Scott Simon (R)
Term limited in 2019
District Map

2002 Senate Race (Runoff)
Mary Landrieu (D) 4,430 (35%)
Suzy Terrell (R) 8,065 (65%)

2003 Governors Race (Runoff)
Kathleen Blanco (D) 5,875 (40%)
“Bobby” Jindal (R) 8,792 (60%)

2004 Presidential Race
George W. Bush (R) 14,888 (74%)
John Kerry (D) 5,034 (25%)
Others 195 (1%)

2004 Senate Race
David Vitter (R) 14,370 (73%)
Chris John (D) 3,047 (16%)
Others 2,297 (11%)

2006 Secretary of State Race
Jay Dardenne (R) 2,468 (40%)
Francis Heitmeier (D) 1,108 (18%)
Mike Francis (R) 1,158 (19%)
Mary Chehardy (R) 826 (14%)
Others 542 (9%)

2007 Governors Race
“Bobby” Jindal (R) 10,519 (69%)
Walter Boasso (D) 1,853 (12%)
John Georges (I) 1,817 (12%)
Foster Campbell (D) 950 (6%)
Others 190 (1%)

2007 Agriculture Commissioner Race
“Bob” Odom (D) 3,242 (22%)
Mike Strain (R) 9,691 (65%)
Wayne Carter (R) 1,556 (10%)
Don Johnson (R) 390 (3%)

House District 74 is one of several districts whose political complexion and partisan representation have been changed by suburbanization. The district itself contains portions of three parishes. It includes portions (roughly the northeastern quadrant) of Tangipahoa Parish east of the Tangipahoa Parish. It includes a handful of rural precincts in Washington Parish on the Tangipahoa Parish line. It also includes most of the northern portions of St. Tammany parish. Formerly, most of this district was rural, with Abita Springs as its major settlement. Recent suburbanization in St. Tammany and, to a lesser extent, Tangipahoa Parish, has changed the dynamics of the district to the point that 63% of the vote is now cast in St. Tammany, with Tangipahoa casting 30% and Washington casting the remaining 7% of the vote.

While the demographics have recently changed from rural to suburban, the racial composition of the district has remained the same, with a 9% African-American voter influence remaining the same over the past several years, with low percentages in all three parishes.

The rapid growth in the district (a 14% increase in voters since 2003, with St. Tammany growing 16%, Tangipahoa growing 12%, and Washington Parish growing 10%) has made this district favorable territory for Republicans. George Bush and David Vitter both received the same 3 to 1 support here, “Bobby” Jindal received 69% in 2007, Suzy Terrell received 65% and Bobby Jindal got 60% in 2003. Occasionally, traces of a suburban-rural split show up in the election results here – though Bobby Jindal (in his 2003 race) received a comfortable 60% of the vote here, he trailed Kathleen Blanco 47-53% in Tangipahoa Parish and barely carried the district’s portion of Washington Parish. In 2007, however, his double digit increase in support in Tangipahoa and Washington was repeated in rural areas across the state, and contributed to his first primary victory.

The demographic trends were mirrored in the district’s representation in the state House. For 28 years, Abita Springs Democrat Bill Strain represented the district. He was closely pressed in the 1987 race with a 53-42% margin against two Democrats. While his re-election percentage rebounded to 64% in 1991, a Republican opponent in 1995 received 42% of the vote. Bill Strain retired in 1999 and was succeeded by Republican Mike Strain, who received 70% of the vote against two other Republicans and was unopposed in 2003.

Though Representative Strain was not term-limited until 2011, he successfully ran for Agriculture Commissioner, defeating longtime Democratic incumbent Bob Odom. Three Republicans, a Democrat, and an Independent then sought the open House seat. Republican Scott Simon led the field with 49% in the primary, and was then elected after his runoff opponent (who received 29%) withdrew from the race shortly after the primary. We see this seat as a “Republican hold” some time into the future.

There was some impact from both hurricanes, as the eye of Hurricane Katrina passed just to the east of this district, However, the area has been recovering, and there has been an influx of people from metro New Orleans, represented by a gain of over 2,500 voters since the storm, coming mostly from St. Tammany Parish.