Babin wins Stockman’s House seat

Former Woodville mayor Brian Babin (R) has won the primary to replace Rep. Steve Stockman (R-Texas), ensuring him a seat in the next Congress.

{mosads}The Associated Press has called the race for Babin, who led businessman Ben Streusand (R) by 58 percent to 42 percent with 100 percent of precincts reporting.

Babin, a dentist by trade, won the race by consolidating rural support in a heavily Republican district split between Houston’s suburbs and more rural areas. He is all but guaranteed a spot in Congress.

This is Babin’s third run for Congress — he lost bids in 1996 and 1998.

Stockman vacated his seat for a quixotic primary campaign against Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), which he lost badly.