A.G. Crowe (R) (Senator-elect in Senate District 1)
Term limited in 2011
District Map

2002 Senate Race (Runoff)
Mary Landrieu (D) 4,222 (35%)
Suzy Terrell (R) 7,649 (65%)

2003 Governors Race (Runoff)
Kathleen Blanco (D) 3,442 (28%)
“Bobby” Jindal (R) 8,809 (72%)

2004 Presidential Race
George W. Bush (R) 13,312 (71%)
John Kerry (D) 5,277 (28%)
Others 124 (1%)

2004 Senate Race
David Vitter (R) 13,067 (72%)
Chris John (D) 2,798 (15%)
Others 2,313 (13%)

2006 Secretary of State Race
Jay Dardenne (R) 1,853 (44%)
Francis Heitmeier (D) 671 (16%)
Mike Francis (R) 820 (19%)
Mary Chehardy (R) 549 (13%)
Others 339 (8%)

2007 Governors Race
“Bobby” Jindal (R) 7,825 (70%)
Walter Boasso (D) 1,394 (12%)
John Georges (I) 1,424 (13%)
Foster Campbell (D) 442 (4%)
Others 102 (1%)

2007 Agriculture Commissioner Race
“Bob” Odom (D) 2,501 (23%)
Mike Strain (R) 6,460 (60%)
Wayne Carter (R) 1,335 (12%)
Don Johnson (R) 386 (4%)

House District 76 is anchored in the southeastern corner of St. Tammany Parish in an area generally between I-10/59 and the Mississippi Border. Like House District 90 to the west, it can be thought of as having three parts: the more rural (but rapidly suburbanizing) area in the northern part of the district around the town of Pearl River, the Slidell precincts between I-10 and US Highway 11, and the suburbs to the east of Slidell. The Pearl River area casts 8% of the vote and is all white. The Slidell precincts cast 28% of the district vote and are 21% African-American. The majority (64%) of the vote is cast in areas to the east of Slidell, and this area is 13% African-American.

Overall, the district has a 14% African-American voting population. This is up slightly from 12% several years ago, and can mostly be accounted for by significant racial changes in two precincts along Highway 190 just to the east of Slidell. Additionally, District 76 has had a healthy rate of growth, with a 7% increase in its voting population over the past few years. Though the Slidell precincts actually had a 7% decline in its voting population, areas to the north and east posted healthy double-digit gains.

Overall, the district has a definite Republican edge, and actually gives almost identical percentages to Republican candidates as House District 90 to the west does. Typically, Republicans get about 70% of the vote here, although Suzy Terrell’s getting 65% of the vote here can be explained by the fact that she was running against Mary Landrieu, who not only was an incumbent senator, but was a New Orleans native. Within the district, political preferences aren’t vastly different, although the 21% African-American presence in the Slidell precincts somewhat dilutes the Republican strength there.

Not only does this district elect Republicans to the legislature, but for years, this was one of the few districts with a Republican legislator. After single-member districts were created in 1971, Ed Scogin was elected and served for 20 years. Though originally elected a Democrat, Rep. Scogin switched to the Republican party in 1979 and served until Republican Suzanne Krieger defeated him 57-43% in the 1991 runoff. Rep. Krieger vacated the seat in 1995 to run for Lt. Governor, and was soundly defeated in the runoff 65-35% by then Public Service Commissioner Kathleen Blanco. Rep. Krieger was succeeded by Republican Tom Thornhill, who was victorious in the primary with 55% of the vote. Rep, Thornhill left after serving one term, and was succeeded by another Republican, A.G. Crowe, who defeated former Rep. Krieger 51-49% in the 1999 runoff. Rep. Crowe was then re-elected with 78% of the vote in the 2003 primary.

While Rep. Crowe would have had no trouble holding this seat, he is running for the senate seat Walter Boasso vacated to run for Governor. Four Republicans are running to succeed him: insurance broker Lee Balinas, Slidell Councilman and engineer Ray Canada, financial advisor Kevin Pearson, and businessman Mark Sigur.

Most of the district south of I-10 suffered fairly extensive storm damage from a massive storm surge that was generated as the eye of Hurricane Katrina passed just to the east of Slidell. The remainder of the district suffered wind damage and was without power for several weeks.

The demographic effects of the storm damage are mixed at this point; though the district overall has had a small loss of voters after Katrina, this was due to a 500 voter gain (a 2% increase) in the precincts north and east of Slidell. Precincts in Slidell and near the lake suffered losses (sometimes in the double digits) in their voter population post-Katrina. This could be thought as slightly favoring the Republicans, since the Slidell precincts were less heavily Republican than the rest of the district. However, it’s worth noting that the recent trend in new voter registrations has been more favorable to Independents than to the major parties since Katrina; Democrats and Republicans have lost members, while there has been an increase of 300 Independents.