Steve Scalise (R)
Term limited in 2019
District Map

2002 Senate Race (Runoff)
Mary Landrieu (D) 11,697 (34%)
Suzy Terrell (R) 23,167 (66%)

2003 Governors Race (Runoff)
Kathleen Blanco (D) 9,665 (27%)
“Bobby” Jindal (R) 26,766 (73%)

2004 Presidential Race
George W. Bush (R) 34,940 (71%)
John Kerry (D) 13,524 (28%)
Others 481 (1%)

2004 Senate Race
David Vitter (R) 34,695 (73%)
Chris John (D) 6,718 (14%)
Others 6,020 (13%)

2006 Secretary of State Race
Jay Dardenne (R) 6,825 (44%)
Francis Heitmeier (D) 2,284 (15%)
Mike Francis (R) 1,835 (12%)
Mary Chehardy (R) 3,249 (21%)
Others 1,191 (8%)

2007 Governors Race
“Bobby” Jindal (R) 22,580 (74%)
Walter Boasso (D) 2,602 (9%)
John Georges (I) 3,933 (13%)
Foster Campbell (D) 1,049 (3%)
Others 255 (1%)

2007 Agriculture Commissioner Race
“Bob” Odom (D) 6,580 (23%)
Mike Strain (R) 16,732 (58%)
Wayne Carter (R) 4,360 (15%)
Don Johnson (R) 1,135 (4%)

Senate District 9 is one of the most geographically compact Senate districts in Louisiana. It is shaped like a square, and is bounded by Lake Pontchartrain in the north, the Mississippi Rover in the South, Kenner/Harahan/River Ridge in the west, and a jagged line in the east that puts Bucktown and Old Metairie just outside of the district.

Politically, it is one of the most Republican districts in the state. It regularly gives Republicans 2 to 1 (or better) margins in national and statewide elections, with Suzy Terrell’s 66% against New Orleans native Mary Landrieu actually a low-water mark for the Republicans.

The demographics are also favorable to Republican candidates: it has a almost all-white constituency, although its African American population has increased from 5 to 7% since the 2000 reapportionment. The voter population has decreased 2% since 2003, likely due to out migration from Jefferon Parish after Hurricane Katrina.

The district’s representation in the legislature has also been steady: Republican Ken Hollis has been its senator since 1982, and has been unopposed or re-elected with healthy percentages in each election, although he was held to 61% of the vote against fellow Republican Polly Thomas in 2003. This area, in fact, was one of the few areas for years to send Republicans to the House or Senate.

Senator Hollis was term-limited in 2007 and was replaced by another Republican: term-limited state Representative Steve Scalise, who was elected with a solid 61% of the vote against two opponents.

This area received some flooding damage in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, but has recovered since then. Even so, we see that Jefferson Parish will likely feel some of the effects of population out migration from metropolitan New Orleans; there has already been a noticeable (about 2,100 less voters since Katrina) decrease in the voting population for the district.