District 22 State Senator Brian Birdwell announced last week that he will not seek another term in next year’s election cycle.
“It has been the high honor of my life, on par with commanding United States soldiers, to serve my fellow Texans for over 15 years,” Birdwell said. “At my swearing in ceremony in Hillsboro after winning the 2010 special election, I made clear I was not elected to a position of authority over the citizens of District 22, but rather elected to a position subordinate to them so that I could steward their seat in the State Senate.”
After a distinguished career of serving his nation in the U.S. military, 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 badly burned, and he endured 39 operations to rebuild his body.
Lt. Col. Birdwell was awarded a 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.
He 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.
The Birdwells have been married for over 38 years and reside in Granbury.
“Thank you for your unwavering support across the years, and for your part in helping ensure Texas remains strong and free,” Birdwell wrote in a letter to District 22 announcing his decision. “I will not only cherish the time I have had as your State Senator, but I will also cherish the remaining time in the interim until I officially depart.”
Senator Birdwell’s current term ends January 11, 2027.
Shortly after Birdwell’s announcement, State Representative David Cook, R-Mansfield, announced he would run for the now-open Senate District 22.
The Lakelander 