Danny Martiny (R)
Term limited in 2019
District Map

2002 Senate Race (Runoff)
Mary Landrieu (D) 12,607 (39%)
Suzy Terrell (R) 19,233 (61%)

2003 Governors Race (Runoff)
Kathleen Blanco (D) 11,131 (32%)
“Bobby” Jindal (R) 23,168 (68%)

2004 Presidential Race
George W. Bush (R) 31,572 (67%)
John Kerry (D) 15,157 (32%)
Others 368 (1%)

2004 Senate Race
David Vitter (R) 30,605 (68%)
Chris John (D) 7,879 (17%)
Others 6,819 (15%)

2006 Secretary of State Race
Jay Dardenne (R) 5,739 (41%)
Francis Heitmeier (D) 2,683 (19%)
Mike Francis (R) 1,639 (12%)
Mary Chehardy (R) 3,240 (22%)
Others 913 (6%)

2007 Governors Race
“Bobby” Jindal (R) 20,285 (69%)
Walter Boasso (D) 2,624 (9%)
John Georges (I) 5,079 (17%)
Foster Campbell (D) 965 (3%)
Others 296 (1%)

2007 Agriculture Commissioner Race
“Bob” Odom (D) 7,711 (28%)
Mike Strain (R) 13,997 (51%)
Wayne Carter (R) 4,502 (16%)
Don Johnson (R) 1,195 (4%)

Senate District 10 is one of the more geographically compact Senate districts in Louisiana. It is entirely contained within the Eastbank of Jefferson Parish and is bordered by Lake Pontchartrain, the St. Charles Parish line (and the beginning of the swamps outside of New Orleans), the Mississippi River, and the Soniat Canal. Its population lives either in Kenner, Harahan, or River Ridge.

The areas covered by this Senate district roughly equal the territory of House Districts 78, 79, and 92. The former two House districts are predominately Republican, while House district 92 leans Democratic. Accordingly, the partisan leanings of the district are about 67% Republican, a percentage that Bush, Jindal, and Vitter received in their races. Even Suzy Terrell’s 61% was not far off that typical Republican performance.

The district’s decided (but not overwhelming) Republican leanings are also matched by the demographics of the district: a modest (16%) and stable African-American population primarily located in the Kenner precincts near the airport. The district itself has only grown 1% since 2003 due to out migration after Hurricane Katrina

The district’s partisan preferences weren’t always matched by its representation in the state Senate. For 30 years, Democrat Hank Lauricella represented the district and was re-elected comfortably until he was held to 55% in 1991 against a Republican. When he retired in 1995, he was succeeded by Republican Art Lentini, who has held the seat since then with little opposition; he was unopposed in 1999, and received 71% against Republican attorney Stephen Rue in 2003. Interestingly, Rue switched to the Senate race at the last minute after originally running for Lt. Governor.

Senator Lentini was term-limited in 2007 and was replaced by another Republican: term-limited state Representative Danny Martiny, who was elected with a solid 69% of the vote against an Independent. Democrats haven’t even attemped to compete in this district since 1991, as Republican margins in Harahan, River Ridge, and Kenner north of I-10 easily give any Republican a starting point of 60% of the vote.