| Louisiana's 8th congressional district | |
|---|---|
| Obsolete district | |
| Created | 1913 |
| Eliminated | 1993 |
| Years active | 1913-1993 |
Louisiana's 8th congressional district was a congressional district which was created in 1913 and eliminated in 1993 after Louisiana lost its eighth congressional seat in the 1990 U. S. census. For its entire existence, it was based in Alexandria and included much of the north-central part of the state.
Beginning in 1972, the district was redrawn at the direction of Governor Edwin Edwards to take in liberal precincts in northern Baton Rouge, the northern Florida Parishes, and the Mississippi River corridor between Baton Rouge and New Orleans--making Alexandria the district's northern boundary--in order to aid the return to Congress of Gillis Long. It also moved LaSalle Parish, the home of conservative incumbent Speedy Long, who defeated Gillis Long in 1964, into the 5th district.
The last representative for the 8th district was Clyde Holloway, a Republican from Forest Hill in rural Rapides Parish first elected in 1986. In each of his three elections, he defeated a Black Democratic challenger, the last being future Representative Cleo Fields. In 1992, Holloway's home was drawn into the 6th district when Louisiana lost a House seat following the 1990 census, and he was defeated by fellow Republican Richard Baker, who was first elected to the House at the same time as Holloway.
