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Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, announced Monday that he is seeking the Republican chairmanship of the House Armed Services Committee if Republicans retain control of the House and he wins reelection in November.
Jackson said he would use the position to advance President Donald Trump’s national defense agenda.
“As Chairman, I will work to strengthen our national defense, support our servicemembers and their families, advance President Trump’s Peace Through Strength agenda, and safeguard America for generations to come,” Jackson said in a statement.
Jackson joins Reps. Rob Wittman, R-Va., and Trent Kelly, R-Miss., in the race to succeed current Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Ala. All three lawmakers are also seeking reelection this fall.
Under House Republican rules, Rogers is term-limited from continuing as committee chairman, although he could seek a waiver to remain in the role.
Republicans would retain the committee chairmanship only if they maintain their House majority after the election.
Jackson, a retired Navy rear admiral and former White House physician, currently chairs the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations.
Wittman serves as chairman of the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee, while Kelly leads the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee.
Both Wittman and Kelly have served longer on the committee than Jackson. According to Politico, Wittman is widely viewed as the leading contender for the position.
In announcing his campaign, Jackson also highlighted his fundraising efforts, saying he has contributed more than $1 million to the National Republican Congressional Committee and helped distribute approximately $380,000 to more than 100 Republican candidates.
Jackson, a close ally of President Trump, was nominated in 2018 to serve as secretary of veterans affairs, but his nomination was withdrawn after questions were raised about his conduct while serving as White House physician.
In 2022, the Navy reduced Jackson’s retirement rank from rear admiral to captain after a Pentagon review concluded he had engaged in “inappropriate conduct” during his time as White House physician.
Jackson rejected the findings, calling the investigation politically motivated retaliation by the Biden administration. The Trump administration later restored his rank of rear admiral.