Yes, Congress stinks. Two Texas Republicans are coming home. But more can go — for $1M | Opinion

The question is not why flawed Fort Worth visionary Kay Granger or proud Denton County obstetrician Michael Burgess wants to leave Congress.

The question is why anyone else wants to stay.

By all descriptions, Congress is haywire right now. It’s full of chippy would-be brawlers and wannabe TikTok stars, wandering the Capitol with phones held high to tell voters what bill they’re blocking next.

This is our own fault, of course. At nearly every level of politics, we are electing candidates who bring the most bluster or the biggest show.

“I think it represents how miserable it is to serve in Congress,” said Fort Worth-based Democratic consultant Matt Angle, home from 30 years in Washington serving in party leadership and consulting for strong but serious candidates.

“Even if you’re somebody who wears the MAGA hat proudly,” Angle said,“it has become dysfunctional.”

After all, Burgess was one of the first Texans in 2016 to endorse Donald Trump, then faced complaints that he wasn’t Trumpy enough

Obviously, it’s no surprise that Granger, 80, a six-year Fort Worth City Council member and mayor who successfully cut the city crime rate by half, would want to come home from Washington after 28 years, most recently as the House’s chief budget writer.

Burgess, 72, an Aubrey-area resident, has served since 2003 and seems to have accepted Washington’s upheaval with the calm of an obstetrician who has delivered 3,000 babies.

After all, he really didn’t plan to stay this long. In 2002, he was taking time off from delivering babies to campaign against Scott Armey, the son of retiring U.S. Rep. Dick Armey.

Even with then-state Sen. Jane Nelson’s support, in a January poll, Burgess trailed Armey 53%-3%. By April, Burgess was the Republican nominee.

For a day, there was a third Texan leaving Congress in what was quickly called the “Texodus.”

Collin County U.S. Rep. Pat Fallon, 56, briefly said he’d come home after two terms and run for his old Texas Senate seat.

That would have come with a pay cut: from $174,000 a year to $7,200.

But Fallon, a former Air Force captain and founder of the Prosper-based Virtus Apparel military-themed clothing line, could afford it.

A younger teen-age son wanted him home. But an older son pleaded with him to stay.

Why would anyone want to leave Congress for the Texas Senate?

That’s an easy question. In the U.S. House, you’re one of 435 members, and even the majority House Republican Conference can’t get along.

In the Senate, you’re one of 31 votes and the 19 Republicans vote in lockstep.

“It’s a great job, it’s important work and you can actually get bills passed,” Fallon told The Dallas Morning News.

National Republican image consultant Vinny Minchillo of Plano-based Glass House Strategies said there’s no question.

“I’d want to be a state senator more than anything else,” he said. “I’d rather be up front than be a back-bencher in Congress.”

Candidates lined up quickly to run for Granger’s and Burgess’ seats.

The deadline is Dec. 11. But voting begins Feb. 20, with a probable runoff beginning May 20.

That gives candidates only three months for a speed-dating-style introduction and campaign.

That takes at least $1 million right away, Minchillo said. Probably more.

“In a top 10 media market, that’s what it takes to get started,” he said.

In Granger’s seat, 12-year state Rep. Craig Goldman and banker-turned-construction executive John O’Shea of Fort Worth are off to the fastest start.

Goldman is backed by Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker. O’Shea has support from controversy-laden attorneys general Ken Paxton of Texas and Todd Rokita of Indiana.

No clear candidate for Burgess’ seat has emerged. Dallas Republican Luisa del Rosal, a former state House candidate, is the first area candidate and shows fundraising clout.

Southlake Mayor John Huffman, Keller Mayor Armin Mizani, Paxton lawyer Mitch Little of Frisco and former state Rep, Ron Simmons of Carrollton all hint “maybe.”

But some of them don’t even live in the district — that isn’t required for Congress — and most voters in Denton County never heard of any of them.

They have three months to earn a job that might last 30 years.

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