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'''Ralph Lee Abraham, Jr.''' (born September 16, 1954), is an [[United States|American]] [[physician]] and former [[veterinarian]] from Mangham in Richland Parish, [[Louisiana]], who was elected in 2014 to the [[United States House of Representatives]] for his state's 5th congressional district, which encompasses a large swath of territory between [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]] and [[Baton Rouge]].  

'''Ralph Lee Abraham, Jr.''' (born September 16, 1954), is an [[United States|American]] [[physician]] and former [[veterinarian]] from Mangham in Richland Parish, [[Louisiana]], who was elected in 2014 to the [[United States House of Representatives]] for his state's 5th congressional district, which encompasses a large swath of territory between [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]] and [[Baton Rouge]]. He is a candidate for [[governor]] in the 2019 nonpartisan blanket primary, when he will face incumbent [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[John Bel Edwards]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://710keel.com/congressman-ralph-abraham-is-running-for-governor/|title=Congressman Ralph Abraham is running for governor|author=Erin McCarty|accessdate=December 6, 2018}}</ref> and [[Eddie Rispone]], a wealthy Baton Rouge Republican [[business]]man. who is expected to self-finance his campaign.

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>

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 handily defeated fellow Republican Billy Burkette 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 of Pride in East Baton Rouge Parish is running in 2018 as an [[Independent voter|Independent]]. Jessee Carlton Fleenor (born September 23, 1984), a female Democrat from Loranger in Tangipahoa Parish who carries the official endorsement of the Louisiana Democratic Executive Committee.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetowntalk.com/story/news/2018/08/20/see-who-la-democrats-pinned-their-hopes-loosen-gop-grip/1041200002/|author=[[Greg Hilburn]]|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|date=August 20, 2018|title=See who Louisiana Democrats pinned their hopes on|accessdate=August 21, 2018}}</ref> 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 defeated three challengers in the primary election held on November 6, 2018. Billy Burkette of Pride in East Baton Rouge Parish ran in 2018 as an [[Independent voter|Independent]]. Jessee Carlton Fleenor (born September 23, 1984), a female Democrat from Loranger in Tangipahoa Parish who carried the official endorsement of the Louisiana Democratic Executive Committee.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetowntalk.com/story/news/2018/08/20/see-who-la-democrats-pinned-their-hopes-loosen-gop-grip/1041200002/|author=[[Greg Hilburn]]|publisher=''The Alexandria Town Talk''|date=August 20, 2018|title=See who Louisiana Democrats pinned their hopes on|accessdate=August 21, 2018}}</ref> Kyle Randol, a [[Libertarian Party|Libertarian]] of Monroe also sought the congressional seat.<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 September 2018, Abraham urged colleagues on the Farm Bill House-Senate Conference Committee to include work requirements for [[food stamp]] recipients: "We're simply asking these adults to meet the taxpayer halfway." The farm bill sets agriculture policy for five years though the [[United States Constitution]] says that a current Congress cannot commit spending to a future Congress. The Senate is resisting the work requirements related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Abraham said that the committee "is very close on every issue except SNAP reforms."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2018/09/06/congressman-abraham-pushes-food-stamp-work-requirements-farm-bill/1211001002/|title=Abraham pushes food stamp work requirements in Farm Bill|author=Greg Hilburn|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=September 6, 2018|accessdate=September 9, 2018}}</ref>

In September 2018, Abraham urged colleagues on the Farm Bill House-Senate Conference Committee to include work requirements for [[food stamp]] recipients: "We're simply asking these adults to meet the taxpayer halfway." The farm bill sets agriculture policy for five years though the [[United States Constitution]] says that a current Congress cannot commit spending to a future Congress. The Senate is resisting the work requirements related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Abraham said that the committee "is very close on every issue except SNAP reforms."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2018/09/06/congressman-abraham-pushes-food-stamp-work-requirements-farm-bill/1211001002/|title=Abraham pushes food stamp work requirements in Farm Bill|author=Greg Hilburn|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=September 6, 2018|accessdate=September 9, 2018}}</ref>