Before he was a congressman, Nathaniel Moran spent two years as a cadet at West Point and later became the Smith County judge — pulled into the job when his predecessor retired mid-term.
Moran grew up in Whitehouse, Texas, served on the Tyler City Council, and then was appointed and later elected Smith County Judge before winning Texas's 1st Congressional District seat in 2022. He is seeking re-election in 2026 with an endorsement from President Trump, running on a record of border-security funding fights and support for the oil and gas industry that powers East Texas. He and his wife Kyna have four children.
Moran’s take on Texas values
Moran publicly defended Texas's 2025 mid-decade congressional redistricting push (backed by the Trump White House to protect GOP seats), calling Democratic lawmakers who blocked the vote 'unfortunate' for fleeing the state, rather than treating the redraw as rigging. [KLTV]