GRANBURY, TX— Decorated veteran, 9/11 survivor, a lifelong conservative, and proud husband and grandfather Brian Birdwell announced today his campaign for re-election to the Texas State Senate. Sen. Birdwell was overwhelmingly re-elected last November. Following the 2020 census, Sen. Birdwell will be on the ballot again in 2022 to earn the vote of the constituents of Senate District 22.
Sen. Birdwell continues to hold true to the same conservative principles on which he anchored his campaign during his first election: defending the unborn, preserving civil liberties, ensuring the protection of second amendment freedoms, keeping taxes low, and promoting limited government, among others.
“It remains one of my life’s greatest honors to serve as state senator for the people of Texas’s 22nd district. With their support for another term, I will continue the fight to preserve religious liberty, improve government transparency, defend Second Amendment rights, advance border security, and ensure responsible fiscal stewardship. The leftist policies of the Biden/Harris administration are wrong for our country and wrong for Texas. These threats underscore why it is important to remain vigilant in defending the Texas we know and love, and I’m committed to preserving those freedoms and liberties.”
Birdwell’s announcement follows another successful legislative session in which he was selected by his colleagues to serve as President Pro-Tempore for the 87th legislative session. In April, he served as “Governor for A Day,” an opportunity he used to recognize organizations and citizens from around Senate District 22 for their acts of service to their respective communities during COVID, as well as those of Texas veterans.
In addition to representing the conservative values of his constituents, Sen. Birdwell is uniquely positioned to advocate for the interests of the citizens of his district. Appointed by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, Sen. Birdwell serves as chairman of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Economic Development. Sen. Birdwell also serves as vice-chairman of the Senate State Affairs Committee and as a member of the Criminal Justice, Higher Education, and Redistricting Committees.
After a distinguished career serving his nation in the U.S. Army, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Brian Birdwell was elected to the Texas Senate in a 2010 special election. Birdwell was a staff officer at the Pentagon on 9/11 when American Airlines Flight 77 was crashed into the building. Over 60% of his body was severely burned, and he endured 39 operations to rebuild his body. Lt. Col. Birdwell was awarded the Bronze Star for service in the Persian Gulf War, the Purple Heart for his wounds at the Pentagon, and upon retirement in July 2004, he was awarded the Legion of Merit.
Brian and his wife Mel authored “Refined by Fire: A Family’s Triumph of Love and Faith,” which tells their story of survival. From 2004 to 2017, they operated Face the Fire Ministries, a non-profit organization they jointly founded to support critical burn survivors and wounded service-members and their families. Even as a public servant, Birdwell has continued to share how faith in Christ sustained the family during their long ordeal following the 9/11 attack. In 2011, Birdwell agreed to share his story in an “I Am Second” video testimonial which has been viewed more than 100,000 times.
The Birdwells have been married for over 34 years and reside in Granbury. They have one son, Matt, a graduate of Texas Tech University, and a daughter-in-law, Ann Marie, who reside in Tarrant County with the Birdwell’s two grandchildren.