Jim Fannin (D)
Term limited in 2015
District Map

2002 Senate Race (Runoff)
Mary Landrieu (D) 5,793 (45%)
Suzy Terrell (R) 6,941 (55%)

2003 Governors Race (Runoff)
Kathleen Blanco (D) 7,625 (54%)
“Bobby” Jindal (R) 6,548 (46%)

2004 Presidential Race
George W. Bush (R) 12,943 (69%)
John Kerry (D) 5,625 (30%)
Others 263 (1%)

2004 Senate Race
David Vitter (R) 10,800 (62%)
Chris John (D) 3,706 (21%)
Others 2,942 (17%)

2006 Secretary of State Race
Jay Dardenne (R) 1,766 (20%)
Francis Heitmeier (D) 2,236 (25%)
Mike Francis (R) 3,258 (36%)
Mary Chehardy (R) 769 (9%)
Others 919 (10%)

2007 Governors Race
“Bobby” Jindal (R) 7,083 (52%)
Walter Boasso (D) 1,894 (14%)
John Georges (I) 1,357 (10%)
Foster Campbell (D) 3,103 (23%)
Others 236 (2%)

2007 Agriculture Commissioner Race
“Bob” Odom (D) 5,539 (43%)
Mike Strain (R) 4,504 (35%)
Wayne Carter (R) 1,816 (14%)
Don Johnson (R) 1,006 (8%)

District 13 is located in the middle of North Louisiana and contains Jackson Parish, plus parts of three other parishes: all but the northern fringe of Bienville Parish, the northern fringe of Winn Parish, and four precincts in the western fringe of Ouachita Parish. As a whole, the district has a modest (23%, down from 24% several years ago) African-American voter population and has gained voters at slightly less than the statewide average over the last several years. Interestingly, there is considerable variation in the districts demographics from parish to parish. Three of the four parishes in the district (Jackson, Bienville, and Winn) can be classified as rural and have lost population. Two of these rural parishes (Jackson and Bienville) have relatively high African-American populations. The four precincts in Ouachita Parish, on the other hand, are 5% African-American, fast growing (they gained voters at a rate about five times that of Louisiana from 2003-2006), and heavily Republican – this is one of the few parts of north Louisiana where there is a plurality of registered Republicans.

Politically, the district tends to lean Republican in statewide races, giving huge margins (69-30% and 62-21%) to Bush and Vitter, supporting the re-election of Rodney Alexander (who is a native of the district) with 76% even after he switched to the Republican party, and mildly preferring Suzy Terrell 55-45%. However, like other rural North Louisiana districts, its 54-46% preference for Kathleen Blanco played a part in her come from behind victory in the governor’s race in 2003. This was reversed in 2007 when the district, like most of north Louisiana, switched to Bobby Jindal, giving him an impressive 52% of the vote against three serious opponents. It didn’t hurt that the Ouachita Parish precincts gave Jindal a whopping 70% of the vote.

District 13 has been pretty steady in its legislative representation; it has only been represented by two people in recent memory. (Then) Democrat Rodney Alexander was first elected in 1987 by defeating an incumbent 58-42%.  He was twice re-elected with at least 67% of the vote and was unopposed in 1999. When he resigned in 2003 upon his election to Congress, there was a contested race to succeed him. Four Democrats and a Republican (all from Jonesboro in Jackson Parish) entered the race, with Jim Fannin and Todd Culpepper making the runoff and Fannin winning the runoff 56-44%. In the regular election that fall, Culpepper sought a rematch, and two Democrats from Winn Parish also ran. The race ended up in a runoff again, with Fannin winning the same 56% he received in the special election. The patterns of support largely remained the same in each parish, although Fannin’s margin decreased in Ouachita Parish.

Though demographic changes and the turbulent races in 2003 would suggest a competitive race this year, Rep. Fannin only has one opponent: fellow Democrat Jason Cook. It is worth watching, however, to see if the fast growing Ouachita Parish precincts in this district will generate Republican competition before Rep. Fannin is term-limited in 2015.