Scott Turner
2025 - Present
2029
0
Scott Turner is the secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in President Donald Trump's (R) second term. The Senate voted 55-44 to confirm Turner on February 5, 2025. Trump announced on November 22, 2024, that he had selected Turner as his nominee for HUD secretary.[1] Turner is also a former member of the Texas House of Representatives, former director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump's first term, and former chair of the Center for Education Opportunity at the America First Policy Institute.[2][3]
During his hearing with the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, Turner said his goal as secretary would be, "to help people get off government assistance, become self-sustainable and achieve the American dream."[4] Turner also said, "There are many factors to why housing is so expensive now, and I believe first we need to get our own fiscal house in order. ... What I do support is maximizing the budget that we do have…and making sure that the programs that we do have are meeting the intended need and serving those they are intended to serve.”[5]
Turner was born and raised in Richardson, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. He earned a bachelor's degree in speech communications from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He played in the NFL from 1995 to 2004, including for the Washington Redskins, San Diego Chargers, and the Denver Broncos.[2] During his offseasons in the NFL, Turner interned for former U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter (R), later working for the congressman full-time after retiring from football.[2] In 2006, Turner ran unsuccessfully in a special election for California's 50th Congressional District. Turner lost in the Republican primary and received about 1.5% of the vote.[6] From 2007 to 2023, Turner worked as the Chief Inspiration Officer at Systemware, a software company.[7]
Turner served in the Texas House from 2013 to 2017 representing District 33. He defeated Michael Carrasco (L) 85.3% to 14.7% in the 2012 general election. Turner ran for re-election unopposed in 2014 and did not run in 2016. In 2015, Turner ran for Texas House speaker against incumbent Joe Straus (R).[8] According to The Texas Tribune this was the first time the House had held a contested vote for speaker since 1975. In a December 2014 radio interview, Turner said he would use the speakership to help pass conservative policies on school choice and immigration.[9] Turner also said, “I came to the House to make a difference, not just in my district but in our state, and the way you make that difference is standing on your principles and your convictions and not being one that can be bought or sold out to the special interests or the lobby or what have you. I think that represents the speaker and I. I’m conservative. I have a record. I don’t just talk about it."[10] In the election, Straus defeated Turner 128-19.[8] [11][12]
In his role as director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump's first term, Turner focused on a program called "Opportunity Zones" which was created by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and offered tax incentives to investors in low income areas.[13] [5] Turner said he hoped to expand this program as HUD secretary in addition to other policies from Trump's first term, "This moment is not just about fixing what’s broken. It’s about continuing and expanding the policies from the first Trump administration — policies that worked."[4]
Following Trump's first term, Turner worked as Chief Visionary Officer at JPI, a real estate development company, and as CEO and founder of the Community Engagement & Opportunity Council, a nonprofit focused on sports, mentorship, and economic opportunity.[7] He was also an associate pastor at the Prestonwood Baptist Church.[14]
Biography
Turner grew up in Richardson, Texas, a Dallas suburb. He received a bachelor's degree in speech communications from the University of Illinois in 1995, where he also played football and track.[15] After graduating, Turner began playing in the National Football League (NFL). Turner played for the Washington Commanders, the San Diego Chargers, and the Denver Broncos before retiring in 2003.[16]
After his time in the NFL, Turner interned with former U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.).[17] Turner first ran for public office in 2006 to represent California's 50th Congressional District in the U.S. House.[2] In 2012, Turner won election to the Texas House of Representatives. He was re-elected in 2014.[18]
During Donald Trump's (R) first presidential term, Turner was the director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council. His professional experience outside of politics includes working as a motivational speaker and author.[2] From 2007 to 2023, Turner worked at Systemware, a software company, as chief inspiration officer.[15]
Nomination for secretary of housing and urban development
- See also: Donald Trump presidential transition, 2024-2025 and Confirmation process for Scott Turner for secretary of housing and urban development
Donald Trump's Cabinet (second term) | ||
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Candidate: Scott Turner | ||
Position: Secretary of Housing and Urban Development | ||
![]() | Announced: | November 22, 2024 |
![]() | Hearing: | January 16, 2025 |
![]() | Committee: | Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs |
![]() | Reported: | Favorable (13-11) |
![]() | Confirmed: | February 5, 2025 |
![]() | Vote: | 55-44 |
Trump announced on November 22, 2024, that he had selected Turner as his nominee for secretary of Housing and Urban Development in his second presidential term. In a statement, Trump said, "Scott is an NFL Veteran, who, during my First Term, served as the First Executive Director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council (WHORC), helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country's most distressed communities."[19]
The Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee held a confirmation hearing for Turner on January 16, 2025.[20] The Senate voted 55-44 to confirm Turner on February 5, 2025. Click here to read more about the confirmation process.
Senate vote on Scott Turner's nomination for secretary of housing and urban development (February 5, 2025) | |||
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Angela Alsobrooks | ![]() |
Maryland | Not Voting |
Tammy Baldwin | ![]() |
Wisconsin | Nay |
Jim Banks | ![]() |
Indiana | Yea |
John Barrasso | ![]() |
Wyoming | Yea |
Michael F. Bennet | ![]() |
Colorado | Nay |
Marsha Blackburn | ![]() |
Tennessee | Yea |
Richard Blumenthal | ![]() |
Connecticut | Nay |
Lisa Blunt Rochester | ![]() |
Delaware | Nay |
Cory Booker | ![]() |
New Jersey | Nay |
John Boozman | ![]() |
Arkansas | Yea |
Katie Britt | ![]() |
Alabama | Yea |
Ted Budd | ![]() |
North Carolina | Yea |
Maria Cantwell | ![]() |
Washington | Nay |
Shelley Moore Capito | ![]() |
West Virginia | Yea |
Bill Cassidy | ![]() |
Louisiana | Yea |
Susan Collins | ![]() |
Maine | Yea |
Chris Coons | ![]() |
Delaware | Nay |
John Cornyn | ![]() |
Texas | Yea |
Catherine Cortez Masto | ![]() |
Nevada | Nay |
Tom Cotton | ![]() |
Arkansas | Yea |
Kevin Cramer | ![]() |
North Dakota | Yea |
Mike Crapo | ![]() |
Idaho | Yea |
Ted Cruz | ![]() |
Texas | Yea |
John Curtis | ![]() |
Utah | Yea |
Steve Daines | ![]() |
Montana | Yea |
Tammy Duckworth | ![]() |
Illinois | Nay |
Dick Durbin | ![]() |
Illinois | Nay |
Joni Ernst | ![]() |
Iowa | Yea |
John Fetterman | ![]() |
Pennsylvania | Yea |
Deb Fischer | ![]() |
Nebraska | Yea |
Ruben Gallego | ![]() |
Arizona | Nay |
Kirsten Gillibrand | ![]() |
New York | Nay |
Lindsey Graham | ![]() |
South Carolina | Yea |
Chuck Grassley | ![]() |
Iowa | Yea |
Bill Hagerty | ![]() |
Tennessee | Yea |
Maggie Hassan | ![]() |
New Hampshire | Nay |
Josh Hawley | ![]() |
Missouri | Yea |
Martin Heinrich | ![]() |
New Mexico | Nay |
John Hickenlooper | ![]() |
Colorado | Nay |
Mazie Hirono | ![]() |
Hawaii | Nay |
John Hoeven | ![]() |
North Dakota | Yea |
Jon Husted | ![]() |
Ohio | Yea |
Cindy Hyde-Smith | ![]() |
Mississippi | Yea |
Ron Johnson | ![]() |
Wisconsin | Yea |
Jim Justice | ![]() |
West Virginia | Yea |
Tim Kaine | ![]() |
Virginia | Nay |
Mark Kelly | ![]() |
Arizona | Nay |
John Kennedy | ![]() |
Louisiana | Yea |
Andy Kim | ![]() |
New Jersey | Nay |
Angus King | ![]() |
Maine | Nay |
Amy Klobuchar | ![]() |
Minnesota | Nay |
James Lankford | ![]() |
Oklahoma | Yea |
Mike Lee | ![]() |
Utah | Yea |
Ben Ray Luján | ![]() |
New Mexico | Nay |
Cynthia Lummis | ![]() |
Wyoming | Yea |
Ed Markey | ![]() |
Massachusetts | Nay |
Roger Marshall | ![]() |
Kansas | Yea |
Mitch McConnell | ![]() |
Kentucky | Yea |
David McCormick | ![]() |
Pennsylvania | Yea |
Jeff Merkley | ![]() |
Oregon | Nay |
Ashley B. Moody | ![]() |
Florida | Yea |
Jerry Moran | ![]() |
Kansas | Yea |
Bernie Moreno | ![]() |
Ohio | Yea |
Markwayne Mullin | ![]() |
Oklahoma | Yea |
Lisa Murkowski | ![]() |
Alaska | Yea |
Chris Murphy | ![]() |
Connecticut | Nay |
Patty Murray | ![]() |
Washington | Nay |
Jon Ossoff | ![]() |
Georgia | Nay |
Alex Padilla | ![]() |
California | Nay |
Rand Paul | ![]() |
Kentucky | Yea |
Gary Peters | ![]() |
Michigan | Nay |
Jack Reed | ![]() |
Rhode Island | Nay |
Pete Ricketts | ![]() |
Nebraska | Yea |
James E. Risch | ![]() |
Idaho | Yea |
Jacky Rosen | ![]() |
Nevada | Nay |
Mike Rounds | ![]() |
South Dakota | Yea |
Bernie Sanders | ![]() |
Vermont | Nay |
Brian Schatz | ![]() |
Hawaii | Nay |
Adam Schiff | ![]() |
California | Nay |
Eric Schmitt | ![]() |
Missouri | Yea |
Chuck Schumer | ![]() |
New York | Nay |
Rick Scott | ![]() |
Florida | Yea |
Tim Scott | ![]() |
South Carolina | Yea |
Jeanne Shaheen | ![]() |
New Hampshire | Nay |
Tim Sheehy | ![]() |
Montana | Yea |
Elissa Slotkin | ![]() |
Michigan | Nay |
Tina Smith | ![]() |
Minnesota | Nay |
Dan Sullivan | ![]() |
Alaska | Yea |
John Thune | ![]() |
South Dakota | Yea |
Thom Tillis | ![]() |
North Carolina | Yea |
Tommy Tuberville | ![]() |
Alabama | Yea |
Chris Van Hollen | ![]() |
Maryland | Nay |
Mark R. Warner | ![]() |
Virginia | Nay |
Raphael Warnock | ![]() |
Georgia | Nay |
Elizabeth Warren | ![]() |
Massachusetts | Nay |
Peter Welch | ![]() |
Vermont | Yea |
Sheldon Whitehouse | ![]() |
Rhode Island | Nay |
Roger Wicker | ![]() |
Mississippi | Yea |
Ron Wyden | ![]() |
Oregon | Nay |
Todd Young | ![]() |
Indiana | Yea |
Elections
2016
Elections for the Texas House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election was held on March 1, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was December 14, 2015.[21] Incumbent Scott Turner (R) did not seek re-election.
Justin Holland defeated Karen Jacobs and Rick Donaldson in the Texas House of Representatives District 33 general election.[22]
Texas House of Representatives, District 33 General Election, 2016 | ||||
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Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
Republican | ![]() |
67.80% | 56,802 | |
Democratic | Karen Jacobs | 28.88% | 24,199 | |
Libertarian | Rick Donaldson | 3.32% | 2,783 | |
Total Votes | 83,784 | |||
Source: Texas Secretary of State |
Justin Holland defeated John Keating in the Texas House of Representatives, District 33 Republican primary runoff.[23]
Texas House of Representatives, District 33 Republican Primary Runoff, 2016 | ||||
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Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
Republican | ![]() |
50.62% | 4,029 | |
Republican | John Keating | 49.38% | 3,930 | |
Total Votes | 7,959 |
Karen Jacobs defeated Cristin Padgett in the Texas House of Representatives District 33 Democratic Primary.[24][23]
Texas House of Representatives, District 33 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
Democratic | ![]() |
74.54% | 3,660 | |
Democratic | Cristin Padgett | 25.46% | 1,250 | |
Total Votes | 4,910 |
John Keating and Justin Holland defeated Lorne Liechty in the Texas House of Representatives District 33 Republican Primary.[24][23]
Texas House of Representatives, District 33 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
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Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
Republican | ![]() |
37.63% | 9,790 | |
Republican | ![]() |
32.86% | 8,548 | |
Republican | Lorne Liechty | 29.51% | 7,676 | |
Total Votes | 26,014 |
2014
Elections for all 150 seats in the Texas House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on March 4, 2014. Those candidates who did not receive 50 percent or more of the vote in their party primary on March 4 faced an additional May 27 primary runoff. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was December 9, 2013. Incumbent Scott Turner was unopposed in the Republican primary and was unchallenged in the general election.[25][26][27]
2012
Turner won election in the 2012 election for Texas House of Representatives, District 33. Turner defeated Jim Pruitt in the May 29 primary election and defeated Michael A. Carrasco (L) in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[28]
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | ![]() |
85.3% | 50,631 | |
Libertarian | Michael Carrasco | 14.7% | 8,701 | |
Total Votes | 59,332 |
Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
---|---|---|
![]() |
58.3% | 6,829 |
Jim Pruitt | 41.7% | 4,877 |
Total Votes | 11,706 |
Campaign themes
2012
Turner's website highlighted the following campaign themes:
- Jobs for Texans
- Excerpt: "To provide good jobs and a strong economy, we must provide an environment that is business friendly: low taxes; limited, fair and predictable regulation; and a legal system uncluttered with frivolous lawsuits."
- Stand for Fiscal Responsibility
- Excerpt: "Texans are taxed enough already! We must take better inventory of the money that’s being spent in funding of current programs. We must end accounting gimmicks, tricks and diversions."
- ObamaCare is Not Right for Texas
- Excerpt: "If left unchecked, ObamaCare has the potential to bankrupt Texas. Texans should be able to choose their own health care provider and make their own medical choices, not have our health care decisions micromanaged by Washington, D.C."
- Stop Illegal Immigration
- Excerpt: "Illegal Immigration is draining the budgets of Texas taxpayers and Texas state government. We need to tighten our borders to stop the flow of illegals. We are a nation which welcomes those who follow the rules, respect our laws, and come here legally, but I have no tolerance for those who undermine the rule of law by entering our nation in an illegal fashion."
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
State legislative tenure
Committee assignments
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Turner served on the following committees:
Texas committee assignments, 2015 |
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• Government Transparency & Operation |
• International Trade & Intergovernmental Affairs |
2013-2014
In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Turner served on the following committees:
Texas committee assignments, 2013 |
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• Government Efficiency & Reform |
• Human Services |
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
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Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Texas scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2017
In 2017, the Texas State Legislature was in its 85th legislative session from January 10 through May 29. A special session was held from July 18 to August 15.
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2016
To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the Texas State Legislature did not hold a regular session. |
2015
To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the Texas State Legislature was in its 84th legislative session from January 13 through June 1.
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2014
To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the Texas State Legislature did not hold a regular session. |
2013
To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the Texas State Legislature was in its 83rd legislative session from January 8 through May 27. Thirty minutes after the regular session ended, Governor Rick Perry called legislators back for a special session starting that evening.[29] Two additional called sessions were held from July 1 through July 30 and July 30 through August 5.[30]
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Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
See also
- Donald Trump presidential transition, 2024-2025
- Donald Trump's Cabinet, 2025
- Texas State Legislature
- Texas House of Representatives
- Texas House of Representatives Committees
- Texas Joint Committees
- Texas state legislative districts
External links
Officeholder U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Truth Social, "Donald Trump on November 22, 2024," accessed November 22, 2024
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Associated Press, "What to know about Scott Turner, Trump’s pick for housing secretary," November 23, 2024
- ↑ America First Police Institute, "America First Nomination: Scott Turner," January 16, 2025
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Fox News, "Trump's pick as HUD secretary, a former NFL player, says he wants to help Americans get off government aid," January 16, 2025
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Politico, "Senate panel advances Turner for HUD on party-line vote," January 23, 2025
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Special Primary Election - April 11, 2006," April 21, 2006
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 LinkedIn, "Scott Turner," accessed January 24, 2025
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 The Texas Tribune, "Straus Re-elected House Speaker Over Tea Party Challenger Turner," January 13, 2015
- ↑ The Texas Tribune,"In Bid for Speaker, Turner Looks to Beat the Odds," December 17, 2014
- ↑ The Texas Tribune, "Turner and Beck Throw Barbs at Straus," December 9, 2014
- ↑ Two candidates also challenged Straus in the 2011 speaker race but dropped out before the formal vote.
- ↑ The Texas Tribune ,"TribBlog: Straus in the House," January 11, 2011
- ↑ IRS, "Opportunity zones," accessed January 24, 2025
- ↑ Prestonwood, "Our Staff," accessed January 24, 2025
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 The Texas Tribune, "In Bid for Speaker, Turner Looks to Beat the Odds," December 17, 2014
- ↑ ESPN, "Scott Turner," accessed December 3, 2024
- ↑ NFL Player Engagement, "Former DB Scott Turner’s post-NFL accomplishments are vast and impressive," accessed December 3, 2024
- ↑ Legislative Reference Library of Texas, "Scott Turner," accessed December 3, 2024
- ↑ Truth Social, "Donald Trump on November 22, 2024," accessed November 22, 2024
- ↑ United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, "Nomination Hearing," accessed January 13, 2025
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Important 2016 Election Dates," accessed December 14, 2015
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "2016 General Election," accessed December 2, 2016
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 Texas Secretary of State, "1992 - Current Election History results," accessed August 22, 2016
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 Texas Secretary of State, "2016 March Primary Election Candidate Filings by County," accessed August 22, 2016
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "1992 - Current ELECTION HISTORY," accessed December 2, 2014
- ↑ The Libertarian Party of Texas, "2014 Texas Representative Candidate List," accessed July 30, 2014
- ↑ Green Party of Texas, "Greens Release Candidate List," accessed July 30, 2014
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "1992 - Current Election History," accessed February 17, 2014
- ↑ kten.com, "Texas Lawmakers To Tackle Redistricting In Special Session," May 29, 2013
- ↑ Legislative reference Library of Texas, "Texas Legislative Sessions and Years," accessed June 13, 2014
Political offices | ||
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Preceded by Raul Torres (R) |
Texas House District 33 2013–2017 |
Succeeded by Justin Holland (R) |
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State of Texas Austin (capital) |
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