WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump nominated Rep. Wesley Hunt of Texas to become the next U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia on Monday, placing a prominent Republican lawmaker in line for a diplomatic role at a pivotal moment in the Middle East. The nomination was among 41 appointments sent to the Senate, less than two months before the 2026 midterm elections. Hunt would need Senate confirmation before taking the post. Hunt, one of the first Black Republicans elected to represent Texas in the U.S. House, recently competed in a three-way Republican contest for a Texas Senate seat. He lost in the primary’s opening round. Trump initially declined to endorse a candidate before backing state Attorney General Ken Paxton in the runoff. Hunt had presented himself as a strong Trump ally and endorsed Paxton after Trump made his preference clear. Paxton went on to win the nomination. The U.S. ambassador’s position in Saudi Arabia has been vacant since Michael Ratney, nominated by former President Joe Biden, left the post in January 2025. The ambassadorship carries significant weight as Washington manages relations with a key U.S. partner and major oil producer. Trump has made ties with Saudi Arabia a priority, hosting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House in 2025 and pursuing agreements with the kingdom. The nomination comes as Saudi Arabia faces renewed threats linked to Iran-backed Houthi forces. The war in Iran has also disrupted the kingdom’s ability to export oil, adding economic and security concerns to the diplomatic agenda. Hunt’s nomination will give senators an opportunity to examine his foreign-policy views, qualifications and approach to the U.S.-Saudi relationship before deciding whether to approve him. The administration’s other nominees announced Monday included Heidi Overton for commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration and Hung Cao for secretary of the Navy.