Nathaniel Moran

Nathaniel Quentin Moran was born as a twin on September 23, 1974, to Marjorie McCall and Dale E. Moran in Arizona.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]} His parents moved to Smith County, Texas, to create a bible college.^[7] His father later served on the city council and as mayor of Whitehouse, Texas.^[8] He traveled to Russia as a part of the People to People International 1992.^[5] He graduated from Whitehouse High School in 1993.^[9]

Moran attended West Point for two years and graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Russian, a Master of Business Administration, and a Juris Doctor. He worked as a teaching assistant in the Lubbock Independent School District. He married Kyna, with whom he had four children.^[7]

Moran was a member of the College Republicans, served as a precinct chair in the Republican Party, and attended county and state conventions as a delegate.^[7][10][11]

On February 17, 2005, Moran filed to run for the Tyler, Texas, city council from the 5th district. The incumbent, Ron Shaffer, was term-limited.^[12][13] He defeated Von Johnson after raising $2,439 and spending $3,209.^[14][15] He announced his reelection campaign on February 8, 2007, and faced no opposition.^[16][17] He served until 2009, when he resigned as his family moved to Houston for his son to attend a special school following the loss of his hearing.^[18][3]

Joel Baker, the Smith County Judge, was suspended in June 2016, after being indicted on three counts of violating the Texas Open Meetings Act. On July 19, the Smith County Commissioners Court voted unanimously to replace Baker with Moran, who was sworn in as the acting county judge on July 22.^[3] Baker resigned on November 4.^[19] Moran defeated Democratic nominee Michael Mast in the 2018 election.^[20] He was a member of the Smith County Election Commission.^[21] Moran resigned on November 9, 2022, after his election to Congress, and Neal Franklin was selected to replace him.^[22]