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Created page with "{{Infobox officeholder |name=Briscoe Rowell Cain, III |image = |caption= |nationality=American |office=Texas State Representative for District 128 (Harris Co..."
{{Infobox officeholder
|name=Briscoe Rowell Cain, III
|image =
|caption=
|nationality=[[United States|American]]
|office=Texas State Representative for District 128 (Harris County)]]
|term_start=January 10, 2017
|term_end=
|preceded=Wayne Smith
|succeeded=
|party=[[Republican Party|Republican]]
|birth_date=February 1986
|death_date=
|death_place=
|death_cause=
|resting_place=
|birth_place= Place of birth missing<br>
Resident of Deer Park in Harris County, [[Texas]]
|occupation=[[Lawyer]]<br>
Member, Texas State Guard
|parents=Briscoe, Jr., and Melissa E. Cain
|spouse=Bergundi Dleis Walker Cain
|children=Three children
|religion=[[Christian]]
|alma_mater=San Jacinto College<br>
University of [[Houston, Texas|Houston]]<br>
South Texas College of Law
}}
'''Briscoe Rowell Cain, III''' (born February 1986)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mylife.com/briscoe-cain/e76545741410160|title=Briscoe Cain|publisher=Mylife.com|accessdate=March 19, 2018}}</ref> is a [[Houston, Texas|Houston]]-area [[lawyer]] who is a [[Republican Party|Republican]] member of the Texas House of Representatives for District 128 in Harris County. He unseated seven-term Representative Wayne Smith of Baytown by only twenty-three votes in his party's [[runoff election]] held on May 24, 2016.

==Background==

Cain's grandfather, Briscoe Cain, Sr. (1931-2011), was a [[mayor]] of Calvert in Robertson County and a resident of Franklin in central Texas at the time of his death.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mccauleyfh.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=1086189&fh_id=13664|title=Briscoe Rowell Cain|publisher=McCauley Funeral Home|location=Franklin, [[Texas]]|date=February 2011|accessdate=June 5, 2016}}</ref> His parents are Briscoe, Jr., and Melissa E. Cain of Deer Park in Harris County. In July 2011, Cain wed the former Bergundi Dleis Walker;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/pasadena/living/marriage-licenses-july-to-july/article_8f1790a7-11f3-5a78-bfde-0efd0e6dc9bc.html|title=Marriage Licenses, July 25-29, 2011|publisher=yourhoustonnews.com|accessdate=June 5, 2016}}</ref> they reside with their three children in Deer Park.

Cain graduated from [[San Jacinto College]], the [[University of Houston]],<ref name=intelius/> and the [[South Texas College of Law]], also in Houston. In law school, he was a founder of the first [[pro-life]] law student organization in Texas and the president of the campus [[Federalist Society]].<ref name=cainlawfirm/> He is a member of the Texas State Guard.

==Career==
Now in solo private practice, Cain is a former legal associate of two Houston-area conservative political figures, the retired Judge Paul Pressler<ref name=cainlawfirm>{{cite web|url=http://thecainlawfirm.com/about/|title=Briscoe R. Cain, III|publisher=The Cain Law Firm|accessdate=June 5, 2016}}</ref> and Jared Woodfill, the former chairman of the Republican Party in Harris County. Some of Cain's advertising signs cited him as the "Conservative Outsider" in the race.<ref name=facebook/>

Cain worked prior to 2014 for current Texas State District Judge John Schmude. When the Smith camp raised concerns that Cain is a personal injury trial lawyer, Judge Schmude, who is forbidden by law from endorsing candidates, issued a clarification: "[Cain] took over most of my active caseload, which almost entirely centered on family law matters. Based on my personal experience and to the best of my knowledge in working with Briscoe, I can confidently say that Briscoe is not and never has been a personal injury trial lawyer. ... My firm focused primarily on family law and, to a lesser extent, various probate and constitutional law matters."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://briscoecain.com/cain-not-personal-injury-lawyer/|title=The following is a statement by State District Judge, John Schmude, regarding the allegations that Briscoe Cain is a personal injury trial lawyer ...|publisher=briscoecain.com|accessdate=June 5, 2016}}</ref>

Cain polled 3,045 votes (50.2 percent) to Smith's 3,022 (49.8 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist233_state.htm|title=Election Returns|date=May 24, 2016|publisher=Texas Secretary of State|accessdate=June 5, 2016}}</ref> In the second round of balloting, Cain picked up the support of a third primary candidate, Melody McDaniel. Though Smith sought a recount, he failed to overturn Cain's lead.<ref name=facebook>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/BriscoeCain/|title=Briscoe Cain|publisher=[[Facebook]]|accessdate=June 5, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Svitek|first1=Patrick|title=Challenger's Win Over Rep. Wayne Smith Stands After Recount|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2016/06/03/briscoe-cain-victory-stands-after-hd128-recount/|accessdate=12 January 2017|publisher=''The Texas Tribune''|date=June 3, 2016}}</ref> Cain ran in the November 8 [[general election]] without [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] opposition.<ref name=yourhouston/> However, a [[Libertarian Party]] candidate, Ken Lowder, unsuccessfully contested Cain's election.<ref>{{cite news|title=Texas 128th District State House Results: Briscoe Cain Wins|url=https://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/texas-state-house-district-128|accessdate=12 January 2017|publisher=''[[The New York Times]]''|date=December 13, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Hollis|first1=Matt|title=District 128’s new rep ready for duty|url=http://baytownsun.com/news/article_d82519d2-d5a8-11e6-938a-435aaddc954b.html|accessdate=12 January 2017|publisher=''The Baytown Sun''|date=January 8, 2017}}</ref>

One issue in the campaign focused on the placement of tolls on the Fred Hartman Bridge spanning the Houston Ship Channel. Cain claimed that an online petition opposing tolls was a “preventative measure” because, “Smith’s work history and legislative record on transportation gives Texans plenty to be concerned about.”<ref name=yourhouston>{{cite web|url=http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/pasadena/news/cain-smith-head-to-run-off-election-in-district/article_92100419-96af-5dee-b4cc-8648fb7bd3f0.html|title=Cain, Smith head to run-off election in District 128|publisher=yourhoustonnews.com|author=Stacey Glaesmann|date=March 4, 2016|accessdate=June 5, 2016}}</ref> Bob Leiper, a former city manager in Baytown, leaped to Smith's defense in a "Letter to the Editor" of ''The Baytown Sun'': I was astounded by Briscoe Cain‘s claim that Rep. Wayne Smith is somehow trying to make the Hartman Bridge a toll bridge. As an attorney you would think he would seek the truth before making such a wild claim and blaming it on one of the best friends and advocate Baytown ever had in [[Austin]].<ref name=yourhouston/>

In 2016, Cain was lead attorney for a group of law enforcement personnel whose [[Bible]] study was forbidden by the City of Beaumont, Texas. Earlier, he represented pastors in Houston whose [[First Amendment]] rights were restricted by former Mayor [[Annise Parker, a [[lesbian]]. Because of Cain's stance on religious freedom issues he won the backing of the [[interest group]], Texas Values Action. Jonathan Saenz, the president of TVA, termed Cain "a proven leader for religious freedom, marriage, and life [with an] unwavering commitment to fighting for faith, family, and freedom ..."<ref>"Briscoe Cain gets another endorsement in Texas House Districe 128 race", ''Big Jolly Politics'', January 4, 2016.</ref>

In 2017, Cain obtained House passage of an appropriations bill amendment which prohibits elective [[surgery]] for Texas convicts, including [[abortion]]s and sex-change operations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://crtxnews.com/texas-house-refuses-vote-swanson-amendment-no-men-womens-bathrooms/?newsletter_uid=2687&newsletter_date=04%2F08%2F17|title=Texas House Refuses to Vote on Swanson Amendment: "No Men in Women's Bathrooms!"|publisher=crtnews.com|date=April 7, 2016|accessdate=April 10, 2017}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cain, Briscoe}}
[[Category:Texas]]
[[Category:Attorneys]]
[[Category:Politicians]]
[[Category:Republicans]]
[[Category:Conservatives]]
[[Category:Christians]]
[[Category:Pro-life]]
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