Ralph Abraham | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Principal Deputy Director of theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention | |
| Assumed office November 23, 2025 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Director | Jim O'Neill (acting) |
| Preceded by | Debra Houry |
| Surgeon General of theLouisiana Department of Health | |
| Assumed office January 8, 2024 | |
| Governor | Jeff Landry |
| Preceded by | Courtney Phillips |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromLouisiana's5th district | |
| In office January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Vance McAllister |
| Succeeded by | Julia Letlow[a] |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ralph Lee Abraham Jr. (1954-09-16)September 16, 1954 (age 71) Alto, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Louisiana State University (BA,DVM) Louisiana State University, New Orleans (MD) |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Army United States Coast Guard |
| Rank | First lieutenant |
| Unit | Mississippi Army National Guard United States Coast Guard Auxiliary |
Ralph Lee Abraham Jr. (born September 16, 1954) is an American veterinarian, physician, and politician who is Principal Deputy Director of theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. Prior to that, he was Louisiana Surgeon General during 2024–2025. He served as theU.S. representative forLouisiana's 5th congressional district from 2015 to 2021[3][4][5] as a member of theRepublican Party. Abraham ran forgovernor of Louisiana in2019, but failed to advance to the runoff.
Abraham is the son of Marlene Posey, a retirededucator, and Ralph Abraham Sr.[6] His paternal grandparents were emigrants fromLebanon.[7] He is a native and resident ofAlto, Louisiana.
He graduated fromLouisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1980 and was a practicing veterinarian for ten years. He returned toLouisiana State University School of Medicine for a medical degree in 1994.[8]
Abraham has served in theUnited States Coast Guard Auxiliary and theMississippi National Guard. He and his wife, Dianne, have three children.[9] He has been an aviation medical examiner.[10]
Abraham defeated hisDemocratic opponent,Mayor Jamie Mayo ofMonroe, 134,612 votes (64.2%) to 75,004 (35.8%).[11] He was sworn into office on January 3, 2015.
In his bid for reelection, Abraham defeated one challenger, fellow Republican Billy Burkette[12] ofBaton Rouge, a formerconstable inEast Feliciana Parish and former chairman of the Louisiana Band ofChoctaw Indians. Burkette claimed in his campaign that theEnvironmental Protection Agency had issued overly strict regulations that hamperfarming.[13]
Abraham defeated three challengers in 2018: Billy Burkette, an Independent from Pride, Louisiana; Jessee Carlton Fleenor, a Democrat from Loranger, and Kyle Randol, a Libertarian from Monroe.[14] Abraham polled 149,010 votes (67%) to Fleenor's 67,113 votes (30%). Burkette and Randol received the remaining 3%.[15]
After his election, Abraham choseLuke Letlow, his campaign manager, as chief of staff.[16]
In June 2017, Abraham co-sponsored theCivil Rights Uniformity Act of 2017.[17]
In August 2017, Abraham endorsedPresidentDonald Trump's nomination ofTerry Doughty, also of Richland Parish, for a seat on theUnited States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, based in Monroe. The selection also carried the backing ofU.S. SenatorsBill Cassidy andJohn Neely Kennedy.[18]
In December 2017, Abraham voted for theTax Cuts and Jobs Act.[19] After voting, he said, "This is going to be a great tax bill, and great tax reform not only for Louisiana but for the United States." He said businesses would benefit greatly and be able to "reinvest in their infrastructure, reinvest in their employees", and that wages would increase and job opportunities grow.[20]
In 2020, Abraham opted not to run for reelection, and endorsed Letlow in the election to succeed him.[21][22] Letlow won the election, but died fromCOVID-19 complications a few days before he was scheduled to take office.[23] Letlow's widow,Julia, won the special election to fill the vacancy.[2]
On December 6, 2018, Abraham declared his candidacy forgovernor of Louisiana in the2019 Louisiana gubernatorial election.[29] He placed third, behind fellow RepublicanEddie Rispone andDemocratic incumbentJohn Bel Edwards, failing to advance to the runoff required under Louisiana law as no candidate received a majority in the primary.
He was appointedLouisiana Surgeon General in 2024.[30] During his tenure, he instructed the Louisiana Department of Health to stop promotingmass vaccination.[30][31]
On November 23, 2025, Abraham became Principal Deputy Director of theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.[30]
.jpg)
During his 2014 campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives, Abraham said theAffordable Care Act should be repealed. He opposed the expansion ofMedicaid.[32]
On the topic of COVID-19, Abraham has said thatmasking,lockdowns andvaccination requirements "were practically ineffective."[33] He said that theadverse effects of COVID vaccines were "suppressed", that "we don't know" whether recipients of COVID vaccines can safely donate blood, and suggested that COVID vaccines may be linked tomiscarriages.[33]
As Surgeon General of Louisiana, Abraham issued a directive in February 2025 instructing Louisiana state workers to end long-standing mass vaccination clinics and stop promoting seasonal vaccines.[34]
Abraham supports simplifying the tax code.[32]
He supportsequal pay for women.[32]
Abraham is in favor of theKeystone Pipeline.[32]
Regardingillegal immigration, Abraham opposedamnesty and supported strengthening border security.[32] He supported Trump's 2017executive order to temporarily haltimmigration from seven specified nations until the development of more enhanced screening methods. His spokesman said, "Dr. Abraham generally supports President Trump's temporary suspension of the refugee and immigration admittance program. Dr. Abraham agrees with President Trump that we must take all necessary steps to protect American citizens from potential terrorism threats, and this temporary measure from the President will allow for a thorough review of our policies and procedures for vetting applicants from war-torn areas."[35]
Abraham has said he supports banningsanctuary cities in Louisiana, and that he would pay for four minority congresswomen, three of whom were born in the U.S., to leave the United States, if they would tell him where they'd like to go, referencing Trump's "send them back" comments.[36]
In 2019, Abraham said he supports thedeath penalty and as governor would find a way to resume executions in the state, expanding the penalty to apply tochild molesters.[37][38] At that point, Louisiana had not executed anyone since 2010. The state resumed executions in 2025.[39]
Abraham opposeslate term abortions. In May 2015, he said there was "scientific research showing that babies can indeed feel pain at 20 weeks, if not before".[40]
In July 2017, after President Trump said he would bantransgender people from the military, Abraham said he backed Trump "100 percent" on this matter.[17] In August 2019, Abraham released a campaign video, declaring certain "truths": "Facts matter more than feelings. The Second Amendment is self-explanatory. And as a doctor, I can assure you, there are only two genders."[41] He was not in office when the Louisiana Legislature passed a ban on gender-affirming care for minors in 2023.[42]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromLouisiana's 5th congressional district 2015–2021 | Succeeded by Luke Letlow Elect |
| Succeeded by | ||
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byas Former U.S. Representative | Order of precedence of the United States as Former U.S. Representative | Succeeded byas Former U.S. Representative |
| 1st district |   | |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd district | ||
| 3rd district | ||
| 4th district | ||
| 5th district | ||
| 6th district | ||
| 7th district | ||
| 8th district | ||
| At-large | ||
| Territory | ||
| People | |
|---|---|
| Other | |
