Texas's 17th Congressional District

Texas's 17th Congressional District is represented by Pete Sessions (Republican), who has held the seat since 2021. Sessions has an overall VoteSee report card grade of C, voted in 99% of roll-call votes on bills this Congress, and votes with the Republican majority 94% of the time. The district includes Waco, Round Rock, and Pflugerville. It takes in all or part of 14 counties; the most populous parts are in McLennan County and Williamson County. About 792,000 people live in the district, and the median household income is $68,232.

Current Representative

Pete Sessions (Republican) has represented Texas's 17th Congressional District since 2021.

• VoteSee report card grade: C
• Attendance in the 119th Congress: 99% of roll-call votes on bills
• Votes with the Republican majority: 94%

See Pete Sessions's full voting record and issue positions →

2026 Election

U.S. House: Texas 17th District

Winner: Pete Sessions.

Incumbent Pete Sessions is running for re-election. 2 candidates were on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot.

• Pete Sessions (Republican), incumbent: raised $1.3M, $1.0M cash on hand; VoteSee report card C; 99% attendance; votes with the Republican majority 94% of the time
• Casey Shepard (Democratic): raised $94K, $78K cash on hand

Polls: No public polls

See the full 2026 race →

District Demographics

• Population: 791,966
• Median household income: $68,232
• Median age: 36
• Median home value: $239,500
• Bachelor's degree or higher: 27.5%

Source: American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, 119th Congress boundaries.

How Sessions Voted Recently

• Not Voting on American Enrichment Deployment Act (Nov 9, 2026) — Passed
• Not Voting on Nuclear REFUEL (Recycling Efficient Fuels Utilizing Expedited Licensing) Act (Nov 9, 2026) — Passed
• Yea on Retire through Ownership Act (Sep 16, 2026) — Passed
• Yea on Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (Sep 16, 2026) — Passed
• Yea on Ratepayer Protection Act (Sep 16, 2026) — Passed

Breaks with the Republican majority

• Nay on Continuing Appropriations Act, 2027 (Sep 1, 2026) — Passed
• No on Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1501) to amend the FAST Act to include certain mineral production activities as a covered project, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 9436) to amend the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 to extend the time period for which certain regulations concerning the North Atlantic right whale are effective; providing for consideration of the resolution (H. Res. 1490) providing for the condemnation and denouncement of socialism in all its forms, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4795) to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit an institution that participates in a nonexpressive commercial boycott of Israel from being eligible for certain funds under that Act, to require an institution that participates in certain programs under that Act to certify that students are not unreasonably obstructed from participating in academic programs in Israel, and for other purposes; and relating to consideration of motions to suspend the rules. (Sep 1, 2026) — Passed
• No on National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027 (Jul 15, 2026) — Failed

Who Held This Seat Before

Members of Congress who previously represented Texas's 17th Congressional District. District lines are redrawn after each census, so earlier members may have represented a different area under this number.

• Bill Flores — Republican (2011–2021)
• Chet Edwards — Democrat (2005–2011)
• Charlie Stenholm — Democrat (1979–2005)
• Omar Burleson — Democrat (1947–1979)
• Sam Russell — Democrat (1941–1947)
• Clyde Garrett — Democrat (1937–1941)
• Thomas Blanton — Democrat (1919–1937)
• Robert Lee — Democrat (1929–1931)

Where the District Is

Texas's 17th Congressional District covers 10,437 square miles of land. Boundaries are for the current (119th) Congress.

Counties

• McLennan County: 34% of residents
• Williamson County (part): 11% of residents
• Angelina County: 11% of residents
• Travis County (part): 9% of residents
• Nacogdoches County: 8% of residents
• Walker County (part): 8% of residents
• Milam County: 3% of residents
• Limestone County: 3% of residents
• Houston County: 3% of residents
• Falls County: 2% of residents
• Robertson County: 2% of residents
• Leon County: 2% of residents
• Trinity County: 2% of residents
• Freestone County (part): under 1% of residents

Largest communities

• Waco
• Round Rock (part)
• Pflugerville (part)
• Huntsville (part)
• Lufkin
• Nacogdoches
• Hewitt
• Robinson

Neighboring Districts

• Texas's 1st Congressional District — Nathaniel Moran (Republican)
• Texas's 6th Congressional District — Jake Ellzey (Republican)
• Texas's 8th Congressional District — Morgan Luttrell (Republican)
• Texas's 10th Congressional District — Michael McCaul (Republican)
• Texas's 31st Congressional District — John Carter (Republican)
• Texas's 36th Congressional District — Brian Babin (Republican)

Texas's U.S. Senators

• John Cornyn — Republican, senior senator
• Ted Cruz — Republican, junior senator

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