Richard Briggs holds an M.D. from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and completed surgical residency and a cardiothoracic fellowship at Brooke Army Medical Center. He served in Operation Desert Storm and later as a trauma surgeon in Afghanistan and Iraq, retiring from the U.S. Army with the rank of colonel. Briggs has been a member of the state legislature since 2004, currently serving as Chairman of the Senate State and Local Government Committee and a member of the Senate Rules and Transportation & Safety Committees.

Richard Briggs blends a traditionally conservative stance on social issues with a collaborative approach to policy-making. His legislative record reveals an unexpected convergence with opposing factions on environmental regulations, indicating a highly calculated approach to protecting regional industrial interests. Despite his conservative background, Briggs has shown ideological agility by working with Democrats to amend restrictive school library laws, suggesting a nuanced understanding of the political landscape. His rhetorical style emphasizes calculated pragmatism, balancing ideological commitments with pragmatic adjustments to achieve policy goals.