Biography

Congressman Ralph Abraham, M.D., was first elected to represent Louisiana's 5th District in December 2014 and reelected to a second term in November 2016. The 5th District is the largest in terms of area in the state, spanning 24 parishes across most of Northeast and Central Louisiana and parts of five Florida parishes in the state's southern "boot." This is his first publicly held office after spending most of his life as a practicing physician, veterinarian, business owner, farmer, pilot and veteran.

Dr. Abraham is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, a post he will use to advocate for America's men and women who serve in our military. He will also prioritize Louisiana's military instillations, including Fort Polk, Barksdale Air Force Base and the Naval base in Belle Chasse.

Dr. Abraham was a First Lieutenant with the 20th SFG Airborne Division of the Army National Guard from 1986-1989. Additionally, he is a fixed-wing and helicopter pilot who currently flies reconnaissance missions for the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and he is a mission pilot for the Air Force's Civil Air Patrol Green Flag Program.

Dr. Abraham also serves on the Agriculture Committee. The 5th District is one of the largest row crop districts in the nation, and many of the district’s farmers raise livestock.  Dr. Abraham has spent a lifetime working on his farm, building miles of fences, driving open-cab tractors, herding cattle and breaking wild horses. He understands firsthand the hard work that America’s farmers put in daily.

Dr. Abraham also sits on a third committee, the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. He is the chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight. His legislative priorities for this committee will focus on enhancing America's cybersecurity capabilities.

Dr. Abraham is a member of the Doctors Caucus, Veterinary Medicine Caucus, National Guard Caucus, Coast Guard Caucus, Sportsmen's Caucus, Mississippi River Caucus, and the National Guard Youth Challenge Caucus.

Dr. Abraham grew up in rural Richland Parish where he and his wife, Dianne, reside today. Dr. Abraham graduated from Mangham High School before earning his degree at Louisiana State University. He graduated from the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine and practiced for 10 years before eventually seeking his Medical Doctor degree, which he earned at the LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport. As Dr. Abraham likes to say, he wanted to be able to “treat anything that walks on two or four legs.”

Dr. Abraham is a business owner and certified flight instructor.

Dr. Abraham and Dianne have been married for 42 years. They have three grown children and nine grandchildren.

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