Louisiana's 8th congressional district explained

State:Louisiana
District Number:8
Obsolete:yes
Created:1913
Eliminated:1993
Years:1913-1993
Population Year:1980

Louisiana's 8th congressional district was a congressional district which was created in 1913 and eliminated in 1993 after Louisiana lost its eighth congressional seat in the 1990 U. S. census. For its entire existence, it was based in Alexandria and included much of the north-central part of the state.

Beginning in 1972, the district was redrawn at the direction of Governor Edwin Edwards to take in liberal precincts in Baton Rouge and along the Mississippi River corridor between Baton Rouge and New Orleans in order to aid the return to Congress of Gillis Long.

List of members representing the district

Member
PartyYearsCong
ress
Electoral history
District created following 1910 census – March 4, 1913
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James Benjamin Aswell
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1913 –
March 16, 1931
Elected in 1912.
Re-elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Re-elected in 1918.
Re-elected in 1920.
Re-elected in 1922.
Re-elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Re-elected in 1928.
Re-elected in 1930.
Died.
Vacantnowrap March 16, 1931 –
May 12, 1931
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John H. Overton
Democraticnowrap May 12, 1931 –
March 3, 1933
Elected to finish Aswell's term.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.
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Cleveland Dear
Democraticnowrap March 4, 1933 –
January 3, 1937
Elected in 1932.
Re-elected in 1934.
Retired to run for governor.
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A. Leonard Allen
Democraticnowrap January 3, 1937 –
January 3, 1953
Elected in 1936.
Re-elected in 1938.
Re-elected in 1940.
Re-elected in 1942.
Re-elected in 1944.
Re-elected in 1946.
Re-elected in 1948.
Re-elected in 1950.
Retired.
align=left
George S. Long
Democraticnowrap January 3, 1953 –
March 22, 1958
Elected in 1952.
Re-elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Died.
Vacantnowrap March 22, 1958 –
January 3, 1959
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Harold B. McSween
Democraticnowrap January 3, 1959 –
January 3, 1963
Elected in 1958.
Re-elected in 1960.
Lost renomination.
align=left
Gillis William Long
Democraticnowrap January 3, 1963 –
January 3, 1965
Elected in 1962.
Lost renomination.
align=left
Speedy O. Long
Democraticnowrap January 3, 1965 –
January 3, 1973
Elected in 1964.
Re-elected in 1966.
Re-elected in 1968.
Re-elected in 1970.
Redistricted to the and retired.
align=left
Gillis William Long
Democraticnowrap January 3, 1973 –
January 20, 1985
Elected in 1972.
Re-elected in 1974.
Re-elected in 1976.
Re-elected in 1978.
Re-elected in 1980.
Re-elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Died.
Vacantnowrap January 20, 1985 –
March 30, 1985
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Catherine Small Long
Democraticnowrap March 30, 1985 –
January 3, 1987
Elected to finish her husband's term.
Retired.
align=left
Clyde C. Holloway
Republicannowrap January 3, 1987 –
January 3, 1993
Elected in 1986.
Re-elected in 1988.
Re-elected in 1990.
Redistricted to the and lost re-election there.
District eliminated following 1990 census – January 3, 1993

References