Charles McDonald (D)
Term limited in 2007
District Map

2002 Senate Race (Runoff)
Mary Landrieu (D) 4,791 (43%)
Suzy Terrell (R) 6,332 (57%)

2003 Governors Race (Runoff)
Kathleen Blanco (D) 5,833 (53%)
“Bobby” Jindal (R) 5,263 (47%)

2004 Presidential Race
George W. Bush (R) 10,882 (64%)
John Kerry (D) 5,918 (35%)
Others 197 (1%)

2004 Senate Race
David Vitter (R) 9,036 (58%)
Chris John (D) 3,552 (23%)
Others 3,134 (19%)

2006 Secretary of State Race
Jay Dardenne (R) 1,302 (22%)
Francis Heitmeier (D) 1,579 (26%)
Mike Francis (R) 2,304 (38%)
Mary Chehardy (R) 418 (7%)
Others 416 (7%)

2007 Governors Race
“Bobby” Jindal (R) 5,867 (54%)
Walter Boasso (D) 2,115 (19%)
John Georges (I) 1,146 (11%)
Foster Campbell (D) 1,566 (14%)
Others 216 (2%)

2007 Agriculture Commissioner Race
“Bob” Odom (D) 4,591 (45%)
Mike Strain (R) 3,855 (37%)
Wayne Carter (R) 862 (8%)
Don Johnson (R) 989 (10%)

District 14 is located in the northwestern corner of the state and contains parts of four parishes: East Carroll, West Carroll, Morehouse, and three precincts in the northwestern fringe of Ouachita Parish. As a whole, the district has a significant (30%, up from 29% in 2003) African-American voter population and has gained population at a rate (1%) less than the state has over the last few years. Within the district, there is some demographic variation. About two-thirds of the district lives in either Morehouse or East Carroll parishes, which have a large African-American minority. The remainder of the district is split between rural mostly white West Carroll Parish and the over 90% white suburban fringe of Monroe in Ouachita Parish. The suburban fringe, in fact, has accounted for all of the growth in the district’s population (with growth 5 times that of Louisiana), and is one of few parts of north Louisiana where there is a plurality of registered Republicans.

Interestingly, the demographics of this district eerily resemble District 13 to the west: a largely rural Democratic district with a noticeable (and growing) suburban presence in Ouachita Parish. This districts electoral performance also mirrors District 13: supporting Alexander, Bush and Vitter 66-22%, 64-35% and 58-23%, giving Suzy Terrell 57% of the vote, but giving Kathleen Blanco a crucial 53% of the vote.

Like District 13, District 14 has only been represented by two people in recent memory. John Ensminger represented the area for 15 years, and was one of about a dozen representatives who switched to the Republican Party in 1985. He was elected to the Senate for a brief period in 1991, and was succeeded by Democrat Charles McDonald. After running four competitive races that year (a primary/runoff that spring, and a primary/runoff against an incumbent who was redistricted into McDonald’s seat) with twin runoff victories of 56%, he has been unopposed since then.

Rep. Mc Donald is term-limited this year and is running for Robert Barham’s term-limited state senate seat. The district’s solid support for Republicans in 2004, combined with strong suburban growth in Ouachita Parish, would tend to give the Republicans the edge in 2007, when the seat becomes open. However, the 30% African-American influence, combined with the Democratic voting history in local races, also provides a good base of support for a Democrat, especially if he/she comes from Morehouse Parish, which still casts over 60% of the vote. If the Republicans should carry this district (and districts like it), however, they will capture a majority of the state House. Therefore, we rate this seat a tossup. Three candidates (all from Bastrop in Morehouse Parish) are running: Republicans Sam Little and Stan Neathery, and Democrat Buddy Quinn.