Biography

William Ballard Hurd (born August 19, 1977) is an American politician and former CIA clandestine officer who served as the U.S. representative for Texas's 23rd congressional district from 2015 to 2021. Following a nine-year stint with the CIA, Hurd ran for Congress in 2010 and was defeated in a runoff primary. Hurd ran for Congress again in 2014 and was successful. The district stretched approximately 550 miles (890 km) from San Antonio to El Paso along the U.S.-Mexican border. He was re-elected in 2016 and again in 2018, but did not seek re-election in 2020. During his congressional tenure, Hurd became known for his expertise in technology and cybersecurity, as well as for his bipartisanship. On June 22, 2023, Hurd announced that he was seeking the Republican nomination for president of the United States in the 2024 election.