nehls enlisted within the Military Reserve when he was 19 and, in keeping with his web site, led troops into fight. He began his legislation enforcement service in 1994, serving two phrases as constable for Fort Bend County earlier than he was elected as Fort Bend County sheriff in 2012. He was re-elected in 2016.
Mr. Nehls has been a well-recognized presence within the district throughout his two phrases as sheriff. He defeated his major runoff opponent, Kathleen Wall, with 70 p.c of the vote. Analysts stated he was higher recognized all through the district than Mr. Kulkarni, regardless of lagging behind his rival in fund-raising. Whereas Mr. Nehls was campaigning for a ticket to Washington, his brother, Trever Nehls, was working to succeed him as sheriff.
Troy Nehls has made legislation enforcement a important element of his marketing campaign message, enjoying up his efforts in efficiently lowering crime all through the sprawling district and his disaster response in stopping looting and conducting rescues after Hurricane Harvey in 2017.
The 22nd District earned nationwide consideration as the house turf for the previous Home majority chief, Tom DeLay, a take-no-prisoners Republican who represented the district from 1985 to 2006. The present consultant, Mr. Olson, gained six elections earlier than deciding to not run in 2020 after narrowly beating Mr. Kulkarni in 2018.