 Briggs became the second Fresno City Councilman in history to rise to a higher office when he won election to the California State Assembly in 1998 from the Fresno-based 29th district, succeeding Chuck Poochigian, who made a successful run for the California State Senate.At the end of his second term, Briggs decided to run for the newly created 21st congressional district rather than to seek reelection to the legislature.Former Fresno mayor and now Assemblyman Jim Patterson entered the race, dividing the vote in the Fresno County portion of the district, delivering the seat to Tulare County Candidate Devin Nunes who holds the seat to this day.