Brian Babin

Brian Babin
Born	Brian Philip Babin 23 3, 1948
Birthplace	Port Arthur, Texas, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Dentist, politician
Known for	U.S. Representative for Texas's 36th congressional district
Education	Lamar University (BS) University of Texas Dental Branch (DDS)
Children	5
Website	[[babin.house.gov babin.house.gov] Official site]

Brian Philip Babin (born March 23, 1948) is an American dentist and politician who has served as the U.S. Representative for Texas's 36th congressional district since 2015. A member of the Republican Party, Babin represents a sprawling district that encompasses much of southeastern Houston, portions of its eastern suburbs, and rural and exurban communities extending eastward across Southeast Texas. Before entering Congress, Babin built a decades-long career in dentistry after graduating from the University of Texas Dental Branch and serving in the United States Air Force. His path to Washington was marked by persistence: he lost two bids for Texas's 2nd congressional district in the 1990s before winning election in 2014 to succeed Steve Stockman. In January 2025, Babin assumed the chairmanship of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, succeeding Frank Lucas. Throughout his congressional tenure, Babin has focused on issues including space exploration, immigration policy, and government spending.

Early Life

Brian Philip Babin was born on March 23, 1948, in Port Arthur, Texas, an industrial city on the Gulf Coast of Southeast Texas. He grew up in the region and attended local schools before pursuing higher education at Lamar University in nearby Beaumont, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree.

After completing his undergraduate education, Babin enrolled at the University of Texas Dental Branch in Houston, where he earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree. His dental education would form the foundation of both his professional career and his entry into public life, as he became known in his community first and foremost as a practicing dentist. The Houston Chronicle later referred to him as "Doc Babin" in recognition of his long-standing identity as a local dental practitioner in Woodville.

Military Service

Following his dental education, Babin served in the United States Air Force from 1975 to 1979. His military service provided him with experience that he would later draw upon in his political career, particularly when addressing issues related to veterans' affairs and national defense. After completing his service, Babin transitioned to civilian life and established his dental practice in Woodville, a small community in Tyler County south of Lufkin.

Education

Babin's formal education consists of two degrees from Texas institutions. He earned his Bachelor of Science from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, and subsequently obtained his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) from the University of Texas Dental Branch in Houston. His dental training prepared him for a career that spanned several decades in Southeast Texas, and his professional credentials later informed his service on the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners.

Career

Dental Practice and Local Government

After his discharge from the Air Force in 1979, Babin opened a dental practice in Woodville, Texas, where he became a well-known community figure. His involvement in public life began almost immediately, and over the next three decades he accumulated an extensive record of service in local and regional government positions throughout Southeast Texas.

Babin served as president of the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners from 1981 to 1987, a position that drew directly on his professional expertise. During the early 1980s, he also became involved in municipal governance, serving on the Deep East Texas Council of Governments from 1982 to 1984 and as mayor of Woodville from 1982 to 1984. He continued his local involvement as a member of the Woodville City Council from 1984 to 1989.

In the late 1980s and 1990s, Babin expanded his public service to include appointments at the state level. He served on the Texas Historical Commission from 1989 to 1995. During this same period, he became increasingly active in Republican Party politics, serving as chairman of the Tyler County Republican Party from 1990 to 1995. He also served on the Woodville Independent School District Board from 1992 to 1995.

From 1999 to 2015, Babin served on the Lower Neches Valley Authority, a regional water authority in Southeast Texas. This appointment, which continued until his election to Congress, represented his longest continuous period of public service outside of his dental practice.

Early Congressional Campaigns

Babin first sought election to Congress as the Republican nominee for Texas's 2nd congressional district in 1996. He challenged Democratic incumbent Jim Turner but was defeated. Babin ran again for the same seat in 1998, once more losing to Turner. These two unsuccessful campaigns provided Babin with experience in running for federal office, though he would not seek a congressional seat again for more than fifteen years.

2014 Congressional Election

In 2014, the opportunity arose for Babin to run for Congress again when Representative Steve Stockman, who held the seat in Texas's 36th congressional district, chose to run for the United States Senate rather than seek reelection. The open seat attracted a crowded Republican primary field in the heavily conservative district.

Babin entered the race and campaigned on his decades of community involvement, his military service, and conservative policy positions. The primary drew significant attention, with one political analysis noting the intersection of Tea Party politics and the district's proximity to NASA's Johnson Space Center. Babin advanced through the primary process and won the Republican nomination.

In the general election, Babin won the seat decisively, reflecting the district's strong Republican lean. His victory marked the culmination of a political journey that had begun with his first congressional campaign nearly two decades earlier. One profile of the incoming congressman noted his family's deep roots in the region.

Service in the U.S. House of Representatives

Babin was sworn into office on January 3, 2015, as the representative for Texas's 36th congressional district. Early in his tenure, he attracted attention when he voted "present" rather than casting a vote for John Boehner as Speaker of the House, signaling his alignment with more conservative factions of the Republican caucus. The Dallas Morning News reported that the freshman congressman explained his "present" vote as an act of defiance against the establishment leadership.

Upon entering Congress, Babin secured committee assignments relevant to his district's interests. He obtained positions on subcommittees that allowed him to address issues important to Southeast Texas, including energy, space exploration, and transportation.

Space Policy

Given his district's proximity to NASA's Johnson Space Center, Babin took a particular interest in space exploration policy. He participated in congressional discussions about the future of American space exploration, including House subcommittee hearings on missions to Mars and broader questions about the direction of NASA's programs.

Immigration

Babin became an outspoken voice on immigration policy within the Republican caucus. In 2015, following concerns about the federal refugee resettlement program, he publicly called for the suspension of refugee resettlement in the United States. His positions on immigration aligned with the more conservative wing of the Republican Party and placed him among the members who sought stricter enforcement and limitations on immigration programs.

2016 Presidential Primary

In July 2015, Babin became the fifth Texas congressman to endorse Senator Ted Cruz for the Republican presidential nomination in the 2016 election cycle. The endorsement placed Babin among the early congressional supporters of Cruz's presidential bid.

Reelection Campaigns

Babin announced his bid for reelection to the 36th district in November 2015. He has been reelected in subsequent cycles, benefiting from the district's strong Republican composition. The Houston Chronicle endorsed Babin for the 36th Congressional District in the Republican primary, noting that he "delivers for his constituents" while also observing that he has at times been "more interested in partisan battles than public service."

Chairman of the House Science Committee

In January 2025, Babin assumed the chairmanship of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, succeeding Frank Lucas of Oklahoma. The chairmanship gave Babin significant oversight authority over federal science policy, NASA, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy's research programs, and technology policy.

In his role as chairman, Babin has addressed a range of issues. In September 2025, he issued a statement warning about the risks to U.S. science from an impending government shutdown, stating concerns about the impact on ongoing research programs and scientific personnel.

In December 2025, Babin chaired a hearing titled "The Genesis Mission: Prioritizing American Science and Technology Leadership," in which he outlined his vision for maintaining American competitiveness in science and technology. In January 2026, he chaired another hearing on "Chemistry Competitiveness: Fueling Innovation and Streamlining Processes to Ensure Safety and Security."

In February 2026, Babin applauded the White House's decision to repeal the 2009 Endangerment Finding, a regulatory action related to greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act.

Under Babin's chairmanship, the committee has also taken up issues related to emerging technology infrastructure. In February 2026, the committee held proceedings on data center permitting, examining barriers that may slow the development of infrastructure for artificial intelligence.

In July 2025, the Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University hosted a conversation with Babin titled "The Future of American Science," which explored how changes in federal government funding structures under the current administration were affecting scientific research and development.

Trade Policy

In February 2026, Babin commented on a Supreme Court decision related to presidential trade authority, arguing that presidents should lead on trade policy and that the judiciary should not interfere with executive authority on matters of economic protection.

Personal Life

Babin resides in Woodville, Texas, where he maintained his dental practice for decades before his election to Congress. He and his wife have five children, including a son named Lucas. The Babin family's roots in Southeast Texas have been a recurring theme in his political career, with profiles emphasizing his long-standing ties to the community.

Babin's identity as a small-town dentist has been central to his public persona throughout his political career. The Houston Chronicle profiled him under the headline "Woodville's 'Doc Babin' aims to leave a mark," reflecting the degree to which his professional background has shaped public perception of his candidacy and service.

Recognition

Babin's election as chairman of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee in 2025 represented the most significant institutional recognition of his congressional career, placing him in charge of one of the key oversight committees in the House. The position gave him a national platform on issues of science policy, technology development, and space exploration.

The Houston Chronicle editorial board endorsed Babin for the 36th Congressional District seat in the Republican primary, acknowledging his constituent service record despite noting some criticisms of his approach. His invitation to speak at the Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University on the future of American science further reflected his elevated profile as chairman of the Science Committee.

Throughout his career in local government, Babin accumulated numerous positions of leadership, including the presidency of the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners and the chairmanship of the Tyler County Republican Party, both of which reflected recognition by his peers in their respective fields.

Legacy

As of 2026, Babin continues to serve in Congress and chair the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, making a full assessment of his legacy premature. However, several aspects of his career are notable. His persistence in seeking federal office—running unsuccessfully twice in the 1990s before winning election in 2014—exemplifies a model of long-term political engagement at the local, state, and federal levels that is common in Texas Republican politics but rarely results in such a sustained trajectory from small-town mayor to committee chairman.

Babin's career also reflects the broader political transformation of Southeast Texas from a historically Democratic region to a Republican stronghold. His decades of work building the Republican Party infrastructure in Tyler County, combined with his service in numerous local and regional positions, contributed to the party-building efforts that reshaped the political landscape of East Texas.

His chairmanship of the Science Committee has placed him at the center of national debates over the direction of federal science funding, the regulation of emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, space exploration priorities, and environmental policy, particularly regarding the repeal of the Endangerment Finding. These issues are likely to define the later phase of his congressional career.