Michael McCaul
Two Decades of Service, One Lasting Legacy for Austin and Beyond
Issue No. 8, 2025
In this issue: We reflect on Michael McCaul’s 20 years in Congress and the impact of his service on Austin, Texas, and U.S. national security.
Thomas Graham
When Michael McCaul first won election to Congress in November 2004, taking office in January 2005, he represented a district that was recognizably a part of Austin — especially its northern half.
Inspired by his father’s service as a B-17 bombardier during World War II, McCaul devoted the next twenty years to foreign affairs and national security, rising steadily through the ranks of the U.S. House. He ultimately chaired two major committees:
- Homeland Security (2013–2019)
- Foreign Affairs (2023–2025), becoming the first Texan ever to hold that chair.
In those roles, McCaul became one of Washington’s most authoritative voices on terrorism, cybersecurity, diplomacy, and global threats. Few members of Congress matched his blend of legal expertise, counter-terrorism experience, and national-security leadership. His voice was not just heard—it shaped policy at home and abroad.
As McCaul said last Sunday in announcing his decision,“My father’s service in World War II inspired me to pursue a life of public service, with a focus on defending our great nation against global threats, and I have been proud to carry out that mission in Congress for more than two decades.”
For much of that time, his service was anchored here in Austin. Texans across Central Texas –particularly in the city’s north side — knew their Congressman not just as a leader in Washington but as a neighbor with roots in this community.
I recall meeting an Austin tech CEO who considered running against McCaul early in his career, and his consultant connected us for a conversation. Sure, the recent IPO had given the tech exec the financial resources to run, but he lacked the community connections and commitment to service that McCaul brought to the seat. I advised him to save his money.
But redistricting has changed the map. Over the past decade, and especially in the most recent cycle, District 10 has stretched far beyond its Austin origins. What once looked like northern Travis County now includes Texas A&M, Bryan-College Station, Polk County, and deep East Texas.
That shift is not the fault of the Congressman — it is an unintended consequence of political cartography. McCaul’s experience and seniority made him an ideal representative for national-security matters. But a sprawling district imposes real burdens: long travel, new networks to build, and the challenge of balancing Austin’s urban priorities with the concerns of rural counties hours away.
Few in Washington serve because they need to. McCaul never did. With generational family means, he chose service because he believed he could contribute — and because of a sense of duty inspired by his father’s WWII service. For two decades, he did just that — walking Austin’s streets, then Bryan and College Station, listening to their people, and carrying their voices into the highest councils of government.
That commitment translated into concrete results. McCaul helped remake Texas as a leader in national security and defense, bringing the innovation of Army Futures Command to Austin and bolstering America’s cybersecurity capabilities through initiatives rooted in Texas.
McCaul was also the first Congressman to lean in on the Texas effort to attract ARPA-H to Texas, the new Biden administration multi-billion initiative to transcend healthcare using the proven DARPA model.
On Sunday, he announced that he will not seek reelection in 2026, saying he is “looking for a new challenge in the same policy space” of national security and foreign policy. That ambition echoes the spirit of his original inspiration — not for personal prestige, but for service grounded in ideals larger than oneself.
Regardless of his next role, filling his shoes in Congress will be difficult, especially in these uncertain global times. His steady hand, intellect, and principled leadership leave a mark that will not be easily replaced.
It is also worth noting how easily redistricting can weaken the bonds between a community and the people it sends to Congress. McCaul’s legacy proves the value of experience and connection. Austin was stronger for his service. The unintended consequences of shifting district lines should not obscure what made his leadership possible: genuine ties to this community, and a lifelong commitment to defending it and the nation. Preserving those ties matters — not only for Austin voters, but for the strength of leadership our country depends on.
Thomas Graham is the founder and CEO of Crosswind Media & Public Relations, headquartered here in Austin. For more than 30 years, he has called Austin home.
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