Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls explores run for Congress

Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls announced last week he would not seek a third term of office, and dropped hints he is considering battling Congressman Republican Pete Olson for the House District 22 seat.

Democrats are also lining up to compete against Olson, a former Naval pilot who was first elected to Congress in 2008.

Pearland City Council member Derrick Reed threw his hat in the ring this week. Sri Preston Kulkarni, who ran against Olson in 2018, also has announced he will try again to unseat Olson in 2020. Kulkarni, an Asian-American who has served as a U.S. diplomat, received 46 percent of the vote in 2018.

Olson received 51.4 percent. Nyanza Moore, the managing partner of her own law firm and a political commentator, has also announced she will seek House District 22.

Nehls, a Republican, has created a website — nehlsexploratory – in which he is asking Fort Bend County residents whether he should run for Congress.

Nehls considered running against Olson in 2018, and formed an exploratory committee to see what the public thought of his chances. He chose not to run against Olson, but confided to The Herald that he liked the results of his informal poll.

He did not explain what those results were but intimated the public wanted him to run for Congress.

Nehls suggested his twin brother Trever would be an ideal replacement for him as sheriff. Trever, who is presently the Precinct 4 Constable, has hinted he is considering running for Fort Bend County Sheriff.

House District 22 includes Fort Bend and much of Brazoria County and a portion of Harris County. Besides Olson’s hometown of Sugar Land, other cities in District 22 include Katy, Pearland, Rosenberg, Richmond, Missouri City, Fulshear and Needville.

Filing begins in November.