State Rep. Nate Schatzline, a Fort Worth Republican, isn’t seeking reelection to the Texas House of Representatives, he announced Monday.
In a social media post, Schatzline said he was invited to join the National Faith Advisory Board “to equip pastors to step up and speak out about religious freedom, to fight for life at all stages, to stand for family values, and to promote a strong America that puts God first.”
The organization, started in 2021 by religion advisers to President Donald Trump, describes itself as “a national collaboration of faith-based leaders and organizations creating generational change with a strong, uncompromising voice on the issues and policies that matter most to the faith community.”
Schatzline will continue to serve as a pastor at Mercy Culture and continue his work for a group he founded, For Liberty & Justice, which “helps mobilize churches across America to take a stand for religious liberty and Biblical justice,” Schatzline said.
He will also finish out the remainder of his term, which ends in January 2027.
“In order to step into what God is calling my family and I into in this next season, I will not be running for re-election for the Texas House,” Schatzline said in a post on X. “It has been one of the greatest honors of my life to represent Texas House District 93 and to fight for our Texas Conservative values. Thank you to every grassroots warrior, every donor, and every constituent who trusted me and has allowed me to serve you.”
Schatzline represents House District 93, which includes part of North Fort Worth, as well as Haslet, Blue Mound and part of Saginaw.
He first took office in 2023 and serves on the Corrections and Human Services committees. He ranks among the most conservative members of the Texas House.
Schatzline did not immediately return a call or text seeking comment
The Monday post was accompanied by a video featuring Schatzline outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington.
“Over the last few months, with the assassination of Charlie Kirk and everything else that’s going on in our world, it’s never been more apparent that the church has to rise up and be a bold voice in American government today,” Schatzline said in the video. “In fact, I would venture to say that church, if we don’t get involved in politics, politics will most certainly corrupt the church.”
Leaders of the National Faith Advisory Board include Paula White-Cain, the group’s president and founder, who serves as a senior adviser to Trump’s White House Faith Office.
“There’s a fire shut up in my bones to speak the truth, to mobilize the church and make sure that pastors across America are speaking up, not about political issues but about spiritual issues that have invaded political world,” Schatzline said, quoting a portion of Jeremiah 20:9.
Schatzline briefly sought Texas Senate District 9 earlier this year, before exiting the race and endorsing Republican candidate Leigh Wambsganss, one of three candidates running in a special election to fill the North Texas Senate seat.
Steve Sprowls, a Republican on the Northwest school board, announced a bid for House District 93 seat in June. He congratulation Schatzline on his new role, in a Monday statement.
“While he starts a new journey, my mission is the same: fighting to bring bold leadership to HD 93 and giving our community the representation we deserve,” Sprowls said.
Also seeking the seat is Fort Worth District 10 city council member Alan Blaylock. Blaylock, who is running as a Republican, announced his campaign on Monday, following Schatzline’s exit from the House race.
“I’m running to bring battle-tested conservative leadership to Austin,” Blaylock said in a statement.
In a text message, Sprowls, who is a pilot at Southwest Airlines, said he was working and did not have an immediate comment on Blaylock entering the race. He may have a statement later in the day.
The 2026 primaries are scheduled for March 3, with early voting running from Feb. 17 through Feb. 27. Candidate filing for the election starts on Nov. 8.