INCUMBENT: Patrick Connick (Republican)

DESCRIPTION: House District 84 is located in the Westbank of Jefferson Parish and is centered on the suburb of Marrero. It also includes territory immediately to the south, which includes swampy terrain all the way down to (but not including) Grand Isle. Geographically, most of the district is swamp, but its population is concentrated in the northern end of the district along either side of Barataria Boulevard.

DISTRICT MAP:

District Map

RED/BLUE RATING (using 2008, 2012, and 2014 elections): 62% Republican

JMCEL’s SUMMARY: While most of the Westbank both in Orleans and Jefferson Parishes has seen substantial demographic changes, District 84 is the one remaining district on the Westbank that can generally be counted on to give strong support to Republican statewide candidates, although it has always given former Senator (and New Orleans native) Mary Landrieu higher than normal support for a Democrat. This was the last Westbank district to vote for a Republican legislator, although once it happened in 2007, Democrats have pretty much left this district alone. In fact, its current incumbent (Patrick Connick) has the distinction, shared only by Sulphur Democrat Mike Danahay and Lake Charles Republican Chuck Kleckley, of never having had to run a campaign – Rep. Connick was unopposed both in 2007 and 2011. He is allowed to serve one more term, and shouldn’t have much trouble being re-elected, particularly since he led the fight to remove tolls (long a sore spot for Westbankers commuting to New Orleans) from the Crescent City Connection bridge between New Orleans and the Westbank.