Bill Flores

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Bill Flores

Overview
Bill Flores is an American businessman and Republican politician who served as the U.S. representative for Texas’s 17th congressional district from 2011 to 2021. He was the chair of the Republican Study Committee from 2015 to 2017 and has held a leadership role with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) as vice chair and interim chair. Flores did not seek re-election in 2020, ending a five-term tenure in Congress.

Early life and education
William Hose Flores Sr. was born on February 25, 1954, in Cheyenne, Wyoming, at an Air Force base where his father was stationed. He grew up in Stratford in the Texas Panhandle, with Spanish heritage that he says ties him to American roots. Flores earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting (cum laude) from Texas A&M University in 1976 and later earned a Master of Business Administration from Houston Baptist University in 1985. He has been a licensed Certified Public Accountant since 1978.

Business career
Flores has a background in energy industries. He served as chief financial officer for Marine Drilling Companies (1990–1997) and Western Atlas (1997–1998). From 2002 to 2005, he was the Senior Vice President and CFO of Gryphon Exploration Company. In 2006, he co-founded Phoenix Exploration Company, an oil and gas exploration firm, and served as its CEO and a director until retiring in 2009 to run for public office. He has held roles on various boards and remained connected to Texas A&M University and Houston Baptist University, where he serves in advisory and leadership capacities.

U.S. House of Representatives
Flores entered Congress after winning the 2010 election in Texas’s 17th district, defeating Democratic incumbent Chet Edwards by a wide margin (about 62% to 38%). He was re-elected in 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018, serving five terms from January 3, 2011, to January 3, 2021. In Congress, he served on the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Veterans’ Affairs Committee. He chaired the Republican Study Committee from 2015 to 2017.

Political positions
- Government and taxes: Flores supports limited government and lower taxes, and he favored making the Bush-era tax cuts permanent. He opposed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
- Energy: He backs the building of new nuclear power plants and supports incentives for solar and wind energy, reflecting a pro-energy-independence stance.
- Security and immigration: Flores has taken conservative positions on national security and border enforcement.
- Other: He was a member of the Republican Study Committee and the Congressional Hispanic Conference, reflecting his involvement in conservative policy circles.
- Trump administration: He supported Donald Trump’s policies, including his 2017 travel ban, and he signed an amicus brief in Texas v. Pennsylvania after the 2020 election.

Personal life
Flores is married to Gina Flores; they met in high school and have two sons. The family attends Central Church in Bryan, Texas. Flores has been involved with Texas A&M’s Mays Business School, the Corps of Cadets, and Houston-area and Brazos County alumni groups and clubs.

Electoral history (highlights)
- 2010: Elected to the U.S. House from Texas’s 17th district, defeating Chet Edwards (Democrat) by about 62% to 38%.
- 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018: Re-elected to five terms total; notable election results include a 60.8% to 35.2% victory in 2016 and a 56.9% to 41.3% victory in 2018.

Additional notes
Flores is known for his business background in the energy sector, his long tenure in Congress, and his later involvement with ERCOT as vice chair and interim chair, highlighting his ongoing influence in Texas energy policy and governance.