Roger Williams
Roger Williams, a Republican businessman who has represented Texas's 25th congressional district since 2013 and served as Texas secretary of state from 2004 to 2007, seeks re-election in 2026 against Democrat Dione Sims.
2026 Races & Market Forecast
Live TruthIndex™ and prediction market consensus for races contested by Roger Williams.
- Born
- September 13, 1949
- Birthplace
- Evanston, Illinois
- Education
- Texas Christian University
Biography & Campaign Analysis
Background
Roger Williams was born on September 13, 1949, in Evanston, Illinois, and was raised in Fort Worth.
He played college baseball for the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs from 1968 to 1971 and was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 25th round of the 1971 MLB draft, reaching the Class A Western Carolinas League in the team's farm system.
He later coached TCU's baseball team and inherited the family automobile dealership that his father founded in 1939. Williams married Patty Jung in 1983, and they had two daughters; she died on January 17, 2025.
Career
Williams began his political career as a fundraiser for George W. Bush's campaigns for governor in 1994 and 1998, and he served as North Texas chairman of the Bush/Cheney 2000 campaign. Governor Rick Perry appointed him secretary of state of Texas in 2004, and he announced his resignation on June 11, 2007. After exploring a run for the U.S. Senate, he announced in June 2011 that he would instead run for the newly drawn 25th congressional district.
In the 2012 Republican primary Williams ranked first with 25% of the vote, then defeated Wes Riddle in the July 31 runoff, 58% to 42%, and beat Democrat Elaine Henderson in November. He was re-elected in 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020, twice defeating Democrat Julie Oliver, and was re-elected unopposed in 2024. Williams chairs the Committee on Small Business, also serves on the Committee on Financial Services, and coaches the Republican team in the Congressional Baseball Game.
2026 race
Roger Williams is running in a 25th district that redistricting redrew for 2026, running from northern Arlington and southern and eastern Fort Worth out to exurban and rural areas including Cleburne, Granbury, Mineral Wells and Stephenville.
The new lines placed two incumbents in the district, Williams and Democrat Marc Veasey of the old 33rd district, and Veasey decided to pursue a short-lived bid for Tarrant County judge. Williams is the Republican nominee.
In the November 3, 2026, general election he faces Democrat Dione Sims, who won the Democratic primary with 60.5% of the vote against William Marks.