After serving more than ten years in the Texas House, Republican State Rep. Matt Schaefer of Tyler announced he will not be seeking re-election.
In a post on X, Schaefer said it was “time for the next conservative leader to be the voice of House District 6 in Austin.”
“God instituted civil government, He chooses its leaders, and He has called ‘we the people’ to be good stewards of authority. So to God be the glory for the privilege to serve my fellow Texans in this capacity for 12 years,” said Schaefer.
I will not seek re-election to the Texas House of Representatives in 2024. It’s time for the next conservative leader to be the voice of House District 6 in Austin. God instituted civil government, He chooses its leaders, and He has called ‘we the people’ to be good stewards of…
— Matt Schaefer (@RepMattSchaefer) August 14, 2023
In his announcement, Schaefer opened the door to a possible future run for higher office.
“Future elected office remains in God’s hands. If our outstanding State Senator Bryan Hughes ever chooses higher office, I will strongly consider running for the Texas Senate,” said Schaefer.
Hughes, who has been in the Senate since 2017, has not indicated any immediate plans to run for a different office.
Schaefer is currently the chair of the House Freedom Caucus and serves on the Licensing and Administrative Procedures Committee as well as the Public Education Committee. In the most recent legislative session, he earned a 90 on the Fiscal Responsibility Index from Texans for Fiscal Responsiblity. In 2021, Schaefer authored the state’s constitutional carry law, removing the requirement to obtain a license to carry a handgun.
House District 6 encompasses a portion of Smith County in east Texas, including the city of Tyler.
