Wilfred Pierre (D)
Term limited in 2007
District Map

2002 Senate Race (Runoff)
Mary Landrieu (D) 6,603 (76%)
Suzy Terrell (R) 2,035 (24%)

2003 Governors Race (Runoff)
Kathleen Blanco (D) 8,916 (79%)
“Bobby” Jindal (R) 2,360 (21%)

2004 Presidential Race
George W. Bush (R) 3,790 (26%)
John Kerry (D) 11,086 (73%)
Others 200 (1%)

2004 Senate Race
David Vitter (R) 2,787 (20%)
Chris John (D) 9,212 (65%)
Others 2,219 (15%)

2006 Secretary of State Race
Jay Dardenne (R) 324 (11%)
Francis Heitmeier (D) 1,355 (47%)
Mike Francis (R) 752 (26%)
Mary Chehardy (R) 194 (7%)
Others 245 (9%)

2007 Governors Race
“Bobby” Jindal (R) 2,067 (23%)
Walter Boasso (D) 2,265 (25%)
John Georges (I) 1,510 (17%)
Foster Campbell (D) 2,780 (31%)
Others 261 (4%)

2007 Agriculture Commissioner Race
“Bob” Odom (D) 5,561 (69%)
Mike Strain (R) 1,641 (20%)
Wayne Carter (R) 508 (6%)
Don Johnson (R) 348 (4%)

The advent of single member districts was the key to significant African-American representation in the Louisiana legislature. Their numbers have steadily increased through a combination of favorable reapportionments (after the 1991 reapportionment, about 10 new predominately African-American House seats were created) and demographic changes.

House District 44 in Lafayette is an example of increased African-American representation due to reapportionment. Before 1991, African-American neighborhoods in Lafayette (generally an area of east of Evangeline Thruway, south of I-10, and north of the airport) were split between two House districts. In 1991, District 44 was significantly modified by consolidating these neighborhoods into one district, with areas to the north and west added as well. It is a solidly Democratic district thanks to its strong (66%) African-American voting majority; Democratic candidates are assured of getting at least 70% of the vote here. Even the split Democratic vote in last year’s Senate race resulted in David Vitter’s only receiving 20% of the vote here.

The district has had only been represented by Democrat Wilfred Pierre since the 1991 reapportionment. After initial and subsequent close races against fellow Democrat Shelton Cobb, Pierre was unopposed for re-election in 1999 and 2003.

Representative Pierre is term-limited in 2007. We rate this district as a “Democratic hold” due to its demographics – George Bush’s 26% of the vote here last year was a “high water mark” for Republicans. Four Democrats (Parish Councilman Chris Williams, Rickey Hardy, Derriel McCorvey, and Fred Prejean) and a No Party candidate (Terry Landry, the former Superintendent of State Police) are running.