“Clif” Richardson (R)
Term limited in 2019
District Map

2002 Senate Race (Runoff)
Mary Landrieu (D) 3,987 (31%)
Suzy Terrell (R) 8,860 (69%)

2003 Governors Race (Runoff)
Kathleen Blanco (D) 4,127 (30%)
“Bobby” Jindal (R) 9,479 (70%)

2004 Presidential Race
George W. Bush (R) 14,466 (76%)
John Kerry (D) 4,531 (23%)
Others 114 (1%)

2004 Senate Race
David Vitter (R) 12,783 (68%)
Chris John (D) 3,294 (18%)
Others 2,630 (14%)

2006 Secretary of State Race
Jay Dardenne (R) 3,503 (63%)
Francis Heitmeier (D) 713 (13%)
Mike Francis (R) 1,061 (19%)
Mary Chehardy (R) 143 (3%)
Others 160 (3%)

2007 Governors Race
“Bobby” Jindal (R) 8,998 (69%)
Walter Boasso (D) 1,338 (10%)
John Georges (I) 1,299 (10%)
Foster Campbell (D) 1,248 (10%)
Others 104 (1%)

2007 Agriculture Commissioner Race
“Bob” Odom (D) 3,618 (29%)
Mike Strain (R) 5,699 (45%)
Wayne Carter (R) 2,767 (22%)
Don Johnson (R) 529 (4%)

The epicenter of major Republican gains in 1995 was in the Central section of Baton Rouge. Central, an almost all-white area of East Baton Rouge Parish between the Comite and Amite Rivers, has traditionally been populated by independent-minded citizens who cherish the remoteness from the rest of East Baton Rouge Parish and resented the loss of control of local schools as a result of a parish-wide busing order implemented in 1981. Attempts were made for years to form its own school district, but efforts were hindered by the fact that the area was unincorporated. So in 2005, the area voted to incorporate into “Central City.” Then in 2006, Louisiana voters approved the creation of the Central School District, which started operation on July 1, 2007.

Traditionally, Central’s residents were conservative Democrats who split their votes in national elections. However, the Republican philosophy became more attractive over time, and Republicans routinely began to receive over 80% of the vote in Central precincts in the 1980s. During this time, its longtime (since 1975) representative Donald Ray Kennard was easily re-elected. However, the Republican trend resulted in his re-election percentages against Republican opponents’ declining from the 70% range to 58% in 1991. He then switched parties in 1995 and was unopposed then and in 1999. He received 73% of the vote against a Democrat in 2003. While he survived the 1995 Republican surge in Louisiana, neighboring legislative districts were electing Republicans for the first time, thanks to over 80% support in some Central precincts.

District 65 can be thought of as the “Central District.” It includes most areas south of Denham Road between the Amite and Comite Rivers. It stretches all the way south along Flannery Road to Harrell’s Ferry Road, including suburbs in the far eastern section of Baton Rouge. It has grown at about the statewide average in the 2000s, although its African-American population has increased from 10 to 15% since 2003, due to African-American migration into neighborhoods off Flannery Road, Old Hammond Highway, and O’Neal Lane. Despite this change, the district is safely Republican. Suzy Terrell, “Bobby” Jindal, and David Vitter have each received about 70% of the vote here. George W. Bush was comfortably re-elected with 76% of the vote here, receiving support as high as 90% in some parts of Central.

Representative Kennard was term-limited, and was succeeded by Justice of The Peace Clif Richardson, who defeated a fellow Republican 67-33%, with percentages in Central up to 74% while breaking even in the rest of the district.