2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Louisiana

2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Louisiana

←  2010 November 6, 2012 (2012-11-06) 2014  →
All 6 Louisiana seats to the United States House of Representatives
Majority party Minority party Third party   Party Republican Democratic Libertarian Last election 6 1 0 Seats won 5 1 0 Seat change 1 Popular vote 1,143,027 359,190 124,572 Percentage 67.02% 21.06% 7.30% Swing 1.82% 8.98%
Republican   60–70%   70–80% Democratic   50–60%

The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Louisiana were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 and elected the six U.S. representatives from the state of Louisiana, one from each of the state's six congressional districts, a loss of one seat following reapportionment according to the results of the 2010 census. The elections coincided with elections for other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election. A jungle primary took place on November 6, with a runoff, if necessary, scheduled for December 8. ^[1]

Overview

United States House of Representatives elections in Louisiana, 2012 [2] [3]
Party		Votes	Percentage	Seats	+/–
	Republican	1,143,027	67.02%	5	-1
	Democratic	359,190	21.06%	1	—
	Libertarian	124,572	7.30%	0	—
	Independents	78,828	4.62%	0	—
Totals		1,705,617	100.00%	6	—

Redistricting

During the redistricting process, U.S. Representative Charles Boustany advocated a plan which, rather than drawing his home and that of Landry into the same district (as the bill which became law did), would instead make fellow Republican representative John Fleming's district potentially more competitive. Fleming later said of Boustany, "I don't feel like I can trust anything he says. Everything he told me, he reneged on." ^[4]

Due to difficulties reaching a consensus among the congressional delegation, U.S. Representatives Rodney Alexander, Bill Cassidy, Fleming, Jeff Landry and Steve Scalise wrote to Governor Bobby Jindal requesting that the state legislature postpone the redistricting process for a year. ^[5]

Nonetheless, a redistricting bill was passed by the Louisiana House of Representatives and Louisiana Senate, and was signed into law by Jindal on April 14, 2011. ^[6]

Louisiana is among the states which, according to a provision of the 1965 Voting Rights Act enacted upon states with a history of denial of voting rights, must submit legislative maps to the U.S. Department of Justice for approval in order to ascertain that the purpose and effects of the map are not discriminatory. ^[6]

District 1

2012 Louisiana's 1st congressional district election

←  2010 2014  →

Candidate Steve Scalise M. V. "Vinny" Mendoza Gary King Party Republican Democratic Republican Popular vote 193,496 61,703 24,844 Percentage 66.6% 21.3% 8.5%

Parish results Scalise:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

U.S. Representative before election Steve Scalise Republican Elected U.S. Representative Steve Scalise Republican

See also: Louisiana's 1st congressional district and Louisiana's 3rd congressional district

Republican Steve Scalise, who has represented the 1st district since 2008, is running for re-election. ^{[7] [8]} In redistricting the 1st district has been extended from Metairie towards the Gulf Coast, including areas from the old 3rd district. ^[9] and includes the cities of Slidell and Houma, and the two parishes hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina, St. Bernard and Plaquemines. ^[7] It comprises 373,405 White Americans registered voters, 46,542 African Americans and 30,126 people of other ethnicities. Of its voters, 167,824 are affiliated to the Democratic Party, 167,336 to the Republican Party, and 114,913 to neither party. ^[6]

Candidates

Republican Party

• Gary King
• Steve Scalise, incumbent U.S. Representative

Democratic Party

• M.V. "Vinny" Mendoza, organic farmer, Air Force veteran, and perennial candidate

Independents

• David "Turk" Turknett
• Arden Wells, candidate for this seat in 2010 ^{[10] [11]}

General election

Results

Louisiana's 1st congressional district, 2012 ^[12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Steve Scalise (incumbent)	193,496	66.6
	Democratic	M. V. "Vinny" Mendoza	61,703	21.3
	Republican	Gary King	24,844	8.5
	Independent	David "Turk" Turknett	6,079	2.1
	Independent	Arden Wells	4,288	1.5
Total votes			290,410	100.0
	Republican hold

District 2

2012 Louisiana's 2nd congressional district election

←  2010 2014  →

Candidate Cedric Richmond Gary Landrieu Dwayne Bailey Party Democratic Democratic Republican Popular vote 158,501 71,916 38,801 Percentage 55.2% 25.0% 13.5%

Parish results Richmond:     30–40%     40–50%     50–60%     60–70% Landrieu:     30–40%     40–50% Bailey:     30–40%

U.S. Representative before election Cedric Richmond Democratic Elected U.S. Representative Cedric Richmond Democratic

See also: Louisiana's 2nd congressional district, Louisiana's 3rd congressional district, and Louisiana's 6th congressional district

Democrat Cedric Richmond, who has represented the 2nd district since January 2011, is running for re-election. ^[13] In redistricting, the district was extended in redistricting to include areas of the old 3rd and 6th district, along the Mississippi River to include Baton Rouge. ^[7] It comprises 144,721 White Americans registered voters, 276,668 African Americans and 27,558 people of other ethnicities. Of its voters, 302,120 are Democrats, 51,268 are Republicans, and 95,559 are affiliated to neither party. ^[6]

Candidates

Democratic Party

• Gary Landrieu, real estate developer and cousin of New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu and U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu
• Cedric Richmond, incumbent U.S. Representative

Republican Party

• Dwayne Bailey, refinery worker
• Josue Larose, Super PAC organizer ^[14]

Libertarian Party

• Caleb Trotter, banker and law school student ^{[11] [15]}

General election

Results

Louisiana's 2nd congressional district, 2012 ^[12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Cedric Richmond (incumbent)	158,501	55.2
	Democratic	Gary Landrieu	71,916	25.0
	Republican	Dwayne Bailey	38,801	13.5
	Republican	Josue Larose	11,345	3.9
	Libertarian	Caleb Trotter	6,791	2.4
Total votes			287,354	100.0
	Democratic hold

District 3

2012 Louisiana's 3rd congressional district election

←  2010 2014  →

Candidate Charles Boustany Jeff Landry Ron Richard Party Republican Republican Democratic First round 139,123 44.7% 93,527 30.0% 67,070 21.5% Runoff 58,820 60.9% 37,767 39.1% Eliminated

First round parish results Runoff parish results Boustany:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Landry:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

U.S. Representative before election Charles Boustany (Republican) Jeff Landry (Republican) Elected U.S. Representative Charles Boustany Republican

See also: Louisiana's 3rd congressional district and Louisiana's 7th congressional district

The 3rd district includes the homes of Republican incumbents Jeff Landry and Charles Boustany, who have represented the 3rd district since January 2011 and the now-defunct 7th district since 2005 respectively. ^[9] It comprises 336,889 White Americans registered voters, 107,033 African Americans and 14,497 people of other ethnicities. Of its voters, 229,704 are Democrats, 120,787 are Republicans, and 107,928 are affiliated to neither party. ^[6]

The district is located in southern Louisiana and stretches from the Texas border to Iberia and St. Martin parishes. ^[7] It incorporates Lake Charles and Lafayette, which were centers of population in Boustany's former district. Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes, which form a part of the district Landry currently represents, will no longer be in the 3rd district. ^[9]

Candidates

Republican Party

• Bryan Barrilleaux, physician
• Charles Boustany, incumbent U.S. Representative for the 7th district ^[16]
• Jeff Landry, incumbent U.S. Representative ^[17]

Democratic Party

• Ron Richard, attorney

Libertarian Party

• Jim Stark, truck driver ^{[11] [18]}

General election

Results

Louisiana's 3rd congressional district, 2012 (jungle primary) ^[12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Charles Boustany (incumbent)	139,123	44.7
	Republican	Jeff Landry (incumbent)	93,527	30.0
	Democratic	Ron Richard	67,070	21.5
	Republican	Bryan Barrilleaux	7,908	2.6
	Libertarian	Jim Stark	3,765	1.2
Total votes			311,393	100.0

Runoff

Louisiana's 3rd congressional district, 2012 (runoff) ^[19]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Charles W. Boustany, Jr. (incumbent)	58,820	60.9
	Republican	Jeff Landry (incumbent)	37,767	39.1
Total votes			96,587	100.0
	Republican hold

District 4

2012 Louisiana's 4th congressional district election

←  2010 2014  →

Candidate John Fleming Randall Lord Party Republican Libertarian Popular vote 187,894 61,637 Percentage 75.3% 24.7%

Parish results Fleming:     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%

U.S. Representative before election John Fleming Republican Elected U.S. Representative John Fleming Republican

See also: Louisiana's 4th congressional district

Republican John Fleming, who has represented the 4th district since 2009, is running for re-election. ^[20] The district comprises 276,373 White Americans registered voters, 140,630 African Americans and 15,020 people of other ethnicities. Of its voters, 221,187 are Democrats, 118,015 are Republicans, and 92,721 are affiliated to neither party. ^[6] Its boundaries remain similar to those of its previous incarnation: ^[9] it is anchored by Shreveport and borders Texas and Arkansas. ^[7]

Candidates

Republican Party

• John Fleming, incumbent U.S. Representative

Libertarian Party

• Randall Lord, former chiropractor ^[21]

Democratic Party

Declined

• Brian Crawford, Shreveport's assistant chief administrative officer and former fire chief
• Keith Hightower, former mayor of Shreveport
• Kyle Robinson, attorney
• Patrick Williams, state representative ^{[13] [22]}

General election

Results

Louisiana's 4th congressional district, 2012 ^{[12] [23]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Fleming (incumbent)	187,894	75.3
	Libertarian	Randall Lord	61,637	24.7
Total votes			249,531	100.0
	Republican hold

District 5

2012 Louisiana's 5th congressional district election

←  2010 2013 (special)  →

Candidate Rodney Alexander Ron Ceasar Clay Steven Grant Party Republican Independent Libertarian Popular vote 202,536 37,486 20,194 Percentage 77.8% 14.4% 7.8%

Parish results Alexander:     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%

U.S. Representative before election Rodney Alexander Republican Elected U.S. Representative Rodney Alexander Republican

See also: Louisiana's 5th congressional district

Republican Rodney Alexander, who has represented the 5th district since 2003, is running for re-election. ^[13] The district comprises 294,830 White Americans registered voters, 144,744 African Americans and 11,107 people of other ethnicities. Of its voters, 239,963 are Democrats, 117,624 are Republicans, and 93,094 are affiliated to neither party. ^[6] The make-up of the 5th district, which mostly covers the northeast of the state, ^[7] now takes in the northern reaches of the Florida Parishes north of Baton Rouge, which were a part of the old 1st and 6th districts. ^[9]

Candidates

Republican Party

• Rodney Alexander, incumbent U.S. Representative

Libertarian Party

• Clay Grant, businessman

Independents

• Ron Ceasar, 2011 Louisiana gubernatorial candidate

General election

Louisiana's 5th congressional district, 2012 ^[12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Rodney Alexander (incumbent)	202,536	77.8
	Independent	Ron Ceasar	37,486	14.4
	Libertarian	Clay Steven Grant	20,194	7.8
Total votes			260,216	100.0
	Republican hold

District 6

2012 Louisiana's 6th congressional district election

←  2010 2014  →

Candidate Bill Cassidy Rufus Holt Craig Richard "RPT" Torregano Party Republican Libertarian Independent Popular vote 243,553 37,486 30,975 Percentage 79.4% 10.5% 10.1%

Parish results Cassidy:     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%

U.S. Representative before election Bill Cassidy Republican Elected U.S. Representative Bill Cassidy Republican

See also: Louisiana's 6th congressional district

Republican Bill Cassidy, who has represented the 6th district since 2009, is running for re-election. ^[24] The district comprises 334,899 White Americans registered voters, 88,460 African Americans and 16,873 people of other ethnicities. Of its voters, 194,088 are Democrats, 143,160 are Republicans, and 102,984 are affiliated to neither party. ^[6] It includes the suburbs of Baton Rouge and extends south as far as the outskirts of Houma. ^[7]

Candidates

Republican Party

• Bill Cassidy, incumbent U.S. Representative

Libertarian Party

• Rufus Holt Craig, Jr., lawyer and 2004 Democratic candidate for Louisiana's 6th congressional district ^[21]

Independents

• Richard "RPT" Torregano, technician ^[25]

General election

Results

Louisiana's 6th congressional district, 2012 ^[12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bill Cassidy (incumbent)	243,553	79.4
	Libertarian	Rufus Holt Craig	32,185	10.5
	Independent	Richard "RPT" Torregano	30,975	10.1
Total votes			306,713	100.0
	Republican hold

References

1. "2012 Elections" (PDF). Secretary of State of Louisiana . Archived from the original (PDF) on August 13, 2012. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
2. "Statistics for the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 6, 2012" (PDF). Karen Haas, Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. February 28, 2013. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
3. The numbers presented are those cast on November 6, 2013 and do not include the votes cast in the election of December 8, 2012 in the 3rd Congressional District. Charles Boustany (Rep.) received 58,820 votes and Jeff Landry (Rep.) received 37,767 votes in that election.
4. D'Aprile, Shane (April 14, 2011). "New Louisiana map sets up GOP primary battle". The Hill . Retrieved May 23, 2011.
5. Ballard, Mark; Shuler, Marsha (April 9, 2011). "Majority of congressmen ask for redistricting delay". The Advocate . Retrieved May 21, 2011.
6. "Jindal signs bill creating new Louisiana congressional, legislative districts". The Times-Picayune . April 14, 2011. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
7. Miller, Joshua (May 31, 2011). "Race Ratings: Primaries Are What to Watch in Louisiana". Roll Call . Retrieved June 29, 2011.
8. "Rep. Steve Scalise helps recruit new GOP candidates". The Times-Picayune . July 31, 2011. Retrieved May 5, 2012.
9. Isenstadt, Alex (April 13, 2011). "Louisiana map sets up incumbent clash". Politico . Retrieved May 23, 2011.
10. "In Louisiana, fall congressional races start to take shape". The Times-Picayune . August 15, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
11. Anderson, Ed (August 17, 2012). "Louisiana's 6 congressional seats will all be contested". The Times-Picayune . Retrieved August 24, 2012.
12. "Louisiana Secretary of State Official Election Results for 11/06/2012". November 6, 2012. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
13. Burnett, Lou Gehrig (May 1, 2012). "Louisiana Congressional Races Dull, GOP, Democrat Parties Lively". BayouBuzz.com. Retrieved May 5, 2012.
14. Tilove, Jonathan (August 17, 2012). "Cedric Richmond draws mysterious challenger in person of Josue Larose". The Times-Picayune . Retrieved August 24, 2012.
15. Anderson, Ed (August 17, 2012). "U.S. Rep. Rodney Alexander draws challenger; all incumbents now opposed". The Times-Picayune . Retrieved August 24, 2012.
16. Persac, Nicholas (January 20, 2012). "Boustany will 'absolutely' seek re-election". The Lafayette Daily Advertiser . Retrieved January 24, 2012.
17. Tilove, Jonathan (May 14, 2012). "Jeff Landry announces he will go head-to-head with Boustany for re-election". The Times-Picayune . Retrieved May 14, 2012.
18. Hasten, Mike (August 15, 2012). "Boustany, Landry to face two challengers". The Daily Advertiser . Retrieved August 17, 2012.
19. "Louisiana Secretary of State Official Election Results for 12/08/2012". December 8, 2012. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
20. "Rep. John Fleming fails to intimidate Democrats with his tweets". The Times-Picayune . April 7, 2012. Retrieved May 5, 2012.
21. Roberts III, Faimon A. (August 16, 2012). "Nov. 6 qualifying starts". The Advocate . Retrieved August 17, 2012.
22. Burnett, Lou Gehrig (February 1, 2012). "Bananas over Foster". Bossier Press-Tribune. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
23. As a candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the Non-Partisan Primary, that candidate was declared elected to the House seat and no General Election was held.
24. Blum, Jordan (May 3, 2012). "Blum: 2014 election already under way". The Advocate . Retrieved May 5, 2012.
25. Alford, Jeremy (August 16, 2012). "Candidates added to regional races". The Houma Courier . Retrieved August 17, 2012.

External links

• Elections at the Louisiana Secretary of State
• United States House of Representatives elections in Louisiana, 2012 at Ballotpedia
• Louisiana U.S. House at OurCampaigns.com
• Campaign contributions for U.S. Congressional races in Louisiana at OpenSecrets
• Outside spending at the Sunlight Foundation
• Statistics, demographics and maps of the new congressional districts, published by the Louisiana State Legislature