Brian Babin
Brian Babin, a Republican dentist who has represented Texas's 36th congressional district since 2015, seeks re-election in 2026 against Democrat Rhonda Hart, a homemaker and the party's 2024 nominee in the 14th district.
2026 Races & Market Forecast
Live TruthIndex™ and prediction market consensus for races contested by Brian Babin.
Live News
Recent media coverage for Brian Babin.
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Brian Babin’s advocacy for Houston merits another term
The opinion piece endorses Brian Babin (six-term Republican) for Texas’ 8th congressional district, noting his strong alignment with Houston interests in Washington and his incumbency remains safe despite some partisan…
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For Congress: Laura Jones, Marquette Greene-Scott, Melissa McDonough
U.S. Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher speaks as people gather at Houston City Hall to protest against policies introduced by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, as part of a national action organized by Hands Off!
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Fundraising Update: Representative Brian Babin just disclosed $105.7K of new fundraising
Brian Babin (TX-36) disclosed $105,700 in new fundraising. The update from Quiver Quantitative highlights a recent fundraising figure for Babin, indicating the amount reported in new contributions.
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- Born
- March 23, 1948
- Birthplace
- Port Arthur, Texas
- Education
- Lamar University (Bachelor of Science in biology, 1975)
University of Texas Dental Branch (Doctor of Dental Surgery, 1976)
Biography & Campaign Analysis
Background
Brian Babin was born on March 23, 1948, in Port Arthur. He earned a Bachelor of Science in biology from Lamar University in 1975 and graduated from the University of Texas Dental Branch with a Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1976, paying his tuition by working as a janitor, merchant seaman and postman.
Babin served as an officer in the United States Air Force from 1975 to 1979, leaving with the rank of captain. He and his wife, Roxanne, whom he met in college, have been married since 1972 and have five children, and they belong to the First Baptist Church of Woodville, where he is a deacon.
Career
Since 1979 Brian Babin has run a general dental practice in Woodville, south of Lufkin.
He entered politics in 1980 working on Ronald Reagan's presidential campaign and went on to hold local posts including mayor of Woodville (1982 to 1984), member of the Woodville City Council (1984 to 1989) and chair of the Tyler County Republican Party (1990 to 1995).
He also served as president of the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners from 1981 to 1987, on the Texas Historical Commission from 1989 to 1995 and on the Lower Neches Valley Authority from 1999 to 2015.
Babin was the Republican nominee for Texas's 2nd congressional district in 1996 and 1998, losing both times to Democrat Jim Turner.
When Steve Stockman left the 36th district to run for the U.S. Senate in 2014, Babin won a 12-candidate primary through a runoff against Ben Streusand and took the general election with 75.97% of the vote.
In the House he has served on the Committee on Science, Space and Technology, where he chairs the Subcommittee on Space, and on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
2026 race
Brian Babin is seeking re-election in Texas's 36th congressional district, which covers parts of Southeast Texas, including the Harris County side of the Clear Lake region of Houston.
The redrawn district is largely unchanged from its previous form, adding Lufkin and the surrounding Piney Woods region along with Silsbee, Jasper and most of Beaumont.
Babin won the seat with 69.4% of the vote in 2024 and took the 2026 Republican primary with 81.1% against pipeline worker Jonathan Mitchell. In the general election on November 3, 2026, he faces Democrat Rhonda Hart, a homemaker and the party's 2024 nominee for the 14th district.