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. He was elected chairman of the county party for six two-year terms. After being ousted from the chairmanship of the county party in 2014, Woodfill launched two unsuccessful campaigns for the chairmanship of the Texas Republican Party. 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his socially conservative views and activism, including his opposition to the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance, which was repealed in a 2015 referendum.

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

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

Role in Pressler scandal Woodfill represented Pressler in a suit alleging inappropriate sexual conduct; the case settled in 2004 for $450,000. Pressler was subsequently sued by a former member of a church youth group, who accused Pressler of raping him, beginning when he was 14 years old. and ordered him to pay $3,490 in fees and expenses.

In 2024, one of the clients who alleged that 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.

Republican Party politics Harris County Republican Party chairman, 2002 to 2014 Woodfill was the chairman of the Harris County Republican Party from 2002 to 2014. 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. Woodfill won reelection in 2010, but four years later was ousted from the chairmanship by engineer-turned-lawyer Paul Simpson, who heavily outspent Woodfill. Woodfill was endorsed by many Texas Republicans on the right wing, including Dan Patrick. In 2015, Woodfill was a leading opponent of the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO) championed by Houston Mayor Annise Parker. The antidiscrimination ordinance prohibited "discrimination in city employment and city services, city contracts, public accommodations, private employment, and housing based on an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, familial status, marital status, military status, religion, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, or pregnancy." Woodfill opposed the prohibition against LGBT discrimination and worked to get a proposition challenging the ordinance onto the ballot.

In 2019, 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.

Unsuccessful campaign for Texas Republican Party chairmanship In 2015, after Texas Republican Party chairman Steve Munisteri stepped down, 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; Woodfill came in third place, and Republican National Committeeman Robin Armstrong in last place. During the campaign, Woodfill criticized Mechler as being insufficiently vocal on conservative issues, while Mechler criticized Woodfill's tenure at the head of the Harris County party organization and said Woodfill, if elected, would institute "purity tests" that would damage Republicans and help Democrats. Woodfill also represented Republican officials and activists (including Hotze, Texas Republican Party chair Allen West, and Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller) in an attempt to block Governor Greg Abbott's extension of the early voting period. Both measures were adopted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Postal Service crisis, and were aimed at increasing voter turnout. and the federal courts. The plaintiffs' complaint falsely characterized the COVID-19 vaccines as "experimental" and mRNA vaccines as "gene modification"; in fact, the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, received emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and do not modify genes.

2024 campaign for state House In 2023, Woodfill announced his run for state House in the 138th district, challenging incumbent Republican Lacey Hull. Although Hull is among the chamber's most conservative members, Hull received 8,835 votes (61.15%) and Woodfill 5,613 votes (38.85%).