In a blistering farewell address on the House floor Thursday, outgoing Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) accused his own party of abandoning its constituents in favor of internal power struggles, a critique that landed just days after Republicans lost control of both chambers in the midterm elections.
Roy, who will vacate his seat on Jan. 3 after an unsuccessful bid for Texas attorney general, spoke for nearly 30 minutes in what could be his final speech as a congressman. He did not mince words about the GOP's recent setbacks, arguing that the party's fixation on political maneuvering—rather than the needs of everyday Americans—was the root cause of its electoral defeats.
“It pisses me off,” Roy said. “The arrogance of the powers that be, the masters of the universe who tell you that that’s what you have to do. And when you pursue political power over the people, you lose, and that’s what happened.”
The Texas Republican has been vocal in recent days about his frustration with the party's direction, particularly its decision to back state Attorney General Ken Paxton in the GOP primary against incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX). Paxton, who later lost the general election to Democrat James Talarico, had faced impeachment and acquittal over allegations of improper favors to donors.
“Somebody tell me why Republicans lost last Tuesday,” Roy said, referencing Paxton's campaign. “I’ll say it’s because they were focused on themselves and the ruling class and not the people. The founders gave us a system that does put the people first, and when politicians forget that, they rightly get sent home.”
Roy also cautioned Democrats not to overinterpret their victories, warning that public sentiment remains volatile. “The people right now are not in love with either party,” he said. “Democrats who right now think they’re all fired up that they’re on some sort of wave, no sir. Republicans who think they’ve got all the answers, ‘Oh, if we’d have just not done Iran, man, we were just sailing along.’ No. It’s the people who are tired of seeing corporate crony government interests steamroll their way of life, steamroll their community.”
Despite his frustration, Roy urged his party to use its remaining time in power to push forward legislative priorities, including a congressional stock trading ban, border security measures, and a reconciliation package. “These are the things that people sent us here to do and more,” he said, “all designed to try to preserve and protect our great country, to actually secure it.”
Roy’s remarks underscore the deep fissures within the GOP as it grapples with its future direction. His critique of the party's focus on fast-tracking legislative wins before the power shift reflects a broader anxiety among conservatives about the party's priorities. Meanwhile, Democrats are already mapping their own path forward in the lame-duck session, as both parties eye the upcoming Congress.
