Jeff Arnold (D)
Term limited in 2015
District Map

2002 Senate Race (Runoff)
Mary Landrieu (D) 7,629 (78%)
Suzy Terrell (R) 2,161 (22%)

2003 Governors Race (Runoff)
Kathleen Blanco (D) 6,489 (67%)
“Bobby” Jindal (R) 3,266 (33%)

2004 Presidential Race
George W. Bush (R) 3,445 (25%)
John Kerry (D) 10,356 (74%)
Others 100 (1%)

2004 Senate Race
David Vitter (R) 3,319 (25%)
Chris John (D) 4,952 (37%)
Others 4,977 (38%)

2006 Secretary of State Race
Jay Dardenne (R) 697 (23%)
Francis Heitmeier (D) 1,890 (62%)
Mike Francis (R) 203 (6%)
Mary Chehardy (R) 123 (4%)
Others 143 (5%)

2007 Governors Race
“Bobby” Jindal (R) 2,264 (32%)
Walter Boasso (D) 1,577 (22%)
John Georges (I) 2,700 (38%)
Foster Campbell (D) 485 (7%)
Others 123 (1%)

2007 Agriculture Commissioner Race
“Bob” Odom (D) 3,856 (59%)
Mike Strain (R) 1,580 (24%)
Wayne Carter (R) 767 (12%)
Don Johnson (R) 300 (5%)

House District 102 is totally contained within the Algiers section of New Orleans on the Westbank and includes nearly all Algiers neighborhoods between the Mississippi River and the Intracoastal Waterway. It has a solid 67% African-American majority (up from 65% in 2003), although whites still live in neighborhoods in the center of Algiers and in the Old Algiers section directly across the Mississippi River from the Central Business District of New Orleans. The district has grown at about the statewide rate since 2003.

While the African-American American population provides a solid base of support for any Democratic candidate, there is a sizable white liberal contingent here, particularly in the Old Algiers precincts. Accordingly, Republicans in recent statewide elections can only count on about 25% of the vote here. Even with appeal to New Orleanians and Ray Nagin’s endorsement in 2003, Bobby Jindal could only get 33% of the district vote. He received 32% of the vote in 2007 without Mayor Nagin’s endorsement.

The district has not had stable state house representation, as its representatives typically run for other offices after a term or two. Democrat Francis Heitmeier was elected in 1983 and served two terms before getting elected to a state Senate seat which had opened up in 1991 (He is now running for Secretary of State). He was succeeded by two black Democrats (Troy Carter and Jackie Clarkson) who served only one and two terms, respectively, before getting elected to the New Orleans City Council. White Democrat Jeff Arnold was then elected in 2003 with 63% of the vote and with 61% of the vote in 2007.

Rep. Arnold can serve two more terms under the state’s term limits law. Though we see this seat as a “Democratic hold”, the racial composition of the district provides opportunities for an African-American challenger in 2007 or future elections.

The Algiers section of New Orleans was the least damaged by the hurricanes. It did suffer wind damage, but the levees held here, so it was spared the massive flooding that ruined most of the Eastbank of New Orleans. It was also the first major area of the city which was reopened to residents after Katrina. Accordingly, it has gained over 200 voters since Katrina and is likely to be attractive to Eastbankers in the future for those can’t find suitable housing elsewhere in the metro area.