Noble Ellington (D)
Term limited in 2007
District Map

2002 Senate Race (Runoff)
Mary Landrieu (D) 12,493 (43%)
Suzy Terrell (R) 16,469 (57%)

2003 Governors Race (Runoff)
Kathleen Blanco (D) 21,348 (60%)
“Bobby” Jindal (R) 13,953 (40%)

2004 Presidential Race
George W. Bush (R) 32,747 (71%)
John Kerry (D) 12,959 (28%)
Others 585 (1%)

2004 Senate Race
David Vitter (R) 25,857 (60%)
Chris John (D) 9,443 (22%)
Others 7,960 (18%)

2006 Secretary of State Race
Jay Dardenne (R) 3,839 (18%)
Francis Heitmeier (D) 4,169 (19%)
Mike Francis (R) 10,666 (50%)
Mary Chehardy (R) 1,216 (6%)
Others 1,422 (7%)

2007 Governors Race
“Bobby” Jindal (R) 19,959 (51%)
Walter Boasso (D) 6,912 (18%)
John Georges (I) 4,707 (12%)
Foster Campbell (D) 6,589 (17%)
Others 1,045 (3%)

2007 Agriculture Commissioner Race
“Bob” Odom (D) 16,834 (45%)
Mike Strain (R) 13,375 (36%)
Wayne Carter (R) 4,461 (12%)
Don Johnson (R) 2,564 (7%)

District 32 is generally located in northeast Louisiana and contains all or part of 10 parishes. It is unique in that it touches on the suburban fringe of Monroe, Alexandria, and Baton Rouge. It contains all of Caldwell, Catahoula, Franklin, LaSalle, and West Feliciana. It contains parts of Avoyelles, Concordia, Ouachita, and Rapides. It has a modest (20%) and stable African-American population. It has seen little growth in recent years; it actually lost voters before Hurricane Katrina, and overall has grown at less than 1% since 2003, with any growth coming from the suburban fringe – Rapides Parish has seen 9% growth, and Ouachita has seen 5% growth.

The district has a conservative but independent tilt characteristic of most of north Louisiana. It gave solid support to George Bush and David Vitter, with 71-28% and 60-22% margins. It also gave Suzy Terrell a 57-43% margin, the gave Kathleen Blanco a solid 60-40% margin. This is the type of district Republicans need to work if they intend to win the governorship and/or control of the legislature in 2007.

Unlike other senate districts in north Louisiana, the district has had several represent the area, and some even were defeated for re-election during the 1980s. Voters here upset incumbents in 1983 and 1987. Since 1995, Noble Ellington has represented the area in the Senate, after representing parts of it in the state House for 2 terms. After a narrow 53% victory in 1995, he received 69% in 1999 and 80% in 2003. Interestingly, this region of the state has seen quite a few of its legislative officeholders move on to higher office: “Speedy” Long was elected to the U.S. House, Jim Brown was elected Secretary of State and Insurance Commissioner, and Noble Ellington has been rumored to be seeking the position of Speaker of the House.

Senator Ellington is term-limited in 2007 and is running for his old state house seat. We see this open seat as a tossup. Rural north Louisiana tends to support Democrats in local races, and a Democrat will marginally benefit from the 20% African-American voter population in the district. If the Republicans should carry this district, however, this will position them to take over the state Senate someday. There are three candidates running: former state representative and LDWF secretary Bryant Hammett, funeral home owner Neil Riser, and master instructor/former Police Juror Michael Trent. All but Riser are Democrats.