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Michael McCaul
Rep. Michael McCaul, official portrait, 118th Congress.jpg
Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
Assumed office
January 3, 2023
Preceded by Gregory Meeks
Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
In office
January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2023
Preceded by Eliot Engel
Succeeded by Gregory Meeks
Chair of the House Homeland Security Committee
In office
January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2019
Preceded by Peter King
Succeeded by Bennie Thompson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 10th district
Assumed office
January 3, 2005
Preceded by Lloyd Doggett
Personal details
Born
Michael Thomas McCaul

(1962-01-14) January 14, 1962 (age 62)
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Political party Republican
Spouse Linda Mays
Children 5
Education Trinity University (BA)
St. Mary's University, Texas (JD)

Michael Thomas McCaul Sr. (born January 14, 1962) is an American attorney, politician and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Texas's 10th congressional district. A member of the Republican Party, he chaired the House Committee on Homeland Security during the 113th, 114th, and 115th Congresses. His district stretches from Austin to Houston.

McCaul became the Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee in the 118th Congress in 2023.

Early life, education and legal career

Born in Dallas, the son of Frances Jane (Lott) and James Addington McCaul, Jr., McCaul has English, Irish, and German ancestry. He graduated from Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas and earned a Bachelor of Arts in history from San Antonio's Trinity University in 1984 and a Juris Doctor from St. Mary's University three years later. McCaul also completed a Senior Executive Fellowship at Harvard Kennedy School.

McCaul worked as an attorney and federal prosecutor before entering politics. He was the Chief of Counterterrorism and National Security for Texas's branch of the US Attorney's office, and also worked under the Department of Justice's Public Integrity Section. After he left, McCaul took a position as a Deputy Attorney General in 1999 with the Texas Attorney General's Office and served in this capacity until 2002.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

McCaul first ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2004 and won a crowded Republican primary in the newly created 10th District. The district, which included part of Austin, the western part of Harris County and several rural counties in between, was thought to be so heavily Republican that no Democratic candidate even filed, effectively handing him the seat.

In 2006 he defeated Democratic nominee Ted Ankrum and former Libertarian presidential candidate Michael Badnarik with 55% of the vote. McCaul was reelected again in 2008, against Democratic candidate Larry Joe Doherty and Libertarian candidate Matt Finkel, 54% to 43%.

Four years later, he was reelected to a fourth term with 76% of the vote against Ankrum (22%) and Libertarian candidate Jeremiah "JP" Perkins (1%). McCaul won a seventh term in 2016 with 179,221 votes (57.3%) to Democratic nominee Tawana W. Cadien's 120,170 (38.4%). Libertarian Bill Kelsey received 13,209 (4.2%).

In 2018, McCaul won an eighth term in the House with 157,166 votes (51.1%) to Democratic nominee Mike Siegel's 144,034 (46.8%) and Libertarian Mike Ryan's 6,627 votes (2.5%). It was the closest race of McCaul's career.

He was elected to a ninth term in 2020, defeating Siegel again.

Political positions

Cybersecurity

U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul addressing cybersecurity at Rice University
Congressman McCaul addressing cybersecurity at Rice University

On December 11, 2013, McCaul introduced legislation to require the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct cybersecurity activities on behalf of the federal government and codify DHS's role in preventing and responding to cybersecurity incidents involving the information technology (IT) systems of federal civilian agencies and critical infrastructure in the U.S. McCaul said the bill was "an important step toward addressing the cyber threat."

Donald Trump

On December 18, 2019, McCaul voted against both articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump. Of the 195 Republicans who voted, all voted against both impeachment articles.

U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul led House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security to visit ISAF Headquarters
Congressman McCaul led House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security to visit ISAF Headquarters

Foreign affairs

United States Congressional Delegation visit to Israel on November 12, 2023 - 5
McCaul with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel, November 12, 2023

McCaul chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

In April 2019, McCaul spoke out against a resolution that would end U.S. involvement in the Yemeni Civil War, saying it would "disrupt US security cooperation agreements with more than 100 countries."

In 2021, McCaul strongly supported President Joe Biden's airstrikes on Iranian targets in Syria.

McCaul said he supports heavily arming Ukraine with the weapons they need to win the Russo-Ukrainian War. He believes the United States should send fighter jets and more missiles to Ukraine. In February 2023, McCaul met the President of Ukraine in Kyiv and advocated for the United States to send more military aid to Ukraine, especially ATACMS.

In April 2023, during a meeting with Taiwanese officials, McCaul compared Chinese President Xi Jinping to Hitler.

Immigration

McCaul supported President Donald Trump's proposals to build a wall along the Mexico–United States border. He supports the Remain in Mexico policy.

Committee assignments

  • Committee on Foreign Affairs (Chair)
  • Committee on Homeland Security

Caucus memberships

  • Founder and co-chair of the Congressional High Tech Caucus
  • Co-founder and co-chair of the Childhood Cancer Caucus
  • Co-chair of the Congressional Cyber Security Caucus
  • Co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Sudan and South Sudan
  • Co-founder of the Congressional Argentina Caucus
  • Tuberculosis Elimination Caucus
  • United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus
  • Republican Governance Group
  • Republican Study Committee

Personal life

McCaul is married to Linda Mays McCaul, the daughter of Clear Channel Communications founder and former chairman Lowry Mays and sister of its former CEO Mark Mays. In 2011, Roll Call named McCaul as one of the wealthiest members of the United States Congress, surpassing then U.S. Senator John Kerry. His net worth was estimated at $294 million, about 300% higher than it was in the previous year ($74 million). In 2004, the same publication estimated his net worth at $12 million. His wealth increase was due to large monetary transfers from his wife's family.

McCaul and his family live in West Lake Hills, Texas, a wealthy suburb of Austin, Texas.

McCaul is a devout Catholic and is considered a notorious critic of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega due to Ortega's stance against the Catholic Church in Nicaragua.

Electoral history

2004 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas: Texas District 10
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Michael McCaul 182,113 78.6 +78.6
Libertarian Robert Fritsche 35,569 15.4 -0.3
Write-In Lorenzo Sadun 13,961 6.0 +6.0
Majority 146,544 63.3
Turnout 231,643
Republican gain from Democratic Swing +81.5
2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas: Texas District 10
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Michael McCaul (Incumbent) 97,618 55.32 -23.29
Democratic Ted Ankrum 71,232 40.37 +40.37
Libertarian Michael Badnarik 7,603 4.31 -11.04
Majority 26,686 14.95
Turnout 176,453
Republican hold Swing -48.31
2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas: Texas District 10
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Michael McCaul (Incumbent) 179,493 53.9
Democratic Larry Joe Doherty 143,719 43.1
Libertarian Matt Finkel 9,871 2.96
Republican hold
2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas: Texas District 10
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Michael McCaul (Incumbent) 144,980 64.67
Democratic Ted Ankrum 74,086 33.05
Libertarian Jeremiah "JP" Perkins 5,105 2.28
Total votes 224,171 100.00
Republican hold
2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas: Texas District 10
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Michael McCaul (Incumbent) 159,783 60.52
Democratic Tawana Walter-Cadien 95,710 36.25
Libertarian Richard Priest 8,526 3.23
Republican hold
2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas: Texas's 10th district
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Michael McCaul (Incumbent) 109,726 62.2
Democratic Tawana Walter-Cadien 60,243 34.1
Libertarian Bill Kelsey 6,491 3.7
Total votes 176,460 100.0
Republican hold
2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas: Texas's 10th district
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Michael McCaul (Incumbent) 179,221 57.3
Democratic Tawana W. Cadien 120,170 38.5
Libertarian Bill Kelsey 13,209 4.2
Total votes 312,600 100.0
Republican hold

Incumbent Michael McCaul faced Assistant Attorney of Austin Mike Siegel in the 2018 general election, winning by 4.3 percent of the vote. This is the closest contest McCaul has faced. The outcome was notable in a district that political experts rated as "Heavily Republican."

2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas: Texas's 10th district
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Michael McCaul (Incumbent) 157,166 51.1
Democratic Mike Siegel 144,034 46.8
Libertarian Mike Ryan 6,627 2.1
Total votes 307,827 100.0
Republican hold

In the November 3, 2020 general election, incumbent Michael McCaul again defeated Austin Assistant Attorney Mike Siegel.

Texas's 10th congressional district, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Michael McCaul (Incumbent) 217,216 52.5
Democratic Mike Siegel 187,686 45.3
Libertarian Roy Eriksen 8,992 2.2
Total votes 413,894 100.0
Republican hold
Texas's 10th congressional district, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Michael McCaul (incumbent) 159,469 63.30
Democratic Linda Nuno 86,404 34.30
Libertarian Bill Kelsey 6,064 2.41
Total votes 251,937 100.0
Republican hold

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Michael McCaul para niños

  • List of richest American politicians
  • Final Report of the Task Force on Combating Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel
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