INCUMBENT: Barry Ivey (Republican)

DESCRIPTION: House District 65 is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is considered “the Central district”, although it’s worth noting that about 40% of the district vote is cast in precincts south of the Comite River (the area between the Comite and Amite Rivers in East Baton Rouge Parish is generally thought of the boundaries of Central). This is an area that has long had its own identity, although suburbanization and the recent opening of the Central Thruway has made this an attractive place to live, particularly since the incorporation of Central has enabled it to get its own separate school district.

DISTRICT MAP:

District Map

RED/BLUE RATING (using 2008, 2012, and 2014 elections): 72% Republican

JMCEL’s SUMMARY: The Central-based District 65 has long been a staunchly conservative area, and its relatively isolated location along the Amite River at the periphery of East Baton Rouge Parish has given residents here an independent streak which enabled them, after years of effort, to incorporate this area so it could get its own school system. This conservatism was most pronounced at the top of the ballot races, although this seat stayed in the Democratic column until 1995, when former representative Donald Ray Kennard switched parties. His party switch was a form of “re-election insurance”, as his re-election percentages as a Democrat had declined to the point that Republicans saw this as a winnable seat. This action instantly made his re-election problems go away, although he was term limited in 2007. His successor was Clif Richardson, who was easily elected until he resigned in January 2013 for health reasons. In the special election to succeed him in March 2013, Barry Ivey defeated a fellow Republican 53-47%. Rep. Ivey is allowed to serve two more terms. While he shouldn’t have re-election problems, he needs to be watchful of demographic changes occurring in precincts south of the Comite River: while the Central precincts gave Cassidy 83% of the vote in last year’s Senate race, the precincts south of the Comite only gave Cassidy 54%.