Clay Higgins
RepublicanU.S. Representative, LA-3| Age | 64 (b. 1961-08-24) |
| Gender | Male |
| In office since | 2017-01-03 (~9 yrs) |
| Race / ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Protestant (unspecified denomination) |
| Education | Graduated Covington High School (Covington, LA); attended Louisiana State University but did not graduate |
| Prior occupation | Law enforcement officer (Opelousas City Police, Port Barre Police, St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office captain/public information officer); previously car salesman and small business owner |
| Military service | Yes: Louisiana Army National Guard (Military Police Corps) (Staff Sergeant) |
| Birthplace | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Marital status | Married — Becca Higgins |
| Children | 4 |
| Residence | Port Barre, Louisiana |
Pending research: languages · notable relatives · openly lgbtq.
Career & politics
| First elected | 2016 |
| Committees | House Committee on Homeland Security (Chair, Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement) · House Committee on Oversight and Accountability |
| Caucuses | House Freedom Caucus · Republican Study Committee · Congressional Western Caucus |
| Leadership | Chair, Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement |
| Ideology | Hard-line conservative; member of the House Freedom Caucus; one of the most conservative members of the House |
| Signature legislation | HR 10549 to abolish the Environmental Protection Agency (introduced December 2024) · Lone House vote against the Epstein Files Transparency Act (November 18, 2025) |
Financial
Net worth: disclosed $-500,000–$-250,001 (2024) · estimate
| PennyMac Loan Services mortgage on personal residence (liability) | real_estate · $250,001–$500,000 · 2024 |
Top donors: House Freedom Fund ($18,200) · LHC Group ($18,200) · B&G Food Enterprises ($16,500)
Top industries: Republican/Conservative PACs (~$76,000) · Crop Production & Agribusiness (~$62,000) · Retirees (~$47,000)
Scandals & crimes ledger
ongoing — Unpaid court-ordered child support and 2016 enforcement lawsuit
Clay Higgins was subject to a court-ordered child support obligation of $1,289 per month stemming from his 1999 divorce from Rosemary 'Stormy' Rothkamm-Hambrice, ordered by an Orange County, Texas judge. He stopped making payments in March 2005. His ex-wife filed an enforcement lawsuit in Louisiana's 27th Judicial District Court (St. Landry Parish) the day after his December 2016 runoff election win. By October 2016 court records reflected $96,852.53 in unpaid support; the ex-wife sought a total of $140,826 including interest and penalties. In recorded conversations during the 2016 campaign, Higgins indicated his congressional salary would help him pay the debt. As of September 2022 the debt reportedly remained unpaid and the matter unresolved.
resolved — 2007 Opelousas Police Department internal affairs finding of excessive force and false statements
While an Opelousas City Police officer, Clay Higgins was the subject of an internal affairs investigation into the use of unnecessary force against Andre 'Red' Richard, an unarmed Black man, during execution of a warrant. The investigation found Higgins repeatedly grabbed Richard around the neck, struck him, and kicked him while he was handcuffed. Higgins initially gave false statements during the investigation but later recanted and admitted to striking the handcuffed suspect. Facing recommended disciplinary measures, Higgins resigned from the department on May 18, 2007 before discipline was imposed. This predates his congressional career.