Rep. Steve Stockman
Rep. Steve Stockman Gage Skidmore

Republican Brian Babin, a dentist and former mayor of Woodville, has filed to run for the Houston-area congressional seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman, R-Friendswood.

On Tuesday, the Republican Party of Texas announced it was extending the filing deadline for Stockman’s seat after Stockman removed his filing for that race to challenge U.S. Sen. John Cornyn. Babin is the first Republican to take advantage of the filing deadline extension, which ends Monday at 6 p.m.

Six Republicans originally filed for the race: Nassau Bay City Councilman John Amdur; Doug Centilli, a longtime chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands; former Liberty County Judge Phil Fitzgerald; Lumberton lawyer Charles “Chuck” Meyer; former Seabrook City Councilman Kim Morrell; and insurance agent Dave Norman. Democrat Michael “MKC” Cole and Libertarians Robb Rourke and Rodney Veach are also running for the seat. 

Texas Tribune donors or members may be quoted or mentioned in our stories, or may be the subject of them. For a complete list of contributors, click here.

Texans need the truth. Help us report it.

Become a member. Join today.

Choose an amount or learn more about membership.

Aman Batheja was a political reporter and editor for the Tribune from 2012 to 2019. Previously he worked for eight years at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, most of that time covering state and local politics....