Keith Self
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 3rd district
Assumed office
January 3, 2023
Preceded byVan Taylor
Personal details
Born
Keith Alan Self

(1953-03-20) March 20, 1953
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
EducationUnited States Military Academy (BS)
University of Southern California (MA)
WebsiteHouse website
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1975–1999
RankLieutenant Colonel

Keith Alan Self (born March 20, 1953) is an American politician and former county judge who is the United States representative for Texas's 3rd congressional district. He is a member of the Republican Party.

Early life and education

Self was born in 1953 at a military hospital in Philadelphia and graduated from Tascosa High School in Amarillo, Texas.[1][2] He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from the United States Military Academy in 1975.[3] [4] Self is a life member of the National Rifle Association of America.[1][5]

Self is Protestant.[6][7]

Early career

Self served in the United States Army from 1975 to 1999. He was a member of the Army Special Forces and Army Rangers. He was deployed to Qatar, Egypt, Germany, Afghanistan, and Belgium.[2] He was a candidate to replace retiring U.S. Representative Dick Armey in 2002, narrowly missing the runoff by 93 votes to future Representative Michael C. Burgess.[8] He was recalled to active duty from 2002 to 2003, retiring as a lieutenant colonel.[9] Self was then elected as the county judge[lower-alpha 1] for Collin County, Texas, serving three terms from 2007 to 2018.[10] He was a candidate for Texas's 3rd congressional district in the March 2022 Republican primary, finishing second to incumbent Van Taylor and advancing to a May runoff.[11] After the primary, Taylor announced that he would end his congressional campaign amid accusations of marital infidelity, giving Self the nomination.[12][13] Self won the November general election.[14]

U.S. House of Representatives

Tenure

On January 3, 2023, at the beginning of the 118th Congress, Self voted for Jim Jordan and later for Byron Donalds to be the U.S. House Speaker, in rebuke of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.[15][16][17] "I love the new [U.S. House] rules. I’m looking for somebody that will enforce them", Self said.[15] In the 12th round of voting, Self changed his vote to McCarthy, saying "we are making progress... This will change this House, let’s be very clear".[18] Self was one of 15 Republicans to change their votes.[17][18] McCarthy finally won the speakership on the 15th vote, held early in the morning on Saturday, January 7, with Self voting in favor.[19][20]

As a consequence of the delay in selecting a new speaker, Self was formally sworn in as a member of the House of Representatives in the early morning of January 7, 2023,[21] despite the 118th Congress convening on January 3.[15][22]

Political positions

2020 election

The Washington Post listed Self as a 2020 presidential election denier.[23]

District priorities

During his 2022 midterm election campaign, Self listed his priorities for his district as: "Growth challenges such as transportation, proliferation of drag queen shows that target children (I returned a PAC check to a business that sponsored one) and drugs flowing into our area across the border".[24][25]

Fiscal policy

Self has said that he considers the growth of U.S. national debt "the existential threat that our nation faces today".[26]

Self was among the 71 Republicans who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House.[27]

Gun violence

On May 6, 2023, a gunman used an AR-15 style rifle in an outlet mall shooting that killed eight and wounded seven in Allen, Texas, within Self's district.[28][29] In the aftermath of the attack, Self was criticized for characterizing people who say that prayer alone will not to stop mass shootings as "people that don't believe in an almighty god, who is absolutely in control of our lives".[5][28] He followed up by saying that he did not want to discuss politics so soon after a mass shooting; that Allen remains a "very safe area"; and that calls for additional regulation of AR-15 style rifles, including raising the allowable purchasing age, are “a knee-jerk reaction that does not stop criminals.”[28] Self advocated for arming school staff members with guns and having an armed presence in the public, stating that prayer and full funding of mental health programs are a better remedy for mass shootings than gun control.[5][28] Shannon Watts, the founder of the advocacy group Moms Demand Action, responded: "Faith without works is dead. Prayers without action are empty."[5]

It was soon revealed that the gunman, Mauricio Martinez Garcia, enlisted in the U.S. Army in June 2008, but never completed basic training: he was terminated after 3 months due to mental health concerns.[30][31] Because this was an administrative separation, rather than a punitive discharge, Garcia's termination by the Army would not show up on the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.[32] On May 11, commenting on Garcia's military service, Self characterized him as "exactly the kind of person we’re trying to keep weapons out of the hands of" and said that Garcia's ability to buy guns legally was a loophole that he intends to fix; however, Self denied that he was discussing a red flag law.[33]

Electoral history

2002

Texas's 26th congressional district Republican Primary, 2002
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Scott Armey 11,493 45.4
Republican Michael C. Burgess 5,703 22.5
Republican Keith Self 5,610 22.2
Republican Roger Sessions 1,630 6.4
Republican Dave Kovatch 675 2.7
Republican David Gulling 204 0.8
Total votes 25,315 100.0

2022

Texas's 3rd congressional district Republican Primary, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Van Taylor (incumbent) 31,489 48.8
Republican Keith Self 17,058 26.5
Republican Suzanne Harp 13,375 20.8
Republican Rickey Williams 1,731 2.7
Republican Jeremy Ivanovskis 818 1.3
Total votes 64,471 100.0
Texas's 3rd congressional district General Election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Keith Self 164,240 60.5
Democratic Sandeep Srivastava 100,121 36.9
Libertarian Christopher Claytor 6,895 2.5
Total votes 271,256 100.0
Republican hold

Notes

  1. ↑ A county judge in Texas is equivalent to a county executive in most U.S. states and is so titled because he or she oversees a commissioners' court, although in the less populated counties he or she also presides over the county court that decides matters of law. The judge does not have to be a lawyer.

References

  1. 1 2 "Bio - Keith Self for Congress". Keith Self for Congress. Archived from the original on November 4, 2022. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  2. 1 2 Sayles, Damon (February 22, 2011). "Keith Self: Ultra-conservative, military mindset describes county judge". Star Local. Archived from the original on March 3, 2022. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Keith Self for Congress". Keith Self for Congress. Archived from the original on November 4, 2022. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Keith Self". Ballotpedia. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Hassan, Jennifer; Hennessy-Fiske, Molly (May 7, 2023). "Texas congressman criticized for prayers comment after mall shooting". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023.(subscription required)
  6. ↑ "Religious affiliation of members of 118th Congress" (PDF). PEW Research Center. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 3, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Faith on the Hill: The religious composition of the 118th Congress". Pew Research Center. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Daily Kos Elections Live Digest: 11/29". Daily Kos. November 29, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  9. ↑ Caldwell, Emily (March 11, 2022). "Keith Self, ex-Collin County judge, now GOP nominee for Rep. Van Taylor's seat after incumbent exits". Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on November 10, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  10. ↑ Wigglesworth, Valerie (May 8, 2017). "Collin County Judge Keith Self says he won't seek fourth term". The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on October 20, 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Texas Third Congressional District Primary Election Results". The New York Times. March 1, 2022. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on March 2, 2022. Retrieved March 3, 2022.(subscription required)
  12. ↑ Mooney, Michael (March 2, 2022). "Rep. Van Taylor apologizes for affair with ex-ISIS widow, drops out of runoff". Axios. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Texas Republican drops re-election bid after affair with woman once married to IS leader". the Guardian. March 2, 2022. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  14. ↑ Svitek, Patrick (March 2, 2022). "U.S. Rep. Van Taylor ends reelection campaign after he admits to affair". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  15. 1 2 3 Caldwell, Emily (January 4, 2023). "North Texan Keith Self among Republicans opposing McCarthy in fight for House speaker". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, Texas. Retrieved January 6, 2023. "I love the new rules. I'm looking for somebody that will enforce them," Self said Tuesday after the House adjourned. "That's what I'm working on."
  16. ↑ Fung, Katherine (January 3, 2022). "Full List of House Republicans Who Voted Against Kevin McCarthy for Speaker". Newsweek. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  17. 1 2 McCartney, Allison; Parlapiano, Alicia; Wu, Ashley; Cochrane, Emily (January 6, 2022). "Live Vote Count: Tracking the House Speaker Votes". The New York Times. New York City. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  18. 1 2 Morton, Joseph; Gillman, Todd J.; Alvey, Rebekah; Caldwell, Emily (January 4, 2023). "House adjourned, McCarthy closes in on Speaker of the House after 15 holdouts flip". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, Texas. Retrieved January 6, 2023. "We are making progress," Self said... "This will change this House, let's be very clear," Self said after voting for McCarthy.
  19. ↑ Karni, Annie (January 7, 2022). "McCarthy Wins Speakership on 15th Vote After Concessions to Hard Right". The New York Times. New York City. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  20. ↑ Morton, Joseph; Gillman, Todd J.; Alvey, Rebekah (January 7, 2023). "McCarthy elected Speaker of the House on 15th ballot, ending stalemate". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, Texas. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  21. ↑ "118th Congress Begins" (Press release). United States House of Representatives. January 9, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  22. ↑ Zak, Dan; Terris, Ben (January 4, 2023). "Does the House even exist right now?". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on January 5, 2023. Retrieved January 6, 2023. ... the 434 members-elect could not decide on a speaker of the House […] Rep.-elect Troy E. Nehls (R-Tex.), a Freedom Caucus guy who is nevertheless voting for Rep.-elect Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) […] The 118th Congress has indeed begun … But the House technically has no members and cannot proceed with the business of the American people.
  23. ↑ Adrian Blanco; Amy Gardner (October 6, 2022). "Where Republican election deniers are on the ballot near you". The Washington Post.
  24. ↑ Jennifer Hassan; Molly Hennessy-Fiske (May 7, 2023). "Texas congressman criticized for prayers comment after mall shooting". The Washington Post.
  25. ↑ Matilda Preisendorf (October 26, 2022). "Q&A With Local Politicians: Keith Self". Local Profile.
  26. ↑ Fink, Jack (January 5, 2023). "North Texas Congressman-elect Keith Self on why he isn't voting for Kevin McCarthy". CBS News DFW. Retrieved January 11, 2023. During an interview with CBS11 before Thursday's five votes he said, "I want someone to lead this Republican conference to address the existential threat that our nation faces today." ... That threat he said is the growing national debt, which has jumped to more than $31 trillion.
  27. ↑ Gans, Jared (May 31, 2023). "Republicans and Democrats who bucked party leaders by voting no". The Hill. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  28. 1 2 3 4 Bahari, Sarah (May 7, 2023). "Texas congressman faces criticism for prayer comment after Allen mall shooting". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, Texas. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  29. ↑ Bahari, Sarah (May 9, 2023). "Allen shooting survivor is recovering, out of surgery to remove bullet fragments". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, Texas. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  30. ↑ Kesling, Ben; Gurman, Sadie; Flores, Adolfo (May 8, 2023). "Texas Mass-Shooting Gunman Was Terminated by Army for Mental-Health Issues". Wall Street Journal.
  31. ↑ Margolin, Josh; Thomas, Pierre; Date, Jack; Katersky, Aaron (May 7, 2023). "What we know about the Texas mall shooting suspect". ABC News. Archived from the original on May 8, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  32. ↑ Javaid, Maham; Douglas, Jack; Barrett, Devlin; Horton, Alex (May 8, 2023). "What to know about Mauricio Garcia, the Texas mall shooter". The Washington Post.
  33. ↑ Gillman, Todd J.; Morton, Joseph (May 11, 2023). "Existing gun laws didn't stop Allen shooting; no consensus in Congress on what to try next". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, Texas. Retrieved May 11, 2023. "If the military knows that a man has mental issues to the extent that he's going to be denied continuing his training," said Rep. Keith Self, a conservative, pro-gun rights freshman who represents Allen, "that seems like sufficient reason for them to put it in the national database… That's exactly the kind of person we're trying to keep weapons out of the hands of."... If Garcia passed a background check, Self said, it's because of a "loophole" he intends to fix. "We're not talking about a red flag law here," he said. "We're talking about the U.S. military that has made the determination that this man had significant mental health challenges."
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