Gerald Long (R)
Term limited in 2019
District Map

2002 Senate Race (Runoff)
Mary Landrieu (D) 12,955 (45%)
Suzy Terrell (R) 15,801 (55%)

2003 Governors Race (Runoff)
Kathleen Blanco (D) 17,914 (55%)
“Bobby” Jindal (R) 14,739 (45%)

2004 Presidential Race
George W. Bush (R) 31,715 (66%)
John Kerry (D) 15,519 (32%)
Others 698 (2%)

2004 Senate Race
David Vitter (R) 25,233 (57%)
Chris John (D) 10,621 (24%)
Others 8,634 (19%)

2006 Secretary of State Race
Jay Dardenne (R) 3,694 (21%)
Francis Heitmeier (D) 4,172 (23%)
Mike Francis (R) 6,298 (35%)
Mary Chehardy (R) 1,546 (9%)
Others 2,068 (12%)

2007 Governors Race
“Bobby” Jindal (R) 19,894 (51%)
Walter Boasso (D) 6,862 (18%)
John Georges (I) 3,792 (10%)
Foster Campbell (D) 7,178 (19%)
Others 967 (2%)

2007 Agriculture Commissioner Race
“Bob” Odom (D) 16,378 (45%)
Mike Strain (R) 11,459 (31%)
Wayne Carter (R) 5,847 (16%)
Don Johnson (R) 2,780 (8%)

District 31 is located in north central Louisiana and contains a mixture of suburbs, rural areas, and a college town. It contains all of four parishes (Grant, Natchitoches, Sabine, and Winn Parishes) and parts of two parishes (western Red River Parish and parts of northern Rapides Parish). Most of the rural parishes (Winn, Sabine, Red River) have a low African-American population and lean Republican, but sometimes support Democrats in statewide races and often in local races. Natchitoches Parish is the home of Northwestern State University, but also has a high (37%) African-American population, so it leans Democratic. Grant and the portions of Rapides Parish are almost all white and typically vote Republican. This tendency is being strengthened by recent suburban growth from Alexandria, whose 8% growth is over three times the statewide rate.

Overall, the rural parishes cast 38% of the vote, Natchitoches 35% of the vote, and the “suburban” areas cast the remaining 27% of the vote. The district’s African-American population is moderate (22%) and hasn’t changed in several years, due to the mild suburban growth. It has grown at about the statewide rate, with the rural areas’ losses in populations counterbalanced by some growth in the suburbs and the college town of Natchitoches.

Typically, the district votes Republican in contested elections, giving Suzy Terrell 55% of the vote, a 2 to 1 margin for Bush, and a 57-24% margin to David Vitter. However, rural North Louisiana’s preference for Blanco helped her carry this district 55-45%, as she carried the rural areas and broke even in the “suburbs” of Grant and northern Rapides. The pendulum swung the other way in 2007, with “Bobby” Jindal carrying all parishes in the district and ending up with 51% of the vote.

The district has also had steady representation in the state Senate. Natchitoches Democrat Don Kelly represented the area from 1975 to 1995, and was succeeded by Democrat Mike Smith of Winnfield, who has served since then. Though Kelly and Smith received competition in all but the 2003 race, their re-election percentages ranged from 63 to 75%.

Senator Smith was term-limited in 2007. There was a competitive race here, as populist Democratic state representative Taylor Townsend faced retired insurance agent (and Republican) Gerald Long. Jindal’s pull at the top of the ticket didn’t hurt, but Long had some strength of his own, carrying all but Natchitoches Parish and defeating Rep. Townsend 54-46%. Interestingly, Long performed better than Jindal in all but Natchitoches Parish.