Henry D. Reyes
Henry Donovan Reyes (born July 25, 1972) is an American politician, media personality, and former military officer serving as the senior United States Senator from Michigan since November 30, 2024. A member of the Republican Party, he was elected to the Senate with the second most votes in the entire Senate election, trailing behind Mordechai Siegel. Before entering Congress, he worked as a congressional staffer for several congressmen, where he stood out with his conservative values and opinions.
Henry D. Reyes | |
|---|---|
 Official Portrait, 2025 | |
| United States Senator from Michigan | |
| Assumed office November 30th, 2024 | |
| Senate Majority Whip | |
| Assumed office January 8th, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Derek Stone |
| Succeeded by | N/A |
| Senate Majority Leader | |
| In office Juanuary 3rd, 2025 – January 7th, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | John Durant |
| Succeeded by | Antone Kays |
| Chair of the Senate Republican Conference | |
| In office December 30th, 2024 – January 3rd, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Collin McCarthy |
| Succeeded by | Collin McCarthy |
| President Pro Tempore of the Senate | |
| In office November 30th, 2024 – December 30th, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Mordechai Siegel |
| Succeeded by | Johnny Morin |
| 1st Secretary of Health Education and Welfare | |
| In office October 14th, 2024 – October 24th, 2024 | |
| Succeeded by | Glenn Bourbon |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 25, 1972 Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Profession | Politician |
Early Life and Education
Henry Reyes was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and raised in a fairly middle-class household. When his father, Anthony Reyes, got hired as manager at a manufacturing plant, the family moved to Detroit, where Reyes attended Sanders Regional High School. During his time there, he participated in debate and student government.
Reyes later attended Wayne State University and earned a Bachelor's degree in Communications.
Early Career
After completing his education at Wayne State, Reyes began seeking for work as an staffer and assistant to his colleague from college, Josh Hawley, in Congress, where he gained firsthand experience with legislative processes and constituent advocacy. Eventually, a falling out between the two later led to Reyes resigning.
During this time after the resignation, Reyes also launched a successful interview to become Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. His ability to connect with audiences made him a prominent voice in conservative circles, earning him national recognition and a loyal following, eventually leading to his eventual hiring.
Secretary of Health, Education, & Welfare
Nomination and confirmation
In October 2024, President Lucas Bennett announced that he would nominate Reyes to be the first ever Secretary of Health, Education, & Welfare, which in an interview with the Washington Post, Reyes stated that Bennett was "very confident and pleased" with his experience and political views.
On October 14, 2024, Henry Reyes was passed by the United States Senate to lead the Department of Health, Education, & Welfare with unanimous consent. Reyes posted a statement on behalf of the department stating he was "ecstatic" about his new employment and that work would begin "immediately." 2 days later, a job application was posted on behalf of Reyes' office to look for employers in the department. Later, Jayden Mendoza was nominated to be Reyes' Deputy Secretary, and was passed by the Senate.
Resignation
Just 10 days after being nominated and confirmed, Reyes announced his resignation from the Department of Health, Education, & Welfare, believing that there were other candidates that could and would've been better than him at the time. Reyes let his Deputy, Jayden Mendoza, carry the ranks of leading the Department until a replacement was found. Mendoza resigned 2 weeks later to seek another job.
United States Senate bid
On November 24, 2024, Reyes announced his candidacy for a seat in the United States Senate, representing his home state of Michigan. He also co-created the Senate Republicans PAC (Political Action Committee) for that election, which included other Republican candidates, including Majority Leader John Durant from the state of Florida. In the Senate, Reyes was seeking to have a role of Congressional Leadership, and contacted Leader Durant in regards to that. After negotiations, Durant decided that Reyes would become the next President Pro Tempore of the Senate. On election day, Reyes received the second-most votes in the entire election, only trailing behind Mordechai Siegel.