Errol “Romo” Romero (D)
Term limited in 2007
District Map

2002 Senate Race (Runoff)
Mary Landrieu (D) 4,146 (43%)
Suzy Terrell (R) 5,587 (57%)

2003 Governors Race (Runoff)
Kathleen Blanco (D) 7,040 (59%)
“Bobby” Jindal (R) 4,885 (41%)

2004 Presidential Race
George W. Bush (R) 9,805 (60%)
John Kerry (D) 6,277 (39%)
Others 237 (1%)

2004 Senate Race
David Vitter (R) 7,386 (49%)
Chris John (D) 5,237 (35%)
Others 2,414 (16%)

2006 Secretary of State Race
Jay Dardenne (R) 765 (22%)
Francis Heitmeier (D) 668 (19%)
Mike Francis (R) 1,558 (46%)
Mary Chehardy (R) 238 (7%)
Others 199 (6%)

2007 Governors Race
“Bobby” Jindal (R) 5,862 (56%)
Walter Boasso (D) 1,814 (17%)
John Georges (I) 1,418 (14%)
Foster Campbell (D) 1,100 (11%)
Others 256 (2%)

2007 Agriculture Commissioner Race
“Bob” Odom (D) 3,780 (40%)
Mike Strain (R) 4,487 (47%)
Wayne Carter (R) 769 (8%)
Don Johnson (R) 511 (5%)

The town of New Iberia is well known for being the home of Louisiana’s world famous Tabasco sauce, and House District 48 is centered on the towns of New Iberia and Loreauville in a crescent shape. Politically, this district is a perfect example of why Louisiana Democrats are not an extinct species. In national races, it tends to support Republicans: Bush carried the district 60-39, Vitter won by the surprisingly large margin of 49-35%, and Suzy Terrell received 57% of the vote here. However, this district (which has grown at about the statewide rate) has a sizable 31% African-American voter population, and Democrats with local appeal can still get enough of the white vote to win. Kathleen Blanco (who grew up in the district) received a solid 59% of the vote against Bobby Jindal in 2003. And when state senator Craig Romero crossed party lines to support Charlie Melancon in the 2004 Congressional Race, Melancon received 89% of the vote here. In both of these instances, the solid Democratic margins in the district helped lift both candidates to victory.

This Democratic dominance is even more pronounced at the legislative level - since 1972, only “Bo” Ackal and Errol “Romo” Romero have represented this district. They generally ran unopposed, and when they did get Republican opposition, the Republican lost by twenty points.

Though Rep. Romero is term limited this year, this district is another of several where Republicans could not come up with a candidate. There are four Democrats running: Rep. Romero’s son Shane (Considered by many to be the favorite), Taylor Barras, and New Iberia Councilmen David Broussard and Raymond Lewis.