Louisiana Democratic Party
Encyclopedia
The Louisiana Democratic Party is the local branch of the United States Democratic Party
in the state of Louisiana
. The party historically has been prominent in politics since before the American Civil War
, but consolidated this power after Reconstruction as a result of the rise of the Solid South
. Since the official end of reconstruction in 1877 the Democratic party has won 31 of 35 elections for governor. During this period Democrats won the governorship in every election from 1877 until the election of Republican David Treen in 1980. Recently, the Democratic Party has seen a steep decline in the number of offices it holds in Louisiana state government and in the United States Congress
.
Party leadership is broken up into three section: the Executive Committee, the Louisiana Democratic Central Committee and Parish Executive Committees. The Executive Committee consists of a chairman, four vice-chairman, two DNC committee persons, one DNC at-large, a vice chair of elected officials, a secretary, treasurer, clerk, legal counsel, and a parliamentarian. Each congressional district also receives two seats on the executive committee. The Louisiana Democratic Central Committee consists of a female and male committee member from each of the 105 State House Districts. Parish Executive Committees are set up in a similar fashion as the Party Executive Committee. Members serving in these positions generally serve a term of four years.
The party also has staff positions occupied by Renee Lapeyrolerie as Executive Director, Michelle Brister as the Office Manager and Traci Hampton as Comptroller.
. During Reconstruction the party's dominance of the governors office was placed on hiatus. As Reconstruction ended in 1877 the Democratic party regained control of state politics and would dominate every election for governor until 1980. This loss effectively ended the dominance the Democratic party held of the Louisiana governors office for over a century. Since 1980 the governorship has been split with four Louisiana democrats holding the office and four republicans.
and institutionalized forms of racism arose in the Solid South
. The white democratic elite of this time began making moves to disenfranchise both poor whites and blacks. In 1898 the Democratically held state legislature passed a new constitution aimed at disenfranchising black voters and as a consequence poor white voters also. The new constitution contained voter registration requirements such as: literacy tests, property requirements, and a grandfather clause
. During the Solid South era Louisiana democrats passed laws that provided for segregation
.
's position on civil rights and Lyndon B. Johnson
's intention to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964
many southern white voters began to leave the party in favor of the Republican Party. The process of party switching, however, appears to have been slower than in other parts of the South as is evidenced by the party continuing to win governorships. As a result in the change in policy since the Civil Rights Era, there has been an increase in voter turnout from black voters for the party.
, switched to the Republican Party of Louisiana
. The slipping of the Democratic Parties hold on state offices worsened in September 2011 when the party failed to field a major candidate for any of the state wide offices for the November elections. Despite trouble at the State level, the Democratic party appears to be keeping its appeal at a local level. In November 2011, Democrats retained 45 seats in the Louisiana House of Representatives and added five new members to the House.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
in the state of Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. The party historically has been prominent in politics since before the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, but consolidated this power after Reconstruction as a result of the rise of the Solid South
Solid South
Solid South is the electoral support of the Southern United States for the Democratic Party candidates for nearly a century from 1877, the end of Reconstruction, to 1964, during the middle of the Civil Rights era....
. Since the official end of reconstruction in 1877 the Democratic party has won 31 of 35 elections for governor. During this period Democrats won the governorship in every election from 1877 until the election of Republican David Treen in 1980. Recently, the Democratic Party has seen a steep decline in the number of offices it holds in Louisiana state government and in the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
.
Current Democratic officeholders
The Louisiana Democratic Party holds none of the seven statewide constitutional offices and no majority in either legislative chambers. Democrats also hold one of the state's U.S. Senate seats and one of its seven U.S. House seats.U.S. House of Representatives
- Cedric RichmondCedric RichmondCedric Levon Richmond is the U.S. Representative for Louisiana's 2nd congressional district, which includes most of New Orleans. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life and education:...
, 2nd DistrictLouisiana's 2nd congressional districtLouisiana's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The district contains nearly all of the city of New Orleans , and some of its suburbs, including the West Bank portion of Jefferson Parish and South South Kenner.The district is currently represented...
Party structure
The party and its members are governed by a set of by-laws, which explain how the party is to operate and the responsibilities officials of the party have. The party further operates under a party constitution adopted in 1998 consisting of 11 articles. The articles cover the topics of: subordination, name, purpose, party membership, management, election, composition and appointment of the Democratic State Central Committee, organization of committee, officers, by-laws and amendments.Party leadership is broken up into three section: the Executive Committee, the Louisiana Democratic Central Committee and Parish Executive Committees. The Executive Committee consists of a chairman, four vice-chairman, two DNC committee persons, one DNC at-large, a vice chair of elected officials, a secretary, treasurer, clerk, legal counsel, and a parliamentarian. Each congressional district also receives two seats on the executive committee. The Louisiana Democratic Central Committee consists of a female and male committee member from each of the 105 State House Districts. Parish Executive Committees are set up in a similar fashion as the Party Executive Committee. Members serving in these positions generally serve a term of four years.
The party also has staff positions occupied by Renee Lapeyrolerie as Executive Director, Michelle Brister as the Office Manager and Traci Hampton as Comptroller.
Governors of Louisiana
The Democratic Party took hold of its first governorship in 1843 with the election of Alexandre Mouton. It would continue to win elections throughout the rest of the antebellum period. At the onset of the Civil War the Democratic party won both elections held for the governorship in the portions of Louisiana that were held by the Confederate States of AmericaConfederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
. During Reconstruction the party's dominance of the governors office was placed on hiatus. As Reconstruction ended in 1877 the Democratic party regained control of state politics and would dominate every election for governor until 1980. This loss effectively ended the dominance the Democratic party held of the Louisiana governors office for over a century. Since 1980 the governorship has been split with four Louisiana democrats holding the office and four republicans.
As part of the Solid South
Throughout the 1880s Jim Crow lawsJim Crow laws
The Jim Crow laws were state and local laws in the United States enacted between 1876 and 1965. They mandated de jure racial segregation in all public facilities, with a supposedly "separate but equal" status for black Americans...
and institutionalized forms of racism arose in the Solid South
Solid South
Solid South is the electoral support of the Southern United States for the Democratic Party candidates for nearly a century from 1877, the end of Reconstruction, to 1964, during the middle of the Civil Rights era....
. The white democratic elite of this time began making moves to disenfranchise both poor whites and blacks. In 1898 the Democratically held state legislature passed a new constitution aimed at disenfranchising black voters and as a consequence poor white voters also. The new constitution contained voter registration requirements such as: literacy tests, property requirements, and a grandfather clause
Grandfather clause
Grandfather clause is a legal term used to describe a situation in which an old rule continues to apply to some existing situations, while a new rule will apply to all future situations. It is often used as a verb: to grandfather means to grant such an exemption...
. During the Solid South era Louisiana democrats passed laws that provided for segregation
Segregation
Segregation or segregate refers to setting apart or separating things or people and may refer to:* Particle segregation* Segregation in materials* Magnetic-activated cell sorting* Segregate * Mendel's law of segregation...
.
Civil Rights era
The Civil Rights era across the South was the beginning of a turning point in the voting electorate for the Democratic Party. As a result of the national Democratic PartyDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
's position on civil rights and Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
's intention to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a landmark piece of legislation in the United States that outlawed major forms of discrimination against African Americans and women, including racial segregation...
many southern white voters began to leave the party in favor of the Republican Party. The process of party switching, however, appears to have been slower than in other parts of the South as is evidenced by the party continuing to win governorships. As a result in the change in policy since the Civil Rights Era, there has been an increase in voter turnout from black voters for the party.
Current events
There has been a quick decline in the number of offices the Democratic Party holds, both state wide and at the national level in Louisiana. In 2004 Democrats held both Senate seats as well as six statewide offices. In February 2011, the defection of the only state wide elected Democrat occurred when Louisiana Attorney General, Buddy CaldwellBuddy Caldwell
James David Caldwell, Sr., or Buddy Caldwell , is the Republican attorney general of the U.S. state of Louisiana. Prior to serving as attorney general, Caldwell was the district attorney for Madison, East Carroll, and Tensas parishes from 1979 to 2008...
, switched to the Republican Party of Louisiana
Republican Party of Louisiana
The Republican Party of Louisiana is the U.S. state of Louisiana's organization of the national Republican Party. The state chairman is Roger F. Villere, Jr., a businessman from Metairie in Jefferson Parish....
. The slipping of the Democratic Parties hold on state offices worsened in September 2011 when the party failed to field a major candidate for any of the state wide offices for the November elections. Despite trouble at the State level, the Democratic party appears to be keeping its appeal at a local level. In November 2011, Democrats retained 45 seats in the Louisiana House of Representatives and added five new members to the House.