AUSTIN, Texas — With the candidate filing deadline a week away, it’s becoming clearer that there will be a shakeup in the makeup of the Texas Legislature.

Fourteen Republicans announced they are leaving the lower chamber, many for higher office or national advisory boards. But after 40 years, state Rep. John Smithee, R-Amarillo, will retire along with state Rep. Stan Lambert, R-Abilene, and state Rep. Sam Harless, R-Spring.

“That last legislative session, although controlled by the Republicans, had a lot of infighting, and on a lot of issues that the very conservative wing won, they were on the wrong side of that in terms of where the Republican Party stood. So looking into the future, they said, I probably don’t want to have to go through another two years of that,” said Brian Smith, a St. Edward’s University professor of political science.

The longest-serving Republican state Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, who is known to break free from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s tight grip on the chamber, announced his retirement. State Rep. Trent Ashby, R-Lufkin, will leave the Texas House in his run for the vacant seat.

“When moderate or even conservative Republicans retire, they’re going to be replaced by very conservative people. So that might pull the Republican Party in the Legislature further to the right,” said Smith.

Long time state Rep. Gary VanDeaver, R-New Boston, announced his retirement Monday, writing he has tried to “ensure rural Texas is positioned for the brightest future possible.”

VanDeaver and former Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan were the House Republicans who opposed private school vouchers even as it passed during this year’s legislative session. Phelan is also not seeking reelection in part because he doesn’t agree with the president’s agenda.

“I never have been a MAGA Republican. I’m not a Donald Trump guy,” said Phelan. “Again, it’s the reason I decided not to be speaker again. I could not carry his agenda through the Texas House.”

Of the seven Democrats leaving the lower chamber, four of them are running for statewide office which has not been held by a member of their party in 30 years. State Rep. Jon Rosenthal, D-Houston, is vying for the Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates the state’s oil and gas industry. Texas Rep. Vikki Goodwin, D-Austin, is running for lieutenant governor.

Prominent caucus members state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, is running for governor, and state Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, is campaigning for U.S. Senate.

“In a worst case for the Democrats is all these people leave the Democratic Caucus, don’t get elected, and they’re replaced by Republicans or Democrats who aren’t very seasoned in the art of politics,” said Smith.

It will be hard to replace the influence of 11-term Texas Rep. Alma Allen, D-Houston, who announced her retirement at the end of the last regular session. She has endorsed her son, former Texas State Board of Education member Lawrence Allen, to replace her. She also plans to help future legislative talent.

“I’m going to help other young people run for office free of charge, no consulting fees, no advice, no nothing. I’m just going to be free of charge because sometimes it’s hard to raise money and people can’t do it. And especially to come and take a job that does not pay anything,” Alma Allen said during her retirement speech.

In the last decade, legislative turnover from year to year ranged from 20% to a high of 46% in 2018, when Trump was elected to his first term, according to the Texas Politics Project.

It’s harder for freshman legislators to have sway within their chambers. And with every House seat up for reelection, an incumbent loss will further shape how the body legislates in 2027.