Keith Self Bio
Keith Alan Self (born March 20, 1953) is an American politician, military veteran, and former judge serving as the United States representative for Texas’s 3rd congressional district since 2023. A Republican, he previously served three terms as county judge of Collin County from 2007 to 2018. He retired from the United States Army as a lieutenant colonel after more than two decades of service, including assignments with Army Special Forces and Army Rangers.
Self built his public career across military, judicial, and congressional roles, becoming a prominent voice in Texas Republican politics. He holds a Bachelor of Science from the United States Military Academy and a master’s degree from the University of Southern California. He is married to Tracy Groff.
Early Life and Background
Keith Alan Self was born on March 20, 1953, at a military hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As the son of a military family, he grew up moving between duty stations before eventually settling in Texas during his formative years. He completed his secondary education at Tascosa High School in Amarillo, Texas, where he graduated before pursuing higher education.
His upbringing in a military household helped shape his early interest in service and discipline. The values instilled during this period influenced his decision to seek an appointment to a senior military academy. Family support played a central role in his decision to pursue a career in the armed forces.
After high school, Self earned a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from the United States Military Academy in 1975. He later obtained a master’s degree from the University of Southern California, broadening his academic credentials beyond his initial engineering training.
Path to US Politics
Self’s transition into public service began after his long military career. Following his retirement from the United States Army in 1999, he sought opportunities to serve his community in elected office. His first notable political run came in 2002, when he was a candidate to replace retiring U.S. representative Dick Armey in Texas’s 26th congressional district, narrowly missing the Republican runoff by 93 votes to future representative Michael C. Burgess.
During this same period, Self was recalled to active duty from 2002 to 2003, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. After completing his military obligations, he returned to Texas and focused on local politics. In 2006, he ran for county judge of Collin County and won, beginning a 12-year tenure in the role.
Keith Self Career
Early Career (2007–2018)
Self was elected as the county judge of Collin County, Texas, in 2006 and took office in 2007, serving three consecutive terms. As the county’s chief executive, he oversaw budgets, infrastructure, and public services across one of the fastest-growing regions in Texas. During this tenure, he built a reputation as a conservative fiscal manager and strong supporter of Second Amendment rights.
His leadership during a period of rapid population growth positioned him as a leading voice in North Texas politics. Throughout his time as county judge, Self pursued opportunities at the federal level, eventually setting his sights on a congressional seat. In 2010, during his second primary bid for county judge, he drew public attention for quoting Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels while criticizing his opponent, John Muns, a remark he did not retract.
2022 Congressional Breakthrough
Self entered the March 2022 Republican primary for Texas’s 3rd congressional district, finishing second to incumbent Van Taylor and advancing to a May runoff. Shortly after the primary, Taylor ended his campaign amid accusations of marital infidelity, giving Self the Republican nomination without a decisive runoff ballot.
Self went on to win the November 2022 general election, securing the seat. His victory marked his return to elected office after a brief hiatus following his tenure as county judge. On January 3, 2023, at the opening of the 118th Congress, Self voted for Jim Jordan and later Byron Donalds as U.S. House speaker, rebuking House minority leader Kevin McCarthy. In the 12th round of voting, Self shifted his vote to McCarthy, becoming one of 15 Republicans to change their ballots. McCarthy finally won the speakership on the 15th vote in the early hours of January 7, 2023, with Self voting in favor, and Self was formally sworn in that same morning.
Current Term Era (2023–Present)
Since taking office, Self has engaged actively on national security, fiscal, and cultural issues. He voted against the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 and has called the growth of the U.S. national debt the existential threat facing the nation. On July 3, 2025, Self voted for H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Self has been a vocal advocate for gun rights and a life member of the National Rifle Association. Following the May 6, 2023, outlet mall shooting in Allen, Texas, that killed eight people, he drew criticism for suggesting that calls for prayer were inadequate and pushed for arming school staff as an alternative to gun control. He later described the shooter as exactly the kind of person weapons should be kept away from.
On social and cultural matters, Self has called for legislation banning sharia from the United States and, in November 2025, delivered an anti-Islam speech on the House floor. In December 2025, he co-announced the formation of the Sharia Free America Caucus with Chip Roy. The Washington Post has listed him as a 2020 presidential election denier.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the most discussed moments of Self’s tenure occurred during a March 2025 hearing, when he repeatedly misgendered Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender member of Congress, prompting Representative Bill Keating to criticize him on the floor. Self later defended his remarks in an interview. He has also drawn public scrutiny for invoking quotes attributed to Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels, both during his 2010 county judge campaign and during a 2025 congressional hearing.
Keith Self Career Wins
Keith Alan Self has built a record of electoral victories spanning local and federal office. His wins include three consecutive terms as county judge of Collin County and a successful 2022 congressional campaign that returned him to public office at the federal level.
Congressional Highlights
Self won the Republican nomination for Texas’s 3rd congressional district in 2022 after incumbent Van Taylor exited the race, and he went on to win the November general election. His 2022 victory marked his first win in a federal election following earlier unsuccessful bids for Congress in 2002 and the 2022 primary before his eventual nomination. He has continued to represent the district into his current term.
Other Wins and Achievements
Before his congressional service, Self secured three terms as county judge of Collin County, winning elections in 2006, 2010, and 2014, and serving from 2007 to 2018. His long tenure reflected sustained local support in one of the fastest-growing counties in Texas.
Keith Self Family
Family Background and Public Service Lineage
Self was born into a military family at a military hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1953. His upbringing within a household shaped by armed service influenced his own decision to pursue a military career and later a life in public office. The values of duty and discipline from his early years remained central to his identity throughout his time in uniform and in elected positions.
Personal Life
Keith Alan Self is married to Tracy Groff. The couple has been together since 1975, a partnership that has accompanied him through his decades of military service and political career. Self is Protestant and is identified as a life member of the National Rifle Association of America.