26 Facts About Jared Woodfill

Jared Ryker Woodfill V is a Texas lawyer and political figure who was chairman of the Harris County Republican Party from 2002 to 2014.

Jared Woodfill was elected chairman of the county party for six two-year terms.

Jared Woodfill is known for his socially conservative views and activism, including his opposition to the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance, which was repealed in a 2015 referendum.

Jared Woodfill graduated from Clear Lake High School, the University of Texas at Austin, and St Mary's University School of Law.

Jared Woodfill was formerly affiliated with the law firm Jared Woodfill and Pressler, LLP; his law partner, Paul Pressler, was formerly a state judge and prominent leader in the Southern Baptist Convention.

Jared Woodfill continued to provide Pressler with youthful assistants until at least 2017.

Separately, in September 2018, the State Bar of Texas publicly reprimanded Jared Woodfill, and ordered him to pay $3,490 in fees and expenses.

Jared Woodfill's office was searched in November 2018 as part of the investigation.

In 2024, one of the clients who alleged that Jared Woodfill misappropriated her funds asked federal prosecutors to re-open the fraud case against him; the former client argued that Ogg had mishandled the investigation.

Jared Woodfill was the chairman of the Harris County Republican Party from 2002 to 2014.

Jared Woodfill ran unopposed for reelection until 2010, when he was challenged by three others in an election focusing on allegations of fiscal mismanagement and "a blame game" over Republican losses in Harris County in the 2008 elections.

Jared Woodfill won reelection in 2010, but four years later was ousted from the chairmanship by engineer-turned-lawyer Paul Simpson, who heavily outspent Jared Woodfill.

Jared Woodfill was endorsed by many Texas Republicans on the right wing, including Dan Patrick.

Jared Woodfill has been at the forefront of anti-LGBT movements in Houston and Texas.

In 2015, Jared Woodfill was a leading opponent of the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance championed by Houston Mayor Annise Parker.

In 2017, as editor-in-chief of the group Conservative Republicans of Texas, Jared Woodfill endorsed State Senator Lois Kolkhorst's "bathroom bill" and criticized Joe Straus, the Republican Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, for not advancing the legislation.

In 2019, Jared Woodfill represented two plaintiffs who filed an unsuccessful lawsuit seeking to block the City of Houston from extending spousal benefits to the same-sex spouses of city employees.

In 2015, after Texas Republican Party chairman Steve Munisteri stepped down, Jared Woodfill unsuccessfully sought to fill the vacancy.

In secret balloting among 62 party officials in March 2015, Tom Mechler of Amarillo, an oil and gas consultant, decisively won on the second ballot, defeating Dallas County Republican Party chair Wade Emmert by one vote; Jared Woodfill came in third place, and Republican National Committeeman Robin Armstrong in last place.

In 2016, Jared Woodfill unsuccessfully challenged Mechler in a rematch for a full term as chairman of the Texas Republican Party; Jared Woodfill ran a far-right campaign, with Steven Hotze as one of his leading supporters.

Jared Woodfill withdrew at the state party convention after Republican delegates from 27 of the 31 state Senate districts supported Mechler's retention; Jared Woodfill declared his own backing of Mechler, who was declared elected by a unanimous vote.

Jared Woodfill represented Republican officials and activists in an attempt to block Governor Greg Abbott's extension of the early voting period.

In 2021, Jared Woodfill filed an anti-vaccination lawsuit on behalf of a group of employees of Houston Methodist Hospital who refused to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, as required by the hospital.

In 2023, Jared Woodfill announced his run for state House in the 138th district, challenging incumbent incumbent Republican Lacey Hull.

Jared Woodfill said that, if elected, he planned to run for House speaker.

In 2023, when Paxton was impeached and faced removal from office, Jared Woodfill rallied behind Paxton, and raised money for his defense.