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Hughes was born in Quitman, the county seat of Wood County, but reared in a blue collar family in nearby Mineola. He graduated in 1987 from Mineola High School and thereafter enrolled at Tyler Junior College. In 1992, he earned his undergraduate degree in economics from the University of Texas at Tyler. A fifth-generation Texan, Hughes was the first member of his family to receive a college education.<ref> a b c d "Bryan Hughes biography". house.state.tx.us. http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/?district=5#member-biography. Retrieved September 26, 2011</ref>

Hughes was born in Quitman, the county seat of Wood County, but reared in a blue collar family in nearby Mineola. He graduated in 1987 from Mineola High School and thereafter enrolled at Tyler Junior College. In 1992, he earned his undergraduate degree in economics from the University of Texas at Tyler. A fifth-generation Texan, Hughes was the first member of his family to receive a college education.<ref> a b c d "Bryan Hughes biography". house.state.tx.us. http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/?district=5#member-biography. Retrieved September 26, 2011</ref>

In 1995, Hughes completed his Juris Doctor degree from Baptist-affiliated Baylor Law School in Waco, Texas. For the next two years, Hughes was a law clerk and briefing attorney for the late U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Texas [[William M. Steger]] of Texas, a pioneer in the Republican Party who was his party's 1960 gubernatorial nominee against Governor [[Price Daniel]]. The federal courthouse in Tyler, the county seat of Smith County is named for Judge Steger. For a time Hughes practiced law in Marshall in Harrison County,[4] but in 2003, he joined the Lanier law firm in Mineola. He describes his practice as one dedicated to "representing working families and small businesses."[5]

In 1995, Hughes completed his Juris Doctor degree from Baptist-affiliated Baylor Law School in Waco, Texas. For the next two years, Hughes was a law clerk and briefing attorney for the late U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Texas [[William M. Steger]] of Texas, a pioneer in the Republican Party who was his party's 1960 gubernatorial nominee against Governor [[Price Daniel]]. The federal courthouse in Tyler, the county seat of Smith County is named for Judge Steger. For a time Hughes practiced law in Marshall in Harrison County,[4] but in 2003, he joined the Lanier law firm in Mineola. He describes his practice as one dedicated to "representing working families and small businesses."<ref name=mesot> c "D. Bryan Hughes". mesotheliomalawfirm.com. http://www.mesotheliomalawfirm.com/_d_bryan_hughes.htm. Retrieved September 26, 2011</ref>

Hughes is an active member of the nondenominational Golden Bible Chapel in Golden in Wood County.[4] Among his other affiliations are the Christian Trial Lawyers Association, several bar associations, the American Red Cross,[5] the [[National Rifle Association]], Mineola Rotary,[4] and the Stewards Foundation, a non-profit organization set up to aid churches and their employees financially.[5]

Hughes is an active member of the nondenominational Golden Bible Chapel in Golden in Wood County.[4] Among his other affiliations are the Christian Trial Lawyers Association, several bar associations, the American Red Cross,[5] the [[National Rifle Association]], Mineola Rotary,[4] and the Stewards Foundation, a non-profit organization set up to aid churches and their employees financially.<ref name=mesot/>

'''Legislative service'''

==Legislative service==

Hughes was elected to the legislature in 2002, when he upset the incumbent Democratic Representative Bob D. Glaze (1927–2010) of Gilmer in Upshur County. Hughes polled 20,286 votes (52.4 percent) to Glaze's 18,451 (47.6 percent).[6] In the 2004 general election, Glaze sought a rematch with Hughes but lost, 23,029 votes (38 percent) to the Republican's 37,529 (62 percent).[7] In 2006, no Democrat filed against Hughes, as he defeated the Libertarian Timothy J. Carmichael, 26,286 (81.9 percent) to 5,795 (18.1 percent).[8]

Hughes was elected to the legislature in 2002, when he upset the incumbent Democratic Representative Bob D. Glaze (1927–2010) of Gilmer in Upshur County. Hughes polled 20,286 votes (52.4 percent) to Glaze's 18,451 (47.6 percent).[6] In the 2004 general election, Glaze sought a rematch with Hughes but lost, 23,029 votes (38 percent) to the Republican's 37,529 (62 percent).[7] In 2006, no Democrat filed against Hughes, as he defeated the Libertarian Timothy J. Carmichael, 26,286 (81.9 percent) to 5,795 (18.1 percent).[8]

'''Dispute with Speaker Straus'''

'''Dispute with Speaker Straus'''

A firm conservative, Hughes was initially pledged to support a second term for moderate Republican [[Joe Straus]] of San Antonio as Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives. However, after the 2010 elections, Hughes withdrew his support for Straus, who nevertheless retained the Speakership, on the grounds that Straus had punished intraparty conservative opponents with redistricting. Hughes based his charge on a conversation with one of Straus' staffers, who allegedly notified Hughes that plans were already being laid to alter Straus' opponents' districts. Hughes said that he was informed that efforts were especially aimed at two East Texas members, then Representative-elect [[Erwin Cain]] of Sulphur Springs and [[Dan Flynn]] of Van in Van Zandt County, Texas. Representative [[Chuck Hopson]] of Jacksonville, a Democrat-turned-Republican and chairman of the House Ethics Committee, called upon Hughes to reveal the name of the informant.[13] Hopson had received $42,000 in contributions from Straus.[14]

A firm conservative, Hughes was initially pledged to support a second term for moderate Republican [[Joe Straus]] of San Antonio as Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives. However, after the 2010 elections, Hughes withdrew his support for Straus, who nevertheless retained the Speakership, on the grounds that Straus had punished intraparty conservative opponents with redistricting. Hughes based his charge on a conversation with one of Straus' staffers, who allegedly notified Hughes that plans were already being laid to alter Straus' opponents' districts. Hughes said that he was informed that efforts were especially aimed at two East Texas members, then Representative-elect [[Erwin Cain]] of Sulphur Springs and [[Dan Flynn]] of Van in Van Zandt County, Texas. Representative [[Chuck Hopson]] of Jacksonville, a Democrat-turned-Republican and chairman of the House Ethics Committee, called upon Hughes to reveal the name of the informant.[13] Hopson had received $42,000 in contributions from Straus.<ref>"Rep. Chuck Hopson, Who Chairs Ethics Panel Investigating Allegation Against Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, Received $42K," Texas Watchdog, November 22, 2010</ref>

Chuck Hopson identified the informant as District 62 Representative [[Larry Phillips]], an attorney from Sherman and a member of the Ethics Committee. Phillips removed himself as a committee member for the hearing and denied Hughes's accusation. The phone conservation between the two lawmakers was not recorded. The committee did not reach a judgment because of the lack of corroborating witnesses.[15][16]

Chuck Hopson identified the informant as District 62 Representative [[Larry Phillips]], an attorney from Sherman and a member of the Ethics Committee. Phillips removed himself as a committee member for the hearing and denied Hughes's accusation. The phone conservation between the two lawmakers was not recorded. The committee did not reach a judgment because of the lack of corroborating witnesses.[15][16]