Gordon Dove (R)
Term limited in 2015
District Map

2002 Senate Race (Runoff)
Mary Landrieu (D) 4,352 (42%)
Suzy Terrell (R) 5,919 (58%)

2003 Governors Race (Runoff)
Kathleen Blanco (D) 5,844 (47%)
“Bobby” Jindal (R) 6,687 (53%)

2004 Presidential Race
George W. Bush (R) 11,866 (71%)
John Kerry (D) 4,726 (28%)
Others 225 (1%)
2004 Senate Race
David Vitter (R) 9,993 (63%)
Chris John (D) 3,321 (21%)
Others 2,484 (16%)

2006 Secretary of State Race
Jay Dardenne (R) 1,821 (32%)
Francis Heitmeier (D) 1,010 (18%)
Mike Francis (R) 1,267 (22%)
Mary Chehardy (R) 1,002 (18%)
Others 551 (10%)

2007 Governors Race
“Bobby” Jindal (R) 7,312 (64%)
Walter Boasso (D) 1,524 (13%)
John Georges (I) 1,867 (16%)
Foster Campbell (D) 502 (4%)
Others 209 (3%)

2007 Agriculture Commissioner Race
“Bob” Odom (D) 3,911 (36%)
Mike Strain (R) 3,884 (36%)
Wayne Carter (R) 2,279 (21%)
Don Johnson (R) 668 (6%)

House District 52 is shaped like an upside down “U” and includes the central portion of Terrebonne and an adjacent precinct in Lafourche Parish. It contains a stable 13% African-American voter population (all in Houma), and has had a healthy 8% growth rate in the last several years, with growth in both parishes.

Politically, the district contains the more Republican precincts in Terrebonne Parish and has supported Republican candidates with varying percentages: It voted for Republicans like George Bush, “Bobby” Jindal in 2007, David Vitter, and “Little Billy” Tauzin with 71, 64%, 63%, and 63% of the vote. It also gave 53 and 58% of the vote to “Bobby” Jindal in 2003 and Suzy Terrell, respectively.

Though the district has steadily supported Republican candidates, it has not had Republican representation until recently. Democrat Hunt Downer represented the district from 1976 to 2004 with minimal opposition, and he switched to the Republican Party in his last term, perhaps in anticipation of his unsuccessful 2003 run for governor (even though he received 6% statewide, he received an impressive 54% from his district). When the seat opened up, the Republican tendencies of the district finally asserted themselves, as the lone Democrat in the race only received 23% of the vote in the primary. The victor, Republican Gordon Dove, prevailed in the runoff by a five vote margin.

Though Rep. Dove was narrowly elected, he was unopposed for re-election this year. Additionally, the basic Republican preference of the district leads us to rate this seat as a “Republican hold” in the future. As to Rep. Dove, he is allowed to serve two more terms before term limits force him to retire.