Republican · Texas's 13th District · 2026

Ronny Jackson

Jackson grew up in Levelland and started working at 14.

Ronny Jackson grew up in Levelland and worked as a roustabout in the West Texas oilfields to pay for his undergraduate education at Texas A&M.¹ He and his wife Jane have been married for more than thirty years and have three children, two of whom serve as officers in the Navy and Marine Corps.¹

After medical school at the University of Texas Medical Branch, he trained in undersea medicine and emergency medicine in the Navy.¹ He led battlefield resuscitation work with a Combat Surgical Shock Trauma Platoon in Iraq, then joined the White House Medical Unit under George W. Bush.¹ He subsequently led the unit and served as physician to Barack Obama and Donald Trump, and as Trump’s chief medical adviser.¹

Jackson retired from the Navy in 2019 after twenty five years and was elected to Congress in 2020.¹ He chairs the Armed Services Intelligence and Special Operations Subcommittee and the Intelligence Committee’s Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee.² The Navy restored his retired one star rank of rear admiral (lower half) in 2025.³

He faces Democrat Mark Nair in November.⁴ Jackson’s posted immigration agenda calls for stronger border security and stricter enforcement of existing immigration law.⁵ His campaign also emphasizes national security and support for farmers and ranchers.⁶

Record and controversies

Inspector general findings and retired rank

A 2021 Pentagon inspector general report concluded that Jackson bullied and humiliated subordinates, made sexual and denigrating remarks about a female subordinate, and engaged in inappropriate conduct involving alcohol on two presidential trips.⁷ The report found no evidence supporting the separate allegation that he drunkenly wrecked a government vehicle.⁷ Jackson rejected the allegations and said the report was politically motivated; he specifically denied drinking while on duty and sexually inappropriate behavior.⁸ The Navy reduced his retired rank to captain in 2022, but confirmed restoring his one star rear admiral grade in 2025.³

Private club spending inquiry closed

The House Ethics Committee closed its Jackson campaign spending inquiry in December 2024, after investigators questioned payments to the Amarillo Club.⁹ Its statement covering Jackson and other members said there was no evidence of intentional misuse for personal benefit, while identifying compliance or recordkeeping problems in some of the matters it closed.⁹ His lawyers said the membership provided fundraising space, and Jackson denied breaking rules and welcomed the closure.⁹

Rodeo detention and response

DPS video released in August 2023 showed officers taking Jackson to the ground and handcuffing him at a rodeo during a medical emergency, and showed his angry, profane confrontation with a trooper.¹⁰ Officers said he ignored requests to step aside for emergency personnel; Jackson and two witnesses disputed that he had been properly notified.¹⁰ His office described him as briefly detained, and said he was trying to provide medical care.¹⁰ Jackson apologized for his language but said he would again try to help in a life threatening emergency.¹⁰