In a statement, Olson said, “Now, it’s time for another citizen-legislator to take up this mission, not to make a career out of politics, but to help lead in the cause of empowering our people, defending our liberties, and making sure America remains the greatest nation in history.”
He added, “Nancy and I can never sufficiently thank you or fully express the gratitude we have for your support.”
Olson won reelection in 2018 by roughly five points against Democrat challenger Sri Preston Kulkarni. Olson won the four-person Republican primary handily by almost 30,000 votes.
Olson’s general election margin of victory has gradually diminished since his second victory in 2010.
Olson graduated from Rice University in 1985 and the University of Texas law school in 1988. From there, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy as an aviation pilot.
He also served as Senator John Cornyn’s first Chief of Staff.
Texas Democrats released the following statement upon news of the retirement:
“The simple facts are that Pete Olson is too extreme for Texas and represents an increasingly diverse, Democratic district. With the DCCC and Texas Democrats rising up in Texas’ 22nd district, clearly D.C. Republicans told Pete Olson that it’s time to set [sic] aside. We wouldn’t be surprised if there were more retirements because Republicans know their 2020 prospects are doomed.”
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Brad Johnson
Brad Johnson is a senior reporter for The Texan and an Ohio native who graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 2017. He is an avid sports fan who most enjoys watching his favorite teams continue their title drought throughout his cognizant lifetime. In his free time, you may find Brad quoting Monty Python productions and trying to calculate the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow.
