Craig Romero (R)
Term limited in 2007
District Map

2002 Senate Race (Runoff)
Mary Landrieu (D) 15,760 (49%)
Suzy Terrell (R) 16,279 (51%)

2003 Governors Race (Runoff)
Kathleen Blanco (D) 25,094 (62%)
“Bobby” Jindal (R) 15,092 (38%)

2004 Presidential Race
George W. Bush (R) 30,271 (57%)
John Kerry (D) 22,178 (42%)
Others 817 (1%)

2004 Senate Race
David Vitter (R) 21,853 (43%)
Chris John (D) 21,181 (42%)
Others 7,457 (15%)

2006 Secretary of State Race
Jay Dardenne (R) 2,540 (18%)
Francis Heitmeier (D) 3,792 (26%)
Mike Francis (R) 5,847 (41%)
Mary Chehardy (R) 1,081 (7%)
Others 1,090 (8%)

2007 Governors Race
“Bobby” Jindal (R) 19,753 (52%)
Walter Boasso (D) 7,314 (19%)
John Georges (I) 5,164 (14%)
Foster Campbell (D) 4,629 (12%)
Others 896 (2%)

2007 Agriculture Commissioner Race
“Bob” Odom (D) 15,353 (44%)
Mike Strain (R) 14,950 (43%)
Wayne Carter (R) 2,605 (7%)
Don Johnson (R) 1,947 (6%)

If there were one state Senate district that best fit the stereotype of Louisiana, it would likely be Senate District 22, as it contains swamps, plantations, sugarcane, and the oil industry. The Senate District itself contains all of Iberia and all but two precincts of St. Martin Parish. Iberia Parish has a significant oil industry presence and leans Republican. St. Martin Parish is primarily agricultural and almost always goes Democratic, although there is a mild Republican trend here from Lafayette suburban growth spreading down I-10 towards Breaux Bridge. In fact, this is one of the few parishes where the African-American voter population has decreased; from 32% in recent years to 29%.

District 22 can also be called a “steady” district. It’s significant (30%) African-American population has remained unchanged over the past few years. It has grown at 3%, which is slightly more than the statewide average. It also tends to vote for the winners, with exceptions for local circumstances. Suzy Terrell carried the district 51-49%, partly because of her Iberia Parish roots. Being an Iberia Parish native also enabled Kathleen Blanco to win by a solid 62-38% margin here. George Bush carried the district by exactly his statewide percentage, and while David Vitter carried the district 43-42%; his margin reduced by the fact that Chris John represented St. Martin Parish in Congress, and received 49-37% support in that parish.

The legislative representation in District 22 is one of the steadiest in the state. Not only have only two people represented this district since 1975 (Oswald Decuir and Craig Romero), but the district has been contested once since 1987 – the open seat race from Senator Decuir’s being elected to a judgeship. Even after Senator Romero switched parties in 1995 right before the filing deadline, he was unopposed then and since. His popularity was such that in his nearly successful Congressional race in 2004, he carried his district with 39% in a multi-candidate field and was credited with electing Democrat Charlie Melancon (who carried the district 58-42%) in the runoff despite the district’s slight Republican leanings.

Senator Romero is term-limited in 2007, and perhaps in anticipation of this, sought a rematch against Democratic Congressman Charlie Melancon in 2006. Though he lost that race 55-40%, he still carried his state Senate district 52-45% - had Billy Tauzin received this level of support in Iberia and St. Martin Parish in 2004, he would have succeeded his father in Congress. We see this seat as a tossup. Despite some suburban growth in Saint Martin Parish, as well as Republican leanings in Iberia Parish, the 30% African-American population provides a solid voter base for any Democratic candidate. Plus, the district historically has preferred Acadiana-based Democrats. There are three candidates: term-limited Democratic state representatives Sydnie Mae Durand of St. Martin Parish and Troy Hebert of Iberia Parish, and Republican attorney/former Romero campaign manager Jeff Landry. This contest is worth watching, because Republicans have made some gains across Acadiana in Congressional and legislative races over the last decade. It’s not clear, however, whether those gains are part of a long-term trend, or just a result of Republicans having the right candidate running at the right time.