Which Texas Republican is in line for a Trump White House job?

Without a doubt, President-elect Donald Trump has long had a deep affection for the Lone Star State — or more specifically, its ultra-conservative Republican leaders.

The obvious next step after Trump emerged as the winner Tuesday night is to consider who may join him on his journey back to the White House. He’s made some promises to those who elected him, such as bringing campaign confidantes Elon Musk and Robert F. Kennedy along to help during his return to the Oval Office. 

What Texans are most interested in, though, is who might be leaving the state to join his federal ranks.

Governor Greg Abbott

The governor could be on his way out of Texas for a federal role, according to University of Houston political science professor Brandon Rottinghouse. The ingredients are all there to make him an ideal candidate in the President-elect’s eyes and date back to earlier this year when Trump said he might tap the Texas governor as his vice presidential running mate

While Abbott did not secure a VP spot, his name has been brought up for cabinet posts such as attorney general, the position he held in Texas before his current stint as governor.

"He’s got the legal background that gives him several options for a spot, and he has enough of a national profile and a connection to Trump that he may be a welcome addition to the Trump team," he said. He would likely spend much of his time defending Trump’s immigration policies.

Abbott and Trump have maintained a longstanding relationship, trading words of support for each other’s leadership. The governor endorsed Trump during his most recent successful bid for the White House and defended him when he was convicted earlier this year during the hush money case.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton 

Rottinghaus said there is a good chance that Attorney General Ken Paxton will get a strong look for U.S. attorney general. Trump said so himself at a rally earlier this year, where he exclaimed that Paxton would make a good U.S. attorney general.

"How far that goes. I don’t know," he noted. "There is also a chance that Paxton wants to stay in Texas and run for something here."

The two have quickly rushed to each other's defense, with Paxton challenging Trump’s 2020 election loss and Trump running to Paxton’s aide, calling Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, who was among the group of 60 GOP members of the Texas House to vote to impeach the attorney general, a "RINO" or "Republican in Name Only." Trump also threatened to target any lawmakers who supported impeaching the attorney general in 2023.

The love fest continued, as Paxton endorsed Trump when he announced his campaign to return to the presidency. He also backed the President-elect when he first ran for office and subsequently won in 2016. 

Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick 

Leaving the state to serve at a higher level may not be in the cards for Patrick. Rottinghaus described the lieutenant governor as near the end of his political career, likely wanting to keep it headquartered where he’s had the most success. 

"He has dominated Texas politics, and he wants that to continue," Rottinghaus said. "He is going to run for reelection. He wants to stay in Texas."

Similar to other top Texas lawmakers, Patrick stood by Trump’s side during his hush money conviction, referring to the guilty verdict as an "absolute travesty of our judicial system." Patrick also served as Trump's campaign chair in Texas in the President-elect's previous presidential bids in 2016 and 2020. 

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller

Trump has floated the idea of appointing Miller as U.S. Department of Agriculture Chief during the President-elect’s upcoming term. According to reports, he was previously considered for the same role during Trump’s 2016 term. However, the then-president declined to offer the role to the rodeo cowboy. 

Miller has not broken from his unwavering support of Trump. He regularly boasts that he was the first statewide official in Texas to back the then-presidential candidate in 2016 and continued this trend during this election cycle. 

The commissioner appears poised to accept Trump's role if he is offered it, saying in a previous statement that it was "an honor to be included in the Secretary of Agriculture discussion." 

"There will be plenty of time to talk about Trump's cabinet after he wins in November," Miller added. "Until then, no one will be fighting harder than me to ensure that he does." 

U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul 

McCaul, who represents Texas’ 10th Congressional District, which stretches from Austin to Houston, has been closely involved in several high-profile international conflicts the U.S. has had. For this reason, Rottinghaus said the Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee could become U.S. Secretary of State.

"Although he is not always a Trump fan, he is definitely one to speak his mind, and that is the kind of thing that Trump likes," he added. 

Who else? 

Any departure of Texas’ rock-ribbed Republicans will leave deep holes in the party’s current roster, but opportunities for the possible vacant spots that need to be filled. 

According to Rottinghaus, State Senator Brian Hughes, who has been the source of anti-abortion, anti-critical race theory and restrictive voting legislation, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar and Texas Railroad Commissioner chair Christi Craddick are additional names that are likely in the mix. 

"There are a lot of potential Republican statewide officials-in-waiting," Rottinghaus said. "Republicans are willing to wait their turn, generally at the statewide level for many of these offices, but once the floodgates open, you’ll see many more people interested in running."