Born and raised in Waco, Pete attended Waco public schools until the ninth grade, playing sports, becoming an Eagle Scout, and throwing newspapers for the Waco Tribune – Herald. Pete left Waco when his family moved to Washington D.C., where his father began his career at the Department of Justice.

After graduating from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, Pete joined the Southwestern Bell Telephone company, where he worked for 16 years, never missing a day of work, and taking early retirement as District Manager, just prior to running for Congress.

Throughout his professional life, Pete has been involved in community activities, serving in various leadership roles with the Chamber of Commerce, Boy Scouts of America, disability assistance and local conservation groups, as well as serving on the Board of Trustees of his alma mater for twelve years. Pete is a member of the First United Methodist Church of Waco, Texas.

In 1994, Pete ran for Congress by challenging Democrat congressman John Bryant in a district that stretched from east Dallas to many counties now in the 17th Congressional District. Falling just shy of pulling off an upset, Pete ran again in 1996, winning that year and serving in Congress from 1997 to January of 2019.

While in Congress, Pete was part of the Republican House majority that balanced the federal budget four years in a row from 1998 to 2001. He led the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) as its Chairman from 2009 through 2012. He also served as Chairman of the House Rules Committee.

Pete and his wife Karen reside in Waco. Pete is the proud father of two sons and three stepsons. Bill is a graduate from Texas Tech Medical School with his wife Kayle, also a physician. They are in their medical residencies in Greenville, South Carolina. Alex is a special-needs young man, who is delighted to work for Home Depot. Conor proudly served our country in the United States Navy until recently and now lives and works in Montana. Liam is a recent graduate of Baylor University, and Nicholas is a second-year student at Rollins College, where he is a member of the golf team.

Congressman Pete Sessions is a regular weekly contributor to Xpress with Doc X MD and Audra RN on Congressional Closeup. He can be heard KAMU FM 90.9 and Docxmd.com.