INCUMBENT: Henry Burns (Republican)

DESCRIPTION: House District 9 is in northwest Louisiana and includes portions of Bossier Parish on either side of I-20 just to the east of Bossier City, as well as neighborhoods along US Highway 71 south of Bossier City. This is a formerly rural/small town district that is rapidly suburbanizing.

DISTRICT MAP:

District Map

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

JMCEL’s SUMMARY: House District 9 is illustrative of the changing politics of North Louisiana. For years, this was a district that supported Republicans at the statewide and Congressional level, while stubbornly supporting Democrats (typically with little or no opposition) in legislative races. For 20 years (1988-2008), Democrat Billy Montgomery was its representative, and he was one of several Democrats who changed parties after Hurricane Katrina. He was term limited out in 2007, and unsuccessfully sought a state senate seat. He was succeeded by Republican Henry Burns, who didn’t even face Democratic competition for the seat in 2007, and was re-elected without opposition in 2011. He is allowed to serve one more term, but is vacating the seat to run for an open state senate seat in the area. Republicans should have little trouble holding this seat in a district that voted 3:1 for Mitt Romney and Bill Cassidy.