Jay Dean is a Republican incumbent who has represented Texas House District 7 since 2017. He served as Mayor of Longview for ten years and on the Longview City Council for five years prior to his legislative service. Dean was born March 5, 1953, in Opelousas, Louisiana, and earned his Bachelor of Arts from Louisiana State University. He is a business owner in the oil and gas industry.
Born March 5, 1953, in Opelousas, Louisiana. Earned a Bachelor of Arts from Louisiana State University in 1975. Moved to Longview, Texas in 1981 with his wife Jane Willis Dean. They raised three daughters. Dean is active in the Roman Catholic Church and helped found a parish in Longview. Before entering the legislature in 2017, he was a successful business owner and executive in the oil and gas field services industry, currently serving as General Manager for Thomas Oilfield Services.