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A [[Republican Party|Republican]], Abraham, along with Representative [[Garret Graves]] of Louisian's 6th congressional district and U.S. Senator [[John Neely Kennedy]], has been mentioned as a potential opponent in 2019 to [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[Governor]] [[John Bel Edwards]], who will seek a second term in the office. The three lawmakers would not have to fore-go House reelection to run for governor. Were attorney Gen3ral [[Jeff Landry]], another mentioned potential candidate, to run, Landry would have to give up his current position. When Abraham announced his congressional candidacy, he declared that he would adhere to self-imposed term limits of six years. Sam Hanna, Jr., a Monroe-based journalist, said that the House leadership, "for all practical purposes, had no reason to help him advance in a world where seniority means everything. Yet, Abraham could turn the tables and announce in the very near future that he’d given some thought to all of that yak about term limits and simply declare his intention to remain in the House ..."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hannapub.com/franklinsun/opinion/columns/sam-hanna-jr-big-decision-for-abraham/article_eeef027a-8a26-11e8-b21d-4b47647d3e07.html|author=Sam Hanna, Jr.|publisher=Hannapub.com|date=July 17, 2018|title=Big decision for Abraham|accessdate=July 18, 2018}}</ref>

A [[Republican Party|Republican]], Abraham, along with Representative [[Garret Graves]] of Louisian's 6th congressional district and U.S. Senator [[John Neely Kennedy]], has been mentioned as a potential opponent in 2019 to [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[Governor]] [[John Bel Edwards]], who will seek a second term in the office. The three lawmakers would not have to fore-go House reelection to run for governor. Were attorney Gen3ral [[Jeff Landry]], another mentioned potential candidate, to run, Landry would have to give up his current position. When Abraham announced his congressional candidacy, he declared that he would adhere to self-imposed term limits of six years. Sam Hanna, Jr., a Monroe-based journalist, said that the House leadership, "for all practical purposes, had no reason to help him advance in a world where seniority means everything. Yet, Abraham could turn the tables and announce in the very near future that he’d given some thought to all of that yak about term limits and simply declare his intention to remain in the House ..."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hannapub.com/franklinsun/opinion/columns/sam-hanna-jr-big-decision-for-abraham/article_eeef027a-8a26-11e8-b21d-4b47647d3e07.html|author=Sam Hanna, Jr.|publisher=Hannapub.com|date=July 17, 2018|title=Big decision for Abraham|accessdate=July 18, 2018}}</ref>

To win his U.S. House seat, Abraham first dispatched the scandal-plagued Republican incumbent Vance Michael McAllister, Sr., in the nonpartisan blanket primary and then in the [[general election]], the [[African-American]] Democrat Jamie Mayo, the [[mayor]] of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]], 134,612 votes (64.2 percent) to 75,004 (35.8 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/12062014/12062014_23.html|title=Runoff election returns|date=December 6, 2014|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=April 10, 2018}}</ref> He defeated token opposition in 2016 to secure his second term as representative.

To win his U.S. House seat, Abraham first dispatched the scandal-plagued Republican incumbent Vance Michael McAllister, Sr., in the nonpartisan blanket primary and then in the [[general election]], the [[African-American]] Democrat Jamie Mayo, the [[mayor]] of [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]], 134,612 votes (64.2 percent) to 75,004 (35.8 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/12062014/12062014_23.html|title=Runoff election returns|date=December 6, 2014|publisher=Louisiana Secretary of State|accessdate=April 10, 2018}}</ref> He handily defeated fellow Republican Billy Burkette in 2016 to secure his second term as representative.

Abraham has served in the [[United States Coast Guard]] Auxiliary and the Mississippi National Guard. He and his wife, Dianne, have three children.

Abraham has served in the [[United States Coast Guard]] Auxiliary and the Mississippi National Guard. He and his wife, Dianne, have three children.

Though considered a [[conservative]] on most political issues, including [[abortion]], Abraham opposes the continued use of the [[Electoral College]] and said in a radio interview that he supports a direct popular vote for president and vice-president, which in 2016 would have meant victory for [[Hillary Rodham Clinton]] and U.S. Senator [[Tim Kaine]] of [[Virginia]].

Though considered a [[conservative]] on most political issues, including [[abortion]], Abraham opposes the continued use of the [[Electoral College]] and said in a radio interview that he supports a direct popular vote for president and vice-president, which in 2016 would have meant victory for [[Hillary Rodham Clinton]] and U.S. Senator [[Tim Kaine]] of [[Virginia]].

In his bid for a third term in the House, Abraham faces three challengers in the primary election scheduled for November 6, 2018. Billy Burkette, who opposed Abraham in 2016 as a Republican, is running in 2018 as an [[Independent voter|Independent]]. He resides in Pride in East Baton Rouge Parish. esse Carlton Fleenor, a Democrat from Loranger in Tangipahoa Parish, and Kyle Randol, a [[Libertarian Party|Libertarian]]  from Monroe, are also in the race.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2018/07/20/mike-johnson-ralph-abraham-draw-opposition-final-day/805814002/|title=Johnson, Abraham draw opposition; one challenger arrested|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|author=[[Greg Hilburn]]|date=July 20, 2018|accessdate=July 23, 2018}}</ref>

In his bid for a third term in the House, Abraham faces three challengers in the primary election scheduled for November 6, 2018. Billy Burkette of Pride in East Baton Rouge Parish is running in 2018 as an [[Independent voter|Independent]]. Jesse Carlton Fleenor, a Democrat from Loranger in Tangipahoa Parish, and Kyle Randol, a [[Libertarian Party|Libertarian]]  from Monroe, are also in the race.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2018/07/20/mike-johnson-ralph-abraham-draw-opposition-final-day/805814002/|title=Johnson, Abraham draw opposition; one challenger arrested|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|author=[[Greg Hilburn]]|date=July 20, 2018|accessdate=July 23, 2018}}</ref>

==References==

==References==