Open Seat (Incumbent is Elton Aubert (D))

District Map

House District 58

Vote History

Current District

District 58 is located in the heart of petrochemical Louisiana and is also the home of many of the historic plantations that people associate with Louisiana. The district itself is crescent-shaped and stretches along the Mississippi River from the outskirts of East Baton Rouge Parish to the west bank of St. John Parish. It was specifically redrawn in 1981 to be a black majority district, and it includes black majority precincts in Iberville, Ascension, Assumption, St. James, and St. John Parishes. This is a district that has a solid 64% black voting majority, which is actually a slight decrease from 65% a decade ago due to suburban growth from Baton Rouge reaching portions of Iberville and Ascension Parishes.

Politically, the black voting majority and the presence of petrochemical plants make this a safe Democratic district – Democrats can be assured of getting over 70% of the vote here in contested elections. And ever since the lines were redrawn, three black Democrats have represented the area. The first black representative here was Melvin Irvin, who narrowly defeated a two term white incumbent both in 1983 and in a 19i87 rematch. When he retired in 1991, he was succeeded by Roy Quezaire, who served until term limits forced him to retire in 2007.

Three Democrats sought the open seat, and the victor was Dow operator and St. James Parish Councilman Elton Aubert, who won in the runoff with 53%. Contributing to his victory was the fact that he was endorsed by diverse groups like LABI and the public employees’ union.

Though Rep. Aubert could have served two more terms, he is vacating the seat to run for a newly created black majority senate seat (District 2) in the River Parishes.

New District

Redistricting in the River Parishes was relatively uncomplicated, because you not only had robust population growth in the area (thanks to new subdivisions being built in Iberville and Ascension Parishes), but a new black majority district was created down the river between LaPlace and Boutte. District 58 had to be pared back, as it was 12% over populated. The St. John precincts were removed and placed in a new black majority district, while the Assumption precincts and a handful of precincts in Iberville near St. Gabriel and White Castle were placed in District 60 (held by Democrat Karen St. Germain) to strengthen her. Precincts were added in St. James Parish in the town of Lutcher that were 53% black. Finally, in Ascension Parish, precincts were traded: a rapidly growing Republican heavy precinct containing Pelican Point subdivision was removed, while  precincts in Gonzales and near Donaldsonville that had a substantial black minorities were added.

Altogether, these changes maintained the 65% black voter registration of the district, although with the removal of some fast growing Republican precincts, the district was made slightly more Democratic. A black Democrat should have no trouble winning in this district.