Career Timeline of Chip Roy: Major Achievements and Milestones
Discover the career path of Chip Roy, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Chip Roy is an American attorney and politician, currently serving as the U.S. Representative for Texas's 21st congressional district since 2019. A Republican, he previously served as chief of staff to Senator Ted Cruz and as first assistant attorney general of Texas. As a member and policy chair of the House Freedom Caucus, Roy is considered a prominent conservative voice within the House Republican Conference.
4 hours ago : Texas 21st Congressional District: Runoff Likely in Race to Succeed Chip Roy
A runoff election is likely in the Republican primary for Texas' 21st Congressional District, following a crowded race to replace Chip Roy. The primary occurred in March 2026.
1978: GOP first took the seat
In 1978, was the first time since then that a Democrat won as much as 40 percent of the vote.
2002: Worked on John Cornyn's campaign
In 2002, while still in law school, Chip Roy began working for then-Texas attorney general John Cornyn on his campaign for the United States Senate.
2009: Left John Cornyn's Staff
In 2009, Chip Roy ended his time working for John Cornyn, who was by then a Senator.
2010: Ghostwrote Rick Perry's book Fed Up!
In 2010, Chip Roy resigned from his position to ghostwrite then-Governor of Texas Rick Perry's book, Fed Up!, which outlined Perry's political positions.
April 1, 2011: Appointed Director of State-Federal Relations
On April 1, 2011, Chip Roy was announced as Rick Perry's choice for Texas's director of state-federal relations, an office focused on lobbying for federal funds.
October 2011: Served as director of state-federal relations until October 2011
Chip Roy served as Texas's director of state-federal relations from April to October 2011, after which he left the position.
2012: Worked for Perry's presidential campaign
In 2012, Chip Roy worked for Rick Perry's presidential campaign, following his work ghostwriting Perry's book, Fed Up!.
2012: Became Ted Cruz's chief of staff
In 2012, following Ted Cruz's election to the Senate, Chip Roy became his chief of staff.
September 25, 2013: Cruz and Roy met with staffers and Cruz read from Psalm 40
On September 25, 2013, Ted Cruz and Chip Roy met with trusted staffers and Cruz read aloud from Psalm 40, later giving a 21-hour speech against Obamacare.
September 2014: Became top political strategist for Cruz
In September 2014, Chip Roy's role in Ted Cruz's office shifted from chief of staff to top political strategist, as Cruz considered a 2016 presidential campaign.
2014: Appointed First Assistant Attorney General of Texas
In 2014, Chip Roy was chosen by Ken Paxton as the First Assistant Attorney General of Texas, despite controversy over Paxton's election.
September 2015: Praised by Paxton at Pflugerville First Baptist Church
In September 2015, Ken Paxton praised Chip Roy at the Pflugerville First Baptist Church. Roy's response to reporters inadvertently drew attention to Paxton's absence from running the office due to his legal problems.
2015: Participated in lawsuit against Obama's immigration action
In 2015, Chip Roy participated in the lawsuit United States v. Texas, challenging President Obama's executive action on immigration, specifically the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA) program.
September 19, 2016: Became director at Texas Public Policy Foundation
On September 19, 2016, Chip Roy became the director of the Center for Tenth Amendment Action for the Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF).
2016: Left Cruz's Senate staff
In 2016, Chip Roy left Ted Cruz's Senate staff after a disagreement over political tactics and strategy.
2016: Roy criticizes Trump
In 2016, during the presidential primary, Chip Roy supported Cruz and criticized Trump, leading some to label him as committed to the "Never Trump" movement.
2018: Roy praises Trump's job performance
By 2018, Roy's position had changed, and he praised Trump's job performance as president, citing his decisions on the Paris climate accords, regulatory and tax relief, judges, the embassy in Jerusalem, and attacks on the "swamp" in Washington, D.C. He also echoed Trump's position on a "deep state."
2018: Ran for U.S. House of Representatives
In 2018, Chip Roy ran for the United States House of Representatives in Texas's 21st congressional district.
2018: Paul donates to Paxton's campaign
In 2018, Nate Paul, an Austin real estate developer, donated $25,000 to Paxton's campaign.
May 24, 2019: Roy halts House disaster relief funding bill
On May 24, 2019, Roy singlehandedly halted a House disaster relief funding bill that gave $19 billion in relief for communities hit by disasters, including $900 million for hurricane-damaged Puerto Rico, and fast-tracked $4 billion in grants to Texans suffering due to the effects of Hurricane Harvey.
June 12, 2019: Roy derails House procedural process for appropriation bills
On June 12, 2019, Roy disrupted the House procedural process for appropriation bills by making a motion to adjourn in protest of Democratic inaction on Trump's $4.5 billion supplemental funding request for the Department of Homeland Security, which was defeated.
June 28, 2019: Roy proposes legislation to amend the Antideficiency Act
On June 28, 2019, Roy proposed legislation to amend the Antideficiency Act (ADA) to allow the United States Border Patrol to accept donations from people who want to help migrant children directly.
July 2019: Roy accused Ocasio-Cortez of political theatrics
During a July 2019 hearing on border detention conditions, Chip Roy accused Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of political theatrics and playing to her Twitter followers after she asked to be sworn in and related a story about a migrant woman.
August 2019: FBI raid on Paul's offices and home
In August 2019, Paxton claimed that his office had been referred a case investigating an FBI raid of Nate Paul's offices and home which had allegations of crimes relating to the FBI, other government agencies and individuals
March 13, 2020: COVID-19 Pandemic Declared and Roy Votes Against Relief Bill
On March 13, 2020, Trump declared the COVID-19 pandemic a national emergency, and Roy voted against a $2.2 billion COVID-19 relief bill, calling it "welfare".
May 2020: Roy advocates for herd immunity
In May 2020, Roy advocated for 'herd immunity' to combat COVID-19, acknowledging that this approach might entail unnecessary deaths but arguing that the indirect deaths and suffering from lockdowns were also significant.
October 5, 2020: Roy calls for Paxton's resignation
On October 5, 2020, Roy called for Ken Paxton's resignation after seven senior leaders within his office accused him of bribery, abuse of office, and other charges. He criticized Paxton's response to the charges.
November 7, 2020: Roy texts Meadows about election fraud
On November 7, 2020, Roy texted Meadows requesting "ammo" and "fraud examples" related to the election. He also urged Trump to tone down his rhetoric and approach the legal challenge intelligently. Before traveling to Georgia to help fight the election results there, Roy texted Meadows: "Dude, we need ammo. We need fraud examples. We need it this weekend": two days earlier, he had texted Meadows: "We have no tools / data / information to go out and fight RE: election / fraud. If you need / want it, we all need to know what's going on."
November 19, 2020: Roy expresses concern for lack of evidence
On November 19, 2020, Roy texted Meadows to express his concern for the lack of evidence, writing: "Hey brother - we need substance or people are going to break."
December 10, 2020: Roy opposes Texas v. Pennsylvania lawsuit
On December 10, 2020, Roy opposed Paxton's lawsuit Texas v. Pennsylvania, which demanded four other states' election results be overturned. He argued that the case represented a dangerous violation of federalism.
December 23, 2020: Roy Opposes COVID-19 Relief Package
On December 23, 2020, Roy opposed a $900 billion COVID-19 relief package, calling it an irresponsible swamp bill. He agreed with Trump's criticism of the bill, stating that it was filled with wasteful spending and not focused enough on relief.
2020: Democrats seek to associate Roy with Cruz
As the 2020 electoral season approached, Democrats sought to associate Roy with Cruz, whose popularity was seen as in decline.
2020: Roy's coordination to overturn 2020 election revealed
In 2020, over 100 text messages gathered by the January 6th Commission revealed the coordination by Roy with Mark Meadows to overturn Trump's defeat in the 2020 election.
2020: Four-bill spending package
The chamber scheduled for working through amendments through most of the day, with roll call votes not expected until around 5:30 p.m.,
December 31, 2020: Roy warns against challenging election results
On December 31, 2020, Roy texted Meadows, warning that challenging the election results would destroy the electoral college.
January 3, 2021: Roy joins statement against challenging election results
On January 3, 2021, Roy joined fellow Republican legislators in issuing a statement against challenging the results of the 2020 election, emphasizing the states' authority to appoint electors.
January 5, 2021: Preparing Remarks and Concerns About Political Climate
On January 5, 2021, Chip Roy spent the day working on his remarks for the House floor. In the evening, he visited a sports bar filled with Trump supporters and became concerned about the heightened political tensions, prompting him to ask the Hays County Sheriff to watch over his family.
January 6, 2021: Congress's role in presidential election process
Congressional action despite this "would amount to stealing power from the people and the states. It would, in effect, replace the electoral college with Congress, and in so doing strengthen the efforts of those on the left who are determined to eliminate it or render it irrelevant.
January 12, 2021: House Implements Mask Rule
On January 12, 2021, the House implemented a rule mandating masks on the floor, with fines for violations deducted from salaries.
January 13, 2021: Roy defends Liz Cheney
On January 13, 2021, Roy defended Liz Cheney after calls for her removal as chair of the Republican Conference due to her support for the impeachment of President Trump, commending her for defending the Constitution.
February 10, 2021: Roy criticized Biden's immigration treatment
On February 10, 2021, Chip Roy coauthored a letter with 50 other members of Congress criticizing President Joe Biden for refocusing treatment of immigrants under Title 42 health regulations, rather than Title 8.
March 8, 2021: House Vote Disruption
On March 8, 2021, Roy and Marjorie Taylor Greene planned to demand recorded roll call votes on 13 suspension bills, including one to award the U.S. Capitol Police a Congressional Gold Medal, leading to the rescheduling of the votes due to the time that would be required.
March 2021: Roy voiced opposition to earmarks in internal rules
In March 2021, Chip Roy voiced strong opposition to a House Republican secret ballot to return earmarks to internal rules, calling it the currency of corruption. He also signed a letter along with 17 other members promising never to request earmarks for their districts.
May 19, 2021: House Vote on January 6 Commission
On May 19, 2021, Chip Roy did not support the House measure to create the January 6 commission, arguing it was not a responsible way to investigate the issue and that existing law enforcement and congressional committees already had the necessary powers.
June 2021: Robert Lowry files to face Roy in the primary
By June 2021, physician Robert Lowry had filed with the Federal Election Commission to face Roy in the primary, with the possibility of more candidates entering the race by the December 13 deadline.
September 2021: Roy votes against National Defense Authorization Act
In September 2021, Roy was among 75 House Republicans to vote against the National Defense Authorization Act of 2022, which included a provision requiring women to be drafted.
2021: Roy's statement about chaos surfaces
In 2021, a recording of Roy surfaced in which he said he wanted "18 more months of chaos and the inability to get stuff done" during a Democratic-controlled Congress and presidency. Roy's conservative positions have frequently put him in conflict with House GOP leadership.
2022: Roy wins Republican primary and general election
In 2022, Roy won the Republican primary with 83.2% of the vote and went on to win the general election with 63% of the vote after the district had been redrawn to be more Republican.
January 3, 2023: Nomination of Byron Donalds for Speaker
On January 3, 2023, at the beginning of the 118th Congress, Roy nominated and voted for Byron Donalds for Speaker of the House, rebuking Kevin McCarthy. He became a leader in negotiations, seeking to lower the threshold for a no-confidence vote, allow more time to read bills, increase the House Freedom Caucus's role, restrict Republican leadership involvement in primaries, and end U.S. aid to Ukraine.
October 2023: Speaker Election Proposal and Vote
During the October 2023 speaker election, Roy proposed requiring 217 members to support the nominee before a floor vote. After the proposal was tabled, Roy initially supported Jim Jordan but later voted for Mike Johnson, who was elected Speaker.
December 2023: Introduction of DEFUND Act
In December 2023, Roy introduced the "Disengaging Entirely from the United Nations Debacle (DEFUND) Act," aimed at withdrawing the United States from the United Nations.
December 2024: Opposition to Debt Ceiling and Criticism from Trump
In December 2024, Roy opposed raising the United States debt ceiling, leading to criticism from Donald Trump, who encouraged Texas Republicans to consider a primary challenge against him.
2024: Roy re-elected to Congress
In 2024, Roy was re-elected with 61.9% of the vote in the general election against Democratic candidate Kristin Hook.
January 2025: Reintroduction of the SAVE Act
In January 2025, Rep. Chip Roy reintroduced the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act to prevent non-citizens from voting in U.S. elections. The bill, previously passed in the House of Representatives in 2024 but not in the Senate, has been criticized for provisions that may prevent married women from registering to vote.
August 2025: Announced candidacy for Texas Attorney General
In August 2025, Chip Roy announced his candidacy for Texas Attorney General in the upcoming 2026 elections.
December 2025: Cosponsorship of Restore Trust in Congress Act
In December 2025, the Restore Trust in Congress Act (H.R. 5106), which would ban members of Congress, as well as their spouses and dependents, from owning or trading stocks, had 119 cosponsors, including Chip Roy, who initially cosponsored the bill on September 3rd, 2025.
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