INCUMBENT: Eddie Lambert (Republican)

DESCRIPTION: House District 59 is located in northwestern Ascension Parish and includes the majority of the suburban overflow from the Baton Rouge metropolitan area. It includes all territory west of LA 44 and north of Gonzales, and is centered on the suburb of Prairieville.

DISTRICT MAP:

District Map

RED/BLUE RATING (using 2008, 2012, and 2014 elections): 74% Republican

JMCEL’s SUMMARY: A generation ago, Ascension Parish was a Democratic stronghold, thanks to a coalition of blacks living near the Mississippi River and blue-collar workers employed by the numerous petrochemical plants in the area. That began to change a generation ago, as affluent suburban migration from Baton Rouge accelerated in the 1990s, making Ascension Parish the fastest growing parishes in the state during the past decade (it grew 40% during the 2000s). House District 59 has seen the lion’s share of this suburban growth, and its political preferences have changed as well. This district was represented by Democrat “Juba” Diez from 1976-2004. Even though he had competitive races in the 1990s, Republicans never challenged him. Before the 2003 election cycle, he changed to the Republican Party but nevertheless faced two Republican challengers for his seat, and in the runoff, Rep. Diez lost to Republican Eddie Lambert 58-42%. Rep. Lambert was unopposed both in 2007 and 2011, and is term limited out this year. This seat should easily remain in the Republican column, as both Mitt Romney and Bill Cassidy carried the district 3:1.