Houston Reps Skip State of the Union Address

Local officials opt to engage with constituents instead of attending Trump's speech.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Some U.S. Representatives from Houston, including Reps. Lizzie Fletcher and Christian Menefee, are choosing to skip tonight's State of the Union address by President Donald Trump. Instead, they will spend the evening talking with their constituents and engaging directly with the local community.

Why it matters

The decision by these Houston representatives to forgo the high-profile State of the Union event in favor of connecting with their local electorate reflects a growing trend among some lawmakers to prioritize direct engagement with their communities over attending set-piece political events in Washington.

The details

Reps. Fletcher and Menefee, both Democrats, have cited a desire to have substantive conversations with their constituents as the reason for skipping the President's speech. They plan to hold town hall meetings and other local events to hear directly from the people they represent.

  • The State of the Union address is scheduled for tonight, February 25, 2026.

The players

Lizzie Fletcher

U.S. Representative for Texas's 7th congressional district.

Christian Menefee

U.S. Representative for Texas's 9th congressional district.

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What they’re saying

“I believe it's important to have direct conversations with the people I represent, rather than attending a political event in Washington.”

— Lizzie Fletcher, U.S. Representative (Houston Chronicle)

“My constituents deserve my full attention, and I'm looking forward to hearing their concerns and priorities firsthand tonight.”

— Christian Menefee, U.S. Representative (Houston Chronicle)

The takeaway

The decision by these Houston representatives to forgo the State of the Union address in favor of direct engagement with their constituents reflects a growing trend among lawmakers to prioritize local outreach and community-based policymaking over high-profile national events.