Ralph Abraham (politician)

Ralph Abraham
Surgeon General of the Louisiana Department of Health
Assumed office
January 8, 2024
GovernorJeff Landry
Preceded byCourtney Phillips
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Louisiana's 5th district
In office
January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2021
Preceded byVance McAllister
Succeeded byJulia Letlow[a]
Personal details
Born
Ralph Lee Abraham Jr.

(1954-09-16) September 16, 1954
Richland Parish, Louisiana, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)
Dianne Abraham
(m. 1977)
Children3
EducationLouisiana State University (BA, DVM)
Louisiana State University, New Orleans (MD)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/serviceMississippi Army National Guard
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
Rank First lieutenant

Ralph Lee Abraham Jr. (born September 16, 1954),[3] is an American politician, physician and former veterinarian who has been the Surgeon General of the Louisiana Department of Health since 2024.[4] Abraham was the Republican United States Representative for Louisiana's 5th congressional district from 2015 until 2021.[5]

Abraham unsuccessfully ran for Governor of Louisiana in the 2019 election.

Notes

  1. Abraham's chief of staff Luke Letlow was elected to succeed him, but died on December 29, 2020, of COVID-19 before taking office.[1] A special election was held on March 20, 2021, and was won by Letlow's widow, Julia Letlow, who assumed the office on April 14.[2]

References

  1. Deslatte, Melinda (30 December 2020). "Louisiana Congressman-elect Luke Letlow dies from COVID-19". Associated Press. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  2. Seitz-Wald, Alex (20 March 2021). "Republican Julia Letlow wins special congressional election in Louisiana, NBC News projects". NBC News. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  3. "Guide to the New Congress" (PDF). Roll Call. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 3, 2018. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  4. Broach, Drew (October 25, 2017). "Just where does Louisiana Congressman Ralph Abraham actually live?". NOLA.com - The Times-Picayune. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  5. "NELA Doctor Running for Congress". myarklamiss.com. May 30, 2014. Archived from the original on November 10, 2014. Retrieved June 2, 2014.