If you’ve spent any time in Western New York over the last twenty years, the name Brian Higgins is probably as familiar to you as the scent of Cheerios over the Buffalo sky or a snowy morning on the 190. For a long time, he was simply "the Congressman." He was the guy you saw on the news fighting for the waterfront or talking about cancer research. But then, in a move that honestly caught a lot of people off guard, he walked away. He didn't just retire; he resigned.
So, who is Brian Higgins today?
To understand where he is now—running one of the most iconic theaters in the country—you have to look at the weird, non-linear path he took to get there. It wasn’t just a straight shot from local politics to Washington. It was a career built on a very specific kind of obsession with Buffalo, a city that he basically helped rebuild brick by brick before deciding he was done with the "dysfunction" of D.C.
The Congressman Who Had Enough
Brian Michael Higgins isn't your typical polished, Ivy-League-from-birth politician, though he did eventually pick up a degree from Harvard. He’s a South Buffalo kid through and through. Born in 1959, his roots are Irish-Catholic and blue-collar. You can still hear it in his voice. He spent nearly two decades—from 2005 to 2024—representing New York’s 26th and 27th districts.
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Most people in D.C. hang on to those seats until they're carried out. Not Higgins.
In February 2024, he officially turned in his badge. Why? He was blunt about it. He told anyone who would listen that Congress had become a place where people "spend more time doing less." He was tired of the bickering and the gridlock. If you’ve ever felt like your job was a series of meetings that could have been an email, imagine that being your life for 19 years while trying to run a country. He’d had it.
But the Brian Higgins story didn’t end at the Capitol steps.
From the House Floor to Center Stage
Currently, Higgins is the President and CEO of Shea’s Performing Arts Center in Buffalo. It sounds like a total pivot, right? Going from the Ways and Means Committee to Broadway tours? But if you look at his track record, it actually makes a weird kind of sense.
Higgins was always the "infrastructure guy." He’s the person largely credited with securing the $279 million settlement from the New York Power Authority that sparked the entire redevelopment of the Buffalo waterfront. He likes projects. He likes old buildings. He likes seeing things actually get built.
Taking over Shea’s—a historic masterpiece designed by C.W. and George Rapp—is basically his biggest "urban renewal" project yet. He’s not just booking shows; he’s trying to turn the entire downtown theater district into a massive economic engine. Just recently, in late 2025, he even joined the board of the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, showing he hasn't let go of his long-time advocacy for medical research.
Which Brian Higgins are you looking for?
Here’s where things get a bit confusing. Because "Brian Higgins" is a pretty common name, you might be looking for someone else entirely.
- The Sportscaster: There’s a Brian Higgins who is a legend in Syracuse sports. He hosted "The 315" on ESPN Radio Syracuse for years and was the voice of Syracuse lacrosse and women’s basketball. If you’re a sports fan in Central New York, that’s your Brian Higgins. Interestingly, he also hit a career transition recently, moving his show to a digital-first format after some radio layoffs in 2025.
- The Soccer Legend: Then there’s the coach. Brian Higgins from Ellsworth, Maine. This guy is a Hall of Famer. He coached soccer for 42 years and racked up over 560 wins. He’s basically the Godfather of Maine high school soccer.
- The Academic: There is also a Dr. Brian Patrick Higgins, an associate professor at the University of Kentucky who specializes in microbiology. If you’re trying to pass a med school exam on infection and immunity, he’s probably the guy on your syllabus.
Why Brian Higgins Still Matters in 2026
Back to the Buffalo Higgins. Why should anyone outside of Western New York care about a former congressman?
Honestly, it’s because he represents a trend we’re seeing more and more: the "Great Resignation" of effective legislators. Higgins was a moderate Democrat who actually knew how to talk to the other side. When people like him leave because the system is "broken," it usually signals a shift in how our government functions—or doesn't.
But on a local level, he’s a case study in how to use political capital for actual, physical change. You can walk along Canalside in Buffalo and literally see the results of his 2005 legislative wins. You don't get that very often in politics. Usually, you just get a press release and a headache.
His Legacy (So Far)
- The Waterfront: He fought the New York Power Authority and won. Most people thought he was tilting at windmills, but the $279 million he secured transformed a desolate industrial wasteland into a tourist hub.
- Cancer Advocacy: As a co-chair of the House Cancer Caucus, he wasn’t just a figurehead. He pushed for real funding for immunotherapy and clinical trials. This wasn't just "politics"—it was personal for his district, home to Roswell Park.
- The "Non-Politician" Exit: By leaving early, he forced a special election (won by Tim Kennedy) and signaled that he valued his hometown’s progress over a prestigious title in a stalled Washington.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re interested in the impact Brian Higgins has had—or if you’re just a fan of urban history—it’s worth looking into the Larkinville and Canalside developments in Buffalo. They are prime examples of how federal money, when pushed by someone who actually cares about their zip code, can change a city's trajectory.
You might also want to check out the current lineup at Shea's Buffalo. Under Higgins' leadership, the theater has been pushing for a massive expansion to handle the technical demands of modern Broadway blockbusters. It's a gamble, but considering he spent 20 years betting on Buffalo and winning, I wouldn't bet against him.
If you're following the Syracuse sportscaster instead, his new digital platform "The 315" is where he’s currently dropping his deep-dive analysis on Orange basketball and football.
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Whatever Brian Higgins you were searching for, they all seem to have one thing in common: they don't stay still for long.